June 02, 2013
Jesus is above ALL. He is above man, above Moses, above prophets, above angels—above ALL. He is God.
The writer of Hebrews quotes a portion of Psalm 8. Jane requested that I read Psalm 8 to her in early 2007, long before I understood that God was going to use her to speak words of wisdom, promise, and encouragement to us. I can't adequately express what Psalm 8 now means to us.
Hebrews 2 explains it. It is about both. Man is made "a little lower than the angels." Jesus, as part of the God three-head is above the angels. But when He came to this earth as God/man, He assumed for a little while this lower place so that by our believing in His death and resurrection He can lift us into His own sphere above the angels at His second coming. Hebrews 2:9 - "Jesus, made for a little time lower than the angels, dies for man that he may lift men above angels into the family of God."
Hebrews 2:10 - "God (including Jesus) is the One who made all things and all things (including us) are for his glory." We are his children, his family. We have physical bodies, so Jesus himself became like us and took on a physical body. Hebrews 2:14–15 - "He did this so that, by dying, he could destroy the one who has the power of death—the devil—and free those who were like slaves all their lives because of their fear of death." Jesus has done it all "so we must be more careful to follow what we are taught. Then we will not stray away from the truth."(Hebrews 2:1)
We cannot accept Grace and then take all He has done for granted. Jesus is the builder, we are the house. Hebrews 3:6 - "But Christ is faithful as a Son over God's house. And we are God's house if we keep on being very sure about our great hope."
We must keep on keeping on. We must continue to follow God. Today! Now! Not later! TODAY!
Hebrews 3:7 - "Today listen to what he says. Do not be stubborn..."
Hebrews 3:15 - "Today listen to what he says. Do not be stubborn..."
Today! Joshua 24:15 - "Choose you this day whom you will serve." Do not be stubborn. Being stubborn cost the Israelites. They were stubborn and wanted to be in control themselves. And the result was they turned against God, and they bore the consequences for their actions. God was angry with them and instead of receiving His promises of blessings they received His promise of anger. Hebrews 3:11 - "They will never enter my rest." It was because of their sin that He was angry. Because they refused to obey "they were not allowed to enter (the promised land) and have God's rest, because they did not believe."
You can't "believe" and not obey. You either believe (and obey) or you don't believe (and you disobey). Saying you believe is not enough. True belief, by its very nature, means you obey. So, "Be careful that none of you has an evil, unbelieving heart that will turn you away from the living God. But encourage each other every day while it is "today." Help each other so none of you will become hardened because sin has tricked you. We all share in Christ if we keep till the end the sure faith we had in the beginning." (Hebrews 3:12–14)
Today! I want to enter his rest. I choose to believe and obey.
If you don't follow God's teachings, and if you don't obey those teachings, you receive the punishment that was earned. It isn't the fault any(one) or any(thing) else. It falls squarely on the shoulders of the person who has refused to follow and refused to obey.
I just can't imagine. I can't imagine standing before Christ and coming face to face with the reality of receiving the punishment earned by refusing to follow and obey His teachings. I am determined to follow. I am determined to obey. Like the words of a song from my childhood: I have decided to follow Jesus... no turning back... no turning back.
I am determined to Walk on His Footpath. I am determined to Follow His Lead.
Next Entry: Hebrews 4:1 – 5:10
Jesus is above ALL. He is above man, above Moses, above prophets, above angels—above ALL. He is God.
The writer of Hebrews quotes a portion of Psalm 8. Jane requested that I read Psalm 8 to her in early 2007, long before I understood that God was going to use her to speak words of wisdom, promise, and encouragement to us. I can't adequately express what Psalm 8 now means to us.
"What is man that you are mindful of him? Or the Son of Man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly angels and crowned him with glory and honor. You made him ruler over the works of your hands and put everything under his feet."While I have quoted this part of Psalm 8 hundreds of times I was always a little confused by it. Are these verses talking about man? Or, are they talking about Jesus? I just wasn't quite sure.
Hebrews 2 explains it. It is about both. Man is made "a little lower than the angels." Jesus, as part of the God three-head is above the angels. But when He came to this earth as God/man, He assumed for a little while this lower place so that by our believing in His death and resurrection He can lift us into His own sphere above the angels at His second coming. Hebrews 2:9 - "Jesus, made for a little time lower than the angels, dies for man that he may lift men above angels into the family of God."
Hebrews 2:10 - "God (including Jesus) is the One who made all things and all things (including us) are for his glory." We are his children, his family. We have physical bodies, so Jesus himself became like us and took on a physical body. Hebrews 2:14–15 - "He did this so that, by dying, he could destroy the one who has the power of death—the devil—and free those who were like slaves all their lives because of their fear of death." Jesus has done it all "so we must be more careful to follow what we are taught. Then we will not stray away from the truth."(Hebrews 2:1)
We cannot accept Grace and then take all He has done for granted. Jesus is the builder, we are the house. Hebrews 3:6 - "But Christ is faithful as a Son over God's house. And we are God's house if we keep on being very sure about our great hope."
We must keep on keeping on. We must continue to follow God. Today! Now! Not later! TODAY!
Hebrews 3:7 - "Today listen to what he says. Do not be stubborn..."
Hebrews 3:15 - "Today listen to what he says. Do not be stubborn..."
Today! Joshua 24:15 - "Choose you this day whom you will serve." Do not be stubborn. Being stubborn cost the Israelites. They were stubborn and wanted to be in control themselves. And the result was they turned against God, and they bore the consequences for their actions. God was angry with them and instead of receiving His promises of blessings they received His promise of anger. Hebrews 3:11 - "They will never enter my rest." It was because of their sin that He was angry. Because they refused to obey "they were not allowed to enter (the promised land) and have God's rest, because they did not believe."
You can't "believe" and not obey. You either believe (and obey) or you don't believe (and you disobey). Saying you believe is not enough. True belief, by its very nature, means you obey. So, "Be careful that none of you has an evil, unbelieving heart that will turn you away from the living God. But encourage each other every day while it is "today." Help each other so none of you will become hardened because sin has tricked you. We all share in Christ if we keep till the end the sure faith we had in the beginning." (Hebrews 3:12–14)
Today! I want to enter his rest. I choose to believe and obey.
"Usually it is those who have suffered most who are best able to comfort others who are passing through suffering. Our sufferings may be rough and hard to bear, but they teach us lessons which in turn equip and enable us to help others. Our goal should be to learn all we can from what we are called upon to endure, so that we can fulfill a ministry of comfort—as Jesus did. The sufferer becomes the comforter or helper in the service of the Lord." ~ From Unto the Hills by Billy GrahamAddendum: 11/29/16 ~ As I was reading this passage this morning, a statement found in Hebrews 2:2 just pierced by heart. There IS accountability. The writer of Hebrews warned them to be careful. Follow what you were taught. Follow the scriptures. Follow Christ's teachings. FOLLOW!! Follow so you don't "stray away from the truth." Hebrews 2:2 - "The teaching God spoke through angels was shown to be true, and anyone who did not follow it or obey it received the punishment that was earned.
If you don't follow God's teachings, and if you don't obey those teachings, you receive the punishment that was earned. It isn't the fault any(one) or any(thing) else. It falls squarely on the shoulders of the person who has refused to follow and refused to obey.
I just can't imagine. I can't imagine standing before Christ and coming face to face with the reality of receiving the punishment earned by refusing to follow and obey His teachings. I am determined to follow. I am determined to obey. Like the words of a song from my childhood: I have decided to follow Jesus... no turning back... no turning back.
I am determined to Walk on His Footpath. I am determined to Follow His Lead.
Next Entry: Hebrews 4:1 – 5:10
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