April 23, 2015 PAY CLOSE ATTENTION
Hebrews 2:1: “For this reason we must pay closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.”
Before Jesus came, God spoke to the fathers through the prophets in many ways according to Hebrews 1:2. Now, God has spoken to us in His Son whom He appointed heir of all things. The fact that God, the creator of the universe, sent His Son to talk to His people is, as they say-mind boggling. This being the case, surely man would pay close attention and would cling to every word that Jesus spoke. God, being our creator, knows exactly what we need and only He knows what brings fulfillment in life. God has written the ultimate owner’s manual on how to live life. God desires that we experience full, overflowing life and Jesus is the one who holds the keys to life-a life of purpose and fulfillment. Yet, because of the fallen nature of man, man cannot and does not in his fallen state receive the council and wisdom of God. Only as one puts his faith and trust in God; only when he is reconciled to God; can he know God and only then can he experience life as it was intended to be lived. We must not make the mistake of thinking that living the life that God has for His people is automatic. Somehow, it is possible for the believer to become dull of hearing and thus drift away from what God has spoken. The writer of Hebrews warns us about the possibility of believers drifting from all that Jesus accomplished on the cross on our behalf. There is a type of fear that is healthy and having a healthy fear of drifting from God is certainly a good kind of fear. In Hebrews 2:3 we read: “how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?” Again in Hebrews 3:13-14 we find another warning: “But encourage one another, day after day, as long as it is still called “Today”, lest anyone of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end;” Satan’s plans and schemes have the goal of deceiving man just as he did in the garden of Eden with his first encounter with man. God has done a wonderful work; He has called us to be His own; He has revealed Himself to us; He has made us new; He has given His Spirit to live in us; and He has made us His own. We live in a world of turmoil and we have to deal with the effects of the sin that come as a result of man rejecting God. However, we can live in peace and we can live in the light as God’s people. God extends us a wonderful invitation-He invites us to enter into His rest. Again, entering His rest is not automatic- it is possible not to enter His rest. In Hebrews 4:1-2 we read: “THERFORE, let us fear lest, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you should seem to have come short of it. For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard.” Knowing God, walking with God, and enjoying God, is an active process. Our faith is to be active. Hourly, daily we are to be “fully engaged” with what God is doing-conscious of His presence. No matter what we are doing, we find rest when we living according to His design. So, let each of us pay close attention and let us not neglect our great salvation.
1 Peter 1:3-5: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
1 Peter 1:13: “Therefore gird your mind for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
Blessings,
Buddy
Hebrews 2:1: “For this reason we must pay closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.”
Before Jesus came, God spoke to the fathers through the prophets in many ways according to Hebrews 1:2. Now, God has spoken to us in His Son whom He appointed heir of all things. The fact that God, the creator of the universe, sent His Son to talk to His people is, as they say-mind boggling. This being the case, surely man would pay close attention and would cling to every word that Jesus spoke. God, being our creator, knows exactly what we need and only He knows what brings fulfillment in life. God has written the ultimate owner’s manual on how to live life. God desires that we experience full, overflowing life and Jesus is the one who holds the keys to life-a life of purpose and fulfillment. Yet, because of the fallen nature of man, man cannot and does not in his fallen state receive the council and wisdom of God. Only as one puts his faith and trust in God; only when he is reconciled to God; can he know God and only then can he experience life as it was intended to be lived. We must not make the mistake of thinking that living the life that God has for His people is automatic. Somehow, it is possible for the believer to become dull of hearing and thus drift away from what God has spoken. The writer of Hebrews warns us about the possibility of believers drifting from all that Jesus accomplished on the cross on our behalf. There is a type of fear that is healthy and having a healthy fear of drifting from God is certainly a good kind of fear. In Hebrews 2:3 we read: “how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?” Again in Hebrews 3:13-14 we find another warning: “But encourage one another, day after day, as long as it is still called “Today”, lest anyone of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end;” Satan’s plans and schemes have the goal of deceiving man just as he did in the garden of Eden with his first encounter with man. God has done a wonderful work; He has called us to be His own; He has revealed Himself to us; He has made us new; He has given His Spirit to live in us; and He has made us His own. We live in a world of turmoil and we have to deal with the effects of the sin that come as a result of man rejecting God. However, we can live in peace and we can live in the light as God’s people. God extends us a wonderful invitation-He invites us to enter into His rest. Again, entering His rest is not automatic- it is possible not to enter His rest. In Hebrews 4:1-2 we read: “THERFORE, let us fear lest, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you should seem to have come short of it. For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard.” Knowing God, walking with God, and enjoying God, is an active process. Our faith is to be active. Hourly, daily we are to be “fully engaged” with what God is doing-conscious of His presence. No matter what we are doing, we find rest when we living according to His design. So, let each of us pay close attention and let us not neglect our great salvation.
1 Peter 1:3-5: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
1 Peter 1:13: “Therefore gird your mind for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
Blessings,
Buddy
RSS Feed