August 2, 2020<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the next 13 days we will be spending time together walking through the book of Hebrews! Hebrews is written to Jewish Christians who were undergoing persecution for their faith and considering running back to Judaism. The author of Hebrews takes an in-depth look at the practices and regulations of the Old Testament as articulated in the Torah and argues for how Jesus is both superior to each of them and supreme over all of them! The author also warns his audience of the grave danger facing them should they choose to now reject Jesus and return to their former way of life. These warnings can and should make us feel uncomfortable as we read through the book together; allow the Spirit to do what He wants to do in your heart through them! Overall, the message of Hebrews is that Jesus, the Son of God as well as our Savior and Messiah, is infinitely superior to anything or anyone else we could give our lives to, and He is worthy of all our devotion and worship. Jesus is greater!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The author continues his warning from the previous chapter, here asserting that we should fear and obey God while there is still time to enter into His promised rest! Those who followed Moses failed to enter in because of unbelief and subsequent disobedience, but the author states that the \u201cToday\u201d David references in Psalm 95 is an indication of the fact that there is still time! As long as Jesus has not yet returned, there is still time to hear, believe, and enter into the promised Sabbath rest of God!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The audience is then urged to strive to enter into that rest by persevering in the faith, being warned that God\u2019s Word will reveal even the deepest thoughts and intentions of their heart and that they will have to give an account before the Lord, from whom nothing can remain hidden, on the last day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Finally, the author encourages his audience to hold fast to their confession in view of the glorious and gracious gift of the high priesthood of Jesus! Because Jesus is our high priest, we can hold on to hope no matter our circumstances. The author states here that Jesus, because he took on human form and lived among us, experiencing life and temptation just as we do but without once sinning, we can both trust that his sacrifice on the cross is sufficient to cover all our sin and draw near to God\u2019s throne with confidence because we know that He understands our weakness!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because Jesus came and dwelt among us, He is uniquely equipped to serve as our high priest: He is able to sympathize with us and show us abundant mercy as well as know exactly what we need in order to give us grace to help in the moment of need! Let\u2019s believe that truth and draw near to Him in confidence every step of the way!<\/p>\n\n\n\n