Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
5 For to which of the angels did God ever say,
“You are my Son,
today I have begotten you”?
Or again,
“I will be to him a father,
and he shall be to me a son”?
6 And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says,
“Let all God’s angels worship him.”
7 Of the angels he says,
“He makes his angels winds,
and his ministers a flame of fire.”
8 But of the Son he says,
“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever,
the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.
9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
therefore God, your God, has anointed you
with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.”
10 And,
“You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning,
and the heavens are the work of your hands;
11 they will perish, but you remain;
they will all wear out like a garment,
12 like a robe you will roll them up,
like a garment they will be changed.[a]
But you are the same,
and your years will have no end.”
13 And to which of the angels has he ever said,
“Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”?
14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?
Yesterday we began a consideration of the danger of “drifting” in our Christian lives. Here is the danger of this spiritual condition, and I use this illustration cautiously because it can sometimes be used humorously but the point is quite serious.
Many of us, at the turn of the year especially or as summer approaches, commit to losing weight. We are now in February and one might think we are well on our way. This becomes a goal because when we look at what has happened, we are not so sure as to how we gained 30 pounds over the last year!
Oh, a few at Thanksgiving, but then we were careful, and December rolled around, and there were a lot of celebrations after all the family isn’t together all that often. And the pounds seemed to creep up on us. It is not that we ate one piece of pie and poof, 25 pounds were added. No…it was slow, creeping…and then we have what we have.
Listen to the Lord’s warning in Dt: Only be careful and watch yourself closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live…” Notice the words, slip from your heart!
This happens due to neglect, lack of use, not seeing the things of the Lord as being as important as they are, making excuses, blaming those who have hurt you for your own lack of love and fervor for the Lord.
So, what is the remedy? What is Hebrews telling us to do, so that we do not drift? Well, he says, pay attention…be careful, be intentional…take an interest, notice what is going on, your habits and rituals and ask: Where will these things lead? Take a look at your life…your days…how you spend your time and the time, the space you give to nurture your soul and the souls of others.
How much time do you give to feeding your soul on the wonders of redemption and the glories of Jesus who is the Christ? How much time in His Word, in prayer…in reading other things, listening to things that are purposed to set the wonders of God and Christ before your heart and mind?
How have you orchestrated your life so that it is filled with Jesus and I don’t mean in isolated segments, but in everything, giving thanks, praise and consciously enjoying the life God has given.
I want to be careful that you do not conclude: Ok, I have to read my bible and pray…that was the point of these devotionals at the beginning of Hebrews. Those are good things of course, please do those things, love the word, prayer…love the church, give yourself to this community, live life with us and allow us to share your life.
But there is more to “being careful” than that.
I read a story a couple of weeks ago about a young girl whose grandmothers came to visit. Both were Christian women as was their grand-daughter. When one grandmother left, and the other came, the young girl said to the grandmother who had just arrived, after the other had left: Grandma, let’s have fun, but no god-talk.
When I first read that, I thought the author was saying something about the young girl, but I was wrong. He was talking about the difference between the grandmothers…the difference of talking about God, here and there and getting that over with…
…As opposed to living in the presence of God with enjoyment, praise, joy, and thankfulness. Not just talking about God, but living with God. Not just words about the glory of Jesus, but basking in that glory, awe-filled with the wonders of Jesus at all hours.
Brothers and sisters, we must pay closer attention…be intentional about the glory of Jesus, the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end…think more deeply, live more boldly in the presence of Him who spoke the world into existence and holds everything together by His word.
And the climax…that which you must marvel in every day so that you do not drift is smack dab center in the text: He has made purification for your sins, and afterwards, he sat down with the Father. Jesus has accomplished redemption, forgiveness and nothing can thwart, change, or undo what He has done. And that is how He sees us.
You are forgiven…all your sins…those brothers and sisters around you, are forgiven, all their sins…live your life paying careful attention to what that means, to who He is…so that you do not drift.
Prayer: Father, I am often confused and filled with anxiety. I think most of this is due to the simple truth that I do not know You nor Your ways of doing things. Forgive me for when I read of Your ways and reject them because they are hard on my flesh, they are the kind of things that require sacrifice, devotion and a sight of things unseen and I often do not know what such concepts are to look like in my life. Give me eyes to see, like you did Elisha’s servant, that I may see what is unseen and embrace the unconventional life that You have called me to, in Jesus name, Amen.
Hymn: O Magnum Mysterium