(For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.) Now Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, but Christ is faithful over God's house as a son. And we are his house if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope. (Hebrews 3:4-6 ESV)
I don't know if I'm just really liking the thought of God as the mighty, powerful, creator (probably because his creation always seems to amaze me) or what, but this passage really stuck out to me.
First, it was that reference to God as the builder of ALL things which just reminded me of the beauty of his creation which includes not just objects but the people and personalities and thoughts in our world. Please take a moment to really think about the intricacy of not only the things we see, but the people too. There are some many thoughts and ideas and memories that go through my mind each second, and he is the powerful creator of all 7+ billion people currently and who knows how many more in the past. How easy it is to get lost in the thoughts and desires of me, but we were created for so much more than that.
Second, reread this promise: "we are his house if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope." I don't want to ramble on with that and take away from the power and meaning of that alone. (not saying any of you shouldn't discuss it, but I tend to ramble and would rather you just reflect on that)
But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. As it is said, "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion." (Hebrews 3:13-15 ESV)
I enjoyed this passage because of its call to exhort or strongly encourage each other everyday. I think this is hugely important because whether we recognize it or not, all of us could definitely use some encouragement in our faith everyday.
How can you spiritually encourage one another today and everyday? There are plenty more people that you impact each day without even realizing. How can you show them God's love and help them in their struggles or sadness. (Hint: if you can't think of ideas, today is cheap valentine chocolate day which works great for gifts to friends)
Therefore I was provoked with that generation,
ReplyDeleteand said, ‘They always go astray in their heart;
they have not known my ways.’
As I swore in my wrath,
‘They shall not enter my rest.’”
(Hebrews 3:10-11 ESV)
Personally I cannot wait to enter his rest. For the Israelites, the rest was the Promised Land. For us, we can have rest in Christ whenever we want. God created a day just for that: the Sabbath. We need this rest; not entering it was a punishment for the Israelites. I think we should all take a Sabbath day every week. Mine is on Sundays, and it really helps me to focus the rest of the week. God is good!
Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.
ReplyDelete- Hebrews 3:12-14 -
I really like these verses because I think that's what we are exactly doing. I know we are the salt and light to this community and work as a servant of God. But it is great and relieving to know that we have a foundation or community of believers where we can depend on whenever needed. I personally enjoy hanging out with fellow believers not because we have similar lifestyle or whatnot. But because we encourage each other, build each other up, lift each other's spirit up when we are down. Also, I love the fact that we are bold enough to guide and help one another when we struggle. I had to look up the definition of "exhort" but the dictionary says, "strongly encourage or urge someone to do something." I think that word is so appropriate for us because we HAVE to encourage one another to live each day with full of God's glory and love and we HAVE to be the ones showing this to others. And not because it is one of the checklist that all christians have to take part in but because we really trust God and want to be in line with His plan for us.
This verse also stood out to me, because I feel like sometimes, I have an evil unbelieving heart. I am thankful to all of you for caring about me, and encouraging me to dive into his word daily. May my mind be free of sin's deceit, so that I can humbly seek after God.
Delete"Moses was 'faithful in all his house' as a 'servant' to testify to what would be spoken, but Christ was faithful as a son placed over his house. We are his house, if [only] we hold fast to our confidence and pride in our hope." Hebrews 3:5-6
ReplyDeleteHere is where we see the key, clear difference between Moses and Jesus that the author makes. Jesus is not just another leader of the people. Moses and Jesus share a lot of attributes as leaders of God's people, but where Moses is a servant in the house of God, Jesus is God's son placed over the house of the Lord. To us, this message doesn't seem like that big of a deal because it seems obvious, but to people that doubt the Christian faith over the faith of their fathers, this is an important distinction to make and a crucial point to internalize the fact that Jesus is the son of God.
Therefore, as the holy Spirit says:
'Oh, that today you would hear his voice,
"Harden not your hearts as at the rebellion
in the day of testing in the desert,"'" Hebrews 3: 7-8
These verses spoke out to me during this period of lent. Especially regarding Jesus and HIS temptations in the desert which is the Gospel for the first Sunday in Lent. Rather than hardening our hearts to the Lord, testing God, and putting other priorities in life above God , we should strive to handle the temptations of the devil as Christ did and not as the israelites in the desert did.