Thursday, November 22, 2012

Hebrews 2:10-13


Summary retelling of Hebrews 2:10-13

The author reminds us that creation exists by God’s hand and for God’s purposes.  We are brought into glory through the perfect suffering of Jesus Christ.  He is the initiator of salvation.  We who have been sanctified all come from the same place.  This is why Christ can call us brothers, because He has come and proclaimed God to us and we have placed our trust in Him.

Thoughts for Today
First Thought:
I don’t think anyone who believes in God struggles in understanding that we are created by God’s hand.  We also know that we are created for God’s purposes.  However, this is a point that while we might understand it we have some difficulty putting into action.  We often want to pursue our own agenda.  Or we want to live life by what we think is godly standards but it is primarily a compromise between what we really want and what God really wants.  It is difficult to stay truly focused on implementing the belief that we are created for God’s purposes.

Why is it so easy to believe in God but so difficult to stay focused on doing His will? 

Second Thought:
The author calls Jesus the “initiator” of salvation.  Another way to translate this word is pioneer, founder, or originator.  Salvation begins with Jesus. It starts with Him.  Without Jesus’ perfect sacrifice, there would be no salvation.

Here’s a really deep question, since I’m sure we all have agreed for some time now that Jesus is the source of salvation.  If salvation starts with Jesus’ death, what was the point of all the sacrificing to God in the Old Testament?

Third Thought:
We are brothers and sisters to Jesus.  We are not brothers and sisters to Jesus because He became flesh, though.  It is not our similar humanity that makes us brothers and sisters.  It is our spirituality that makes us brothers and sisters.  It is God coming and dwelling within us once we have responded to His free gift of grace and mercy.  Our spirituality is what ties us to one another and to Christ.

Do you put much emphasis on your spiritual ties to one another?  Besides God, who is most important in your life?  What ties you to that person (or those people)?

Passage for Tomorrow: Hebrews 2:14-18

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