Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. (Hebrews 2:1 ESV)
I thought it was quite fitting that I shot through this verse quickly without really thinking on it the first time through. Just considering it a transition type verse between chapters, but now I really think it has more meaning than that. I think this is a call to really take to heart and treasure the word of God. Think about it from their perspective back then when they all didn't have their own Bibles to read so most all of it they got from listening to the scriptures read to them and stories told of Jesus' life. And he tells them to pay close attention or their hearts will drift away from the Lord, and we will fall victim to the temptation and distractions of this world that are put there to make us think of ourselves and our own comforts and pleasures rather than living to glorify the magnificent creator God who reigns supreme over all good and evil and has the power to create the heavens and the earth. If you want a good example of that read about the universe and look at some Hubble telescope pictures and be in awe and then look at the intricate details of human biology and physiology. From picometers to billions of light years, how can we not be in awe.
We have been given a huge blessing to have the words of God at our fingertips 24 hours a day. How often do you take that for granted?
Please don't let that fact leave you unaffected and unchanged. That's why I think it is more important than anything else to read and reflect on this daily. When you can start your day (even while walking somewhere) reading God's word and resting in his promises and dedicating that day to him. You will have his word on your mind throughout the rest of the day, and it will impact the way you think, speak, and act. Take this opportunity in Lent to make this a priority, and you will not regret it.
Keep his word in your heart because temptation will come and will draw us in with money, power, self-gratification, and other deceptive tactics that pull our focus to ourselves rather than him. And that's why I think it's so fitting that the chapter started with that verse and ends with this one:
For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. (Hebrews 2:18 ESV)
Pray to him. Abide in him. He knows your suffering and pain.
Do we feel like God isn't there when we are tempted?
I always liked how in the Act of Contrition it finishes with "I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy Grace, to sin no more and to avoid the nearest occasion of sin." We say this when repenting for our sins that we not only desire to sin no more but to avoid the things that cause us to sin. Think about all the time that we spend in front of TV shows and movies that fill our minds with temptation. How often the words that we speak and things that we do fill ourselves and others with temptation? Remember these two verses:
It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. (Romans 14:21 ESV)
And the command of Jesus:
"You have heard that it was said, "You shall not commit adultery." But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell. (Matthew 5:27-30 ESV)
How can you refocus your life on him this Lent rather than ourselves so that even after Easter, we will have made lifelong changes?
For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers,
ReplyDelete(Hebrews 2:10-11 ESV)
This passage stuck out to me because it says that Jesus calls us his brothers! Can you imagine him at Theta Xi meetings? I wonder which group he would join in: the group that is there to enjoy the meeting, or the group that wants it to be over with? Clearly Jesus loved his brothers a great deal, enough to die for them. He would definitely bring Christ to campus, reaching out among the fraternities and sororities. He might even play some frisbee and soccer. If Christ were a brother, what would he think of our fraternity? Would he be in agreement with our mission on campus? Would he love the way we treat each other? Would he love the diversity we have? I think that a lot of the answers to these questions are yes, but I also think that these questions are worth contemplating beyond surface level. What would Jesus think and do as a brother?
PS Jesus Christ- greates d-group leader ever. He already disciples arguably all of the fraternity.
From Matthew 16:15, 16 (ESV)
ReplyDelete[He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."]
This comes from a well-known part in the Gospel of Matthew, where Simon Peter confesses Jesus as the Christ and is named by Jesus as the rock that He will built his church. Also, Jesus promised Peter the keys to heaven. Can you imagine what must have been going on in Peter's mind? From that moment on he was charged with a great deed of being the foundation for the bride of Christ on Earth, who like any bride is responsible for the fostering and growth of her children. This resonates well during this time, given the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, which has left the See of Peter vacant and open for a new pontiff to lead the Church.
Reading this made me realize the importance of acknowledging Jesus as Christ in my life. I think back to all the times of when I reject Christ, or just see Him as something lesser than He truly is. Doing this prevents me from knowing and accepting the unique charge that He has for me. How great would it be if all of us could do as Peter did and confess Jesus as the Son of the living God? I imagine that we'd all be happier because we are exactly where God wants us. And who else but Him knows the best place and the best duty for us to thrive in His Glory.
"Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted." Hebrews 2:14-18
ReplyDeleteWe serve an incredible God. Out of love for us, He became like us. Few things are as hard to imagine as giving up the beauty and serenity of heaven to come to be despised and die on Earth. These are two polar opposites, and Christ certainly did not owe it to us to come for us. Philippians 2 talks about how Jesus so selflessly gave up all authority on our accounts. This makes me believe that God truly does love us, and that Jesus eagerly desires our hearts. Why else would Jesus give up so much to "be made like his brothers in every respect." I have no doubts about God's desire for our hearts, which is a really exciting thought. The sovereign God of the universe desires each of our hearts. What more incentive do we need?
Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will
ReplyDelete- Hebrews 2:1-4 -
I think this verse reflects our nature. All throughout the Bible, this is how we as humans do. we ignore God's signs, miracles, warnings, and blessings and forget them. Instead of praising and glorifying God's name, we turn to other worldly things. We try to credit ourselves rather than giving everything to God because we like to be in control of our own lives. I think this is one thing I always struggle with. I want to think that I have everything planend out, I know what to do. But when the reality hits, I cannot do anything without God and Holy Spirit. We forget how great and powerful God's salvation is. We also forget that God didn't stop at the sacrifice of His own son, but also brought the Holy Spirit: And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. (John 14:15-17). We see that God truly works in you through the Holy Spirit and yet we often choose to go the other direction. I pray that I would have the heart to obey His basic commandment:abide in Him and His words.
"therefore, he had to become like his brothers in every way, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest before God to expiate the sins of the people. Because he himself was tested through what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested." Hebrews 2: 17-18
ReplyDeleteThis central theme in Hebrews that Jesus became a high priest to expiate our sins and that to do so effectively, he was tested and tried in the same way that we his people are is an important theme to latch on to. How would we as humans feel if we did not have a very human, very real example of someone who was perfect in every way that has also been through every amont of despair that we could ever feel? The suffering that Jesus went through was for us in multiple ways. One of those ways being an example so that we may know that he understands; that we may believe that he understands.
When praying about this, the catholic priesthood popped into my head. Why don't priests marry? A commonly asked questions that this verse seems to answer. By being celibate and yet married to the church, the Priest is able to serve as an example to both married couples as well as those leading a chaste life whether through consecrated singleness or whether they are not yet married. Being celibate allows the priest, like Christ, to better serve his community of faithful.
What is mankind that you are mindful of them,
ReplyDeletea son of man that you care for him?
I think that this is a humbling verse to consider. Who are we that God is mindful of us? Honestly we are nothing. We are a creation of God just like the ant or the bacteria. We are but another force of nature. But God's love for us is revealed in that, even though we are nothing, he gave up everything to save us.