Hebrews 12:21-29
21 Moses himself was so frightened at the sight that he said, “I am terrified and trembling.”
22 No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering. 23 You have come to the assembly of God’s firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God himself, who is the judge over all things. You have come to the spirits of the righteous ones in heaven who have now been made perfect. 24 You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel.
25 Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking. For if the people of Israel did not escape when they refused to listen to Moses, the earthly messenger, we will certainly not escape if we reject the One who speaks to us from heaven! 26 When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now he makes another promise: “Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also.” 27 This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things will remain.
28 Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. 29 For our God is a devouring fire.
Terrie's Comments -
God has not changed.
The blood Jesus shed for us speaks of forgiveness. The innocent blood that cried out before that needed vengeance. Jesus doesn't ask for vengeance against those who killed him. He offers forgiveness for all... including the ones who killed him both directly and indirectly.
The only way we can be destroyed is by refusing to listen to Jesus Christ, like the Israelites refused to listen to Moses.
I need to remind myself often that I am to live my life thankful for what God has for me. We please God by worshiping Him with holy fear and awe... we need to keep a holy perspective of God.
Tori's Comments -
Okay, so I feel tired of loving people very often. The best cure, for me, is a reminder of how much Jesus loves me, how much He did for me. It certainly helps get me on my feet to help others.
How do we know God is speaking? I also feel like I keep asking the same questions over and over again, just waiting for an answer.
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Showing posts with label Hebrews 12. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hebrews 12. Show all posts
Monday, June 27, 2016
Sunday, June 26, 2016
Day 26 - Hebrews 12:11 - 12:20
Hebrews 12:11-20
11 No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.
12 So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. 13 Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.
14 Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. 15 Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. 16 Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a single meal. 17 You know that afterward, when he wanted his father’s blessing, he was rejected. It was too late for repentance, even though he begged with bitter tears.
18 You have not come to a physical mountain, to a place of flaming fire, darkness, gloom, and whirlwind, as the Israelites did at Mount Sinai. 19 For they heard an awesome trumpet blast and a voice so terrible that they begged God to stop speaking. 20 They staggered back under God’s command: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.”
Tori's Comments -
Sorry, but I'm getting a certatin vibe from all of this:
via GIPHY
I never associated the word work with Christianity.
I like to think of words like freedom and love instead.
But turns out, loving people is work.
We have to work at being in peace with everyone. Doing the right thing can be hard. And I rarely want to choose someone else over myself.
But that's just what Christ did, and now us.
Terrie's Comments -
We are to do this with purpose! Marking out our path to be sure it remains straight. We are to regain our focus, re-grip the rope, gather our strength again and keep on moving. We are to run this race together and look after each other so that we are not alone. If we stick close enough together and protect each other the weeds will get choked out.
Our lives should be set apart... Holy... different than the world. We are ambassadors for Jesus and our lives should represent the Heavenly kingdom we belong to. Our goal is to make heaven attractive to many so that they will want to come with us.
I think it is intriging to think that the writer refers to bitterness as a poisonous root that will grow up to trouble us and cause trouble for many. As Christians we are suppose to forgive unconditionally... we don't have the option to hold onto bitterness.
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
11 No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.
12 So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. 13 Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.
14 Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. 15 Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. 16 Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a single meal. 17 You know that afterward, when he wanted his father’s blessing, he was rejected. It was too late for repentance, even though he begged with bitter tears.
18 You have not come to a physical mountain, to a place of flaming fire, darkness, gloom, and whirlwind, as the Israelites did at Mount Sinai. 19 For they heard an awesome trumpet blast and a voice so terrible that they begged God to stop speaking. 20 They staggered back under God’s command: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.”
Tori's Comments -
Sorry, but I'm getting a certatin vibe from all of this:
via GIPHY
I never associated the word work with Christianity.
I like to think of words like freedom and love instead.
But turns out, loving people is work.
We have to work at being in peace with everyone. Doing the right thing can be hard. And I rarely want to choose someone else over myself.
But that's just what Christ did, and now us.
Terrie's Comments -
We are to do this with purpose! Marking out our path to be sure it remains straight. We are to regain our focus, re-grip the rope, gather our strength again and keep on moving. We are to run this race together and look after each other so that we are not alone. If we stick close enough together and protect each other the weeds will get choked out.
Our lives should be set apart... Holy... different than the world. We are ambassadors for Jesus and our lives should represent the Heavenly kingdom we belong to. Our goal is to make heaven attractive to many so that they will want to come with us.
I think it is intriging to think that the writer refers to bitterness as a poisonous root that will grow up to trouble us and cause trouble for many. As Christians we are suppose to forgive unconditionally... we don't have the option to hold onto bitterness.
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
Saturday, June 25, 2016
Day 25 - Hebrews 12:1 - 12:10
Hebrews 12:1-10
12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. 3 Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. 4 After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.
5 And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said,
“My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline,
and don’t give up when he corrects you.
6 For the Lord disciplines those he loves,
and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”
7 As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? 8 If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. 9 Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?
10 For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness.
Terrie's Comments -
This passage definitely makes it sound like it is so easy to strip off "every weight" ESPECIALLY the SIN that SO EASILY TRIPS US UP! Notice the key... WE DO THIS BY KEEPING OUR EYES on JESUS! Simple right? I am sure that if it was the "in thing to do" we would have no problem keeping our eyes fixed there... but sadly it is more cool to "dis" Jesus than to keep Him in a place of honor. We need to find people to run the race with that will help us run the race with endurance and finish well!!
let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.
Tori's Comments -
Sin only hinders us. It's nothing compared to what Christ can give us. Let's see if I can ingrain that on my memory.
More of the 'keeping your eyes on Jesus'. Although after the first verse in this section, I have a better idea of what it means. Checking myself for anything that's holding me back from fully pursuing God. Terrie challenged me not that long ago to a book fast, and it has definitely made me realize my little hobby of reading was becoming a focus of my life. An unhealthy one. I also go on social media fasts because I spent countless hours scrolling for ABSOLUTELY NO REASON. At the time it seems important, but in hindsight I learn absolutely nothing in that waste of time.
Those are two I can list off the top of my head that have been struggles for me. School work has also been something I give a lot more priority than it needs. It's all about moderation.
I feel like listing these as I go through the day. What am I constantly thinking about?
Anything that you guys have struggled with concerning where your focus is?
These days Tori, I wrestle with my attitude and my pride and my stubbornness and the need for perfection. They get in the way of having the best relationships I can have with those people that are closest to me. Sorry to anyone that has met up with my ugly side. I am working on it. I need to push myself out of my comfort zone more. I haven't died from my faith yet so the race isn't over yet. Let's keep pushing on until the end together okay!
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. 3 Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. 4 After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.
5 And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said,
“My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline,
and don’t give up when he corrects you.
6 For the Lord disciplines those he loves,
and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”
7 As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? 8 If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. 9 Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?
10 For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness.
Terrie's Comments -
This passage definitely makes it sound like it is so easy to strip off "every weight" ESPECIALLY the SIN that SO EASILY TRIPS US UP! Notice the key... WE DO THIS BY KEEPING OUR EYES on JESUS! Simple right? I am sure that if it was the "in thing to do" we would have no problem keeping our eyes fixed there... but sadly it is more cool to "dis" Jesus than to keep Him in a place of honor. We need to find people to run the race with that will help us run the race with endurance and finish well!!
let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.
Tori's Comments -
Sin only hinders us. It's nothing compared to what Christ can give us. Let's see if I can ingrain that on my memory.
More of the 'keeping your eyes on Jesus'. Although after the first verse in this section, I have a better idea of what it means. Checking myself for anything that's holding me back from fully pursuing God. Terrie challenged me not that long ago to a book fast, and it has definitely made me realize my little hobby of reading was becoming a focus of my life. An unhealthy one. I also go on social media fasts because I spent countless hours scrolling for ABSOLUTELY NO REASON. At the time it seems important, but in hindsight I learn absolutely nothing in that waste of time.
Those are two I can list off the top of my head that have been struggles for me. School work has also been something I give a lot more priority than it needs. It's all about moderation.
I feel like listing these as I go through the day. What am I constantly thinking about?
Anything that you guys have struggled with concerning where your focus is?
These days Tori, I wrestle with my attitude and my pride and my stubbornness and the need for perfection. They get in the way of having the best relationships I can have with those people that are closest to me. Sorry to anyone that has met up with my ugly side. I am working on it. I need to push myself out of my comfort zone more. I haven't died from my faith yet so the race isn't over yet. Let's keep pushing on until the end together okay!
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
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