Hebrews 13

DAILY DEVOTION

FOR

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13

SCRIPTURE:  HEBREWS 13

As is common in the New Testament epistles, the last section of Hebrews is sort of a collection of exhortations.  It is sort of a list of some other things that need to be considered. 

The chapter starts with the admonition to continue to love other Christ followers who are in the local church.  But there is also an obligation to care for those we don’t know as well. And there is an exhortation to remember those in prison.  In this context, this would undoubtedly be a reference to those were imprisoned for the faith.  Regardless of the cause of imprisonment, we should remember those who are incarcerated.  They, too, need the Gospel.

From there, we move on to encounter a set of issues that need to be addressed for the sake of the Christian community.  One of those is the holiness and honorableness of marriage.  When the institution of marriage collapses, the community falls.  The second issue is sexual purity.  The glorious gift of sex was given by God to those who are Biblically married.  Any sexual activity outside the confines of Biblical marriage will eat away at the foundation of any community.  The third issue is money.  That’s always an issue, isn’t it?  Money is not bad or evil but it is important that we keep it in perspective.

In verse 7, the Christian community is reminded to remember those who had been the pastors and/or teachers.  Perhaps this is a reference to those leaders who had been with them and moved on to lead and teach others.  In verse 17, we find the admonition to the church for those who are currently their pastors/leaders/teachers.

Although this is a bit uncomfortable for me, the church has a responsibility to follow their God given leaders.  This is to be done with joy.  We also find in verse 17, that pastors will give an account for how the folks in their church(es) did.  So, for my sake, do better!

If we back up to verse 15 we find that we are exhorted to consistently praise God.  This is called a sacrifice because it takes time and effort to do this.  But He is worth is.

Verses 21 and 22 contain some great words about Jesus.  He is resurrected.  He is the Great Shepherd of us His sheep.  The new covenant is eternal because the blood of Jesus is better than the blood of any or all animals.  He gives us everything we need to do His will and to please Him.

And there we have it.  The journey through Hebrews is complete.  I know we skipped over the top of a lot things but I hope that our trip through this book as been informative, helpful, and important.

Hebrews 12

DAILY DEVOTION

FOR

TUESDAY, JUNE 12 

SCRIPTURE:  HEBREWS 12

This chapter begins with the familiar word “therefore”.  In Biblical literature, particularly New Testament writing, the word “therefore” always connects what has been said to what is about to be said.  Often the word “therefore” says, “Based upon what you just heard, this is what you should do”.  That is a good way to view the use of the word “therefore” in this chapter.

We just finished the great Hall of Faith in chapter 11.  We were reminded of some of the great Bible characters as well as some whose names have been lost over time.  Based upon all of that, here’s what we should do.

The first verse points to our being surrounded by a “great cloud of witnesses”.  Based upon what I just wrote, this great cloud of witnesses has to be a reference to the folks in chapter 11.  But what does it mean that they are “witnesses”?  There are actually a couple of different ways we can look at this.

To begin with this may be a reference to the fact that those Old Testament characters were witnesses of the impact of the great faith God gave to so many.  This would be similar to us being witnesses of the great salvation God makes available through Jesus.  In other words, they saw great things.  On the other hand, this could be a reference to the possibility that all those folks in heaven are watching what is happening on this earth and are witnesses of what is occurring.  In other words, they are witnessing what we are doing.

To make this a little more complicated, we also have to ask who is witnessing who.  Are we watching them – thinking about them and the great things God did through them – as an encouragement to us to run harder in this race of faith we are in?  Or… are they watching us and encouraging us to run harder in this race of faith that we are in?

At the end of the day, both of these views are probably correct.  We should remember their example, their sacrifice, their endurance.  But we should also consider the possibility that they are cheering us on in our own life of faith. 

Regardless we are to unload anything that keeps us from running this race of faith and we should run with endurance.  The Christian life is not a sprint.  It is a marathon.  We have to endure for the long haul.

One of the ways we can endure is looking to Jesus.  We have to keep our eyes on Him who stands at our finish line.  It is Jesus who made saving faith possible and available.  And it is Jesus who will perfect or complete our faith when we step or fall across the finish line.

In the meantime, we should do two things.  One, we should run with endurance.  Two, we should expect God to discipline us or correct us so that we can run better, further, and faster.  Indeed His discipline is for our own good.  And His discipline is proof that we belong to Him.

Although none of us enjoy being disciplined, let us be mature enough to receive it well from the One who loves us the most.  What He does to us He does for us.  His help may hurt a bit but it is always for our sake that He does this.  And it is always better in the long run (no pun intended).