Better Promises : WK 4 - FRI
Hebrews 10:19-39
And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.
Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins. There is only the terrible expectation of God’s judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies. For anyone who refused to obey the law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Just think how much worse the punishment will be for those who have trampled on the Son of God, and have treated the blood of the covenant, which made us holy, as if it were common and unholy, and have insulted and disdained the Holy Spirit who brings God’s mercy to us. For we know the one who said,
“I will take revenge.
I will pay them back.”
He also said,
“The Lord will judge his own people.”
It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Think back on those early days when you first learned about Christ. Remember how you remained faithful even though it meant terrible suffering. Sometimes you were exposed to public ridicule and were beaten, and sometimes you helped others who were suffering the same things. You suffered along with those who were thrown into jail, and when all you owned was taken from you, you accepted it with joy. You knew there were better things waiting for you that will last forever.
So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will.
Then you will receive all that he has promised.
“For in just a little while,
the Coming One will come and not delay.
And my righteous ones will live by faith.
But I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away.”
But we are not like those who turn away from God to their own destruction. We are the faithful ones, whose souls will be saved.
As a pastor, many think that you have information about how to be close to God, close to the divine. And it makes sense. I mean, I do have a degree called Master of Divinity. (It’s not as impressive as it sounds).
I have been asked a lot how to grow spiritually. And that is a great question with many answers. Of course there is the standard answer: prayer and Bible study. You could also sprinkle in some time in nature, meditation, retreats and worship. Of course that is not a comprehensive list but that is a pretty good one.
You would think that with that list you could go out and just have your spiritual journey with God and become a powerful man or woman of God. Here at Crosswalk we call that a disciple. Someone who is following in the footsteps of Jesus, abiding.
But the author of Hebrews wants us to not forget a key part of the discipleship journey:
Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. Hebrews 10:23-25
The spiritual journey was never meant to be experienced alone. You can pray, study your Bible, meditate, worship, experience nature, go on retreats but if you are doing it alone you are missing a powerful part of the journey with Christ. I believe the author of Hebrews intentionally used the phrase, “Let us…” three times in this passage to emphasize the communal approach to following Jesus.
If you ever spend any time with me talking about church, inevitably you will hear me ask some version of this question, “If we aren’t spending time together outside of the few hours of worship every Sabbath, what’s the point?” I have seen the power of the Holy Spirit unleashed in conversations in coffee shops, in times of prayer in restaurants, and in homes around people as they breathe one last time. God is present in your home when you read your Bible and in church when we all gather to worship, but don’t forget that Jesus said, “For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.” Matthew 18:20
And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.
Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins. There is only the terrible expectation of God’s judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies. For anyone who refused to obey the law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Just think how much worse the punishment will be for those who have trampled on the Son of God, and have treated the blood of the covenant, which made us holy, as if it were common and unholy, and have insulted and disdained the Holy Spirit who brings God’s mercy to us. For we know the one who said,
“I will take revenge.
I will pay them back.”
He also said,
“The Lord will judge his own people.”
It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Think back on those early days when you first learned about Christ. Remember how you remained faithful even though it meant terrible suffering. Sometimes you were exposed to public ridicule and were beaten, and sometimes you helped others who were suffering the same things. You suffered along with those who were thrown into jail, and when all you owned was taken from you, you accepted it with joy. You knew there were better things waiting for you that will last forever.
So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will.
Then you will receive all that he has promised.
“For in just a little while,
the Coming One will come and not delay.
And my righteous ones will live by faith.
But I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away.”
But we are not like those who turn away from God to their own destruction. We are the faithful ones, whose souls will be saved.
As a pastor, many think that you have information about how to be close to God, close to the divine. And it makes sense. I mean, I do have a degree called Master of Divinity. (It’s not as impressive as it sounds).
I have been asked a lot how to grow spiritually. And that is a great question with many answers. Of course there is the standard answer: prayer and Bible study. You could also sprinkle in some time in nature, meditation, retreats and worship. Of course that is not a comprehensive list but that is a pretty good one.
You would think that with that list you could go out and just have your spiritual journey with God and become a powerful man or woman of God. Here at Crosswalk we call that a disciple. Someone who is following in the footsteps of Jesus, abiding.
But the author of Hebrews wants us to not forget a key part of the discipleship journey:
Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. Hebrews 10:23-25
The spiritual journey was never meant to be experienced alone. You can pray, study your Bible, meditate, worship, experience nature, go on retreats but if you are doing it alone you are missing a powerful part of the journey with Christ. I believe the author of Hebrews intentionally used the phrase, “Let us…” three times in this passage to emphasize the communal approach to following Jesus.
If you ever spend any time with me talking about church, inevitably you will hear me ask some version of this question, “If we aren’t spending time together outside of the few hours of worship every Sabbath, what’s the point?” I have seen the power of the Holy Spirit unleashed in conversations in coffee shops, in times of prayer in restaurants, and in homes around people as they breathe one last time. God is present in your home when you read your Bible and in church when we all gather to worship, but don’t forget that Jesus said, “For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.” Matthew 18:20
- Do you prefer pursuing God alone or in community? Why?
- How has the church helped you grow spiritually?
- Who are some people in your church community you can invite to be a part of your discipleship journey?
by Pastor Milton Marquez
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