Daily Word

For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. Hebrews 2:16-17. Angels recalls the superiority of the Son to angels and the need for him to partake of human nature. “Offspring of Abraham” connects to the OT story, referring not merely to Jewish Israel but also to the more expansive promises to Abraham. Unless Jesus became fully human (had to be) in every respect (except sin), He could not represent believers as their high priest. “Like his brothers,” emphasizing Jesus’ human nature. Jesus must be human in order to serve as high priest on behalf of humanity. Propitiation conveys the sense of an atoning sacrifice that puts away sin and satisfies God’s wrath. When was the last time you really gave some thought to the wrath that’s been satisfied on your behalf…can you even fathom His WRATH?

Daily Word

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. Hebrews 2:14-15. “Flesh and Blood” is an idiomatic way of saying “human.” The same Greek phrase is seen throughout the New Testament and may emphasize the limitations of the human condition. He “partook of the same things,” that is, the same humanity, a phrase stressing the completeness of the Son’s incarnation. In order for Christ to triumph over death and the devil enduring God’s judgment upon sinners, it was necessary for Him to share their “flesh and blood” nature. Having tempted humanity to sin (the one who has power of death), the devil then acts as the accuser, demanding that a just punishment be exacted; and “the wages of sin is death.” The devils power to kill is destroyed only when our sin has been punished-in Christ’s death. Then his accusations have no ground. All too often, Christians today give the devil credit for things he has no business getting credit for. Sometimes the only devil that should be blamed is the one staring back at you in the mirror. The devil may act as your accuser…But as a child of God you have VICTORY through Christ Jesus. Remind yourself often…through Christ the enemy has no ground.

Daily Word

For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying, “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.” And again, “I will put my trust in Him.” And again, “Behold, I and the children God has given me.” Hebrews 2:11-13. Jesus (he who sanctifies) makes His people holy through His blood. Jesus’ true followers (those who are sanctified), who are made holy by His sacrifice. Some commentators think one source is a reference to the common humanity shared by Jesus and those being saved, or to their common descent from Abraham. Others think that the “one source” is God the Father (that is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers). Since they share a descent (or, since God is their common Father), they are members of the same family, and therefore brothers. Psalm 22, from which vs.12 quotes, is associated with Jesus death and resurrection. The resurrected Messiah, his suffering completed, calls His brothers to join with him in worship. Both this verse and Matt. 26:30 speak of Jesus singing, but here the congregation in view is the assembly of all the redeemed in heaven. Think about it for a moment, and be reminded that everywhere you turn to before you look to Jesus is a “source.” How many “sources” do you have and how many do you go through before you finely turn to Christ?

Daily Word

For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. Hebrews 2:10. This is God the Father (he, for whom and by whom all things exist) who acts to “make perfect” the “founder of salvation” (Jesus). The followers (many sons) of the one unique Son of God are now called “sons,” for they are adopted into the glory of the newly redeemed human family. The concept of making “perfect” is applied elsewhere in Hebrews both to Jesus himself and to His work in sanctifying his followers. In saying that Jesus was made perfect, the author is not suggesting that Jesus was sinful but that as He lived his life, His maturity and experience deepened, yet always with full obedience to the Father. As a human being, He needed to live His life and obey God (which he did perfectly) to become the perfect sacrifice for sins. Although we will never be “perfect” in this life; through our obedience we demonstrate our maturity of a deepened relationship with Jesus. On a scale of 1 (low) to 10 (high) how would you rate in your obedience to God? Why?

Weekend Quote

Every man will have to decide for himself whether he can afford the the terrible luxury of unbelief. A.W Tozer

Weekend Quote

PRAYER for today: O God and Father, I repent of my sinful preoccupation with visible things. The world has been to much with me. Thou hast been here and too much with me. Thou hast been here and I knew it not. I have been blind to Thy presence. Open my eyes that I may behold Thee in and around me. For Christ’s sake. Amen. ~ A.W. Tozer

Daily Word

But we seem him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. Hebrews 10:9. Jesus (we see him) has the crown of glory and honor. It must now be shown that He received it as a man, and so can satisfy the words of the Psalm quoted. The expression “made over” can refer to status or time (that is, “a little later”). If it refers to time, it indicates the temporary character of Jesus’ humiliation. Here, (taste death for everyone) “everyone” must be understood in the light and of the context and of the results of Jesus’ death described elsewhere in Hebrews. It refers to the “many sons” whom God brings to glory, whom Jesus calls “brothers.” Those for whom Jesus tasted death, were made holy and perfect once and for all by His sacrifice, their consciences cleansed from acts that lead to death, so they are freed from the fear of death. By contrast, there are those (even within Christian congregations) who do not trust the son but subject Him to ridicule. For them, “there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment.” Thus “everyone” here includes all those (but only those) who persevere in trusting Jesus. Simply put…Is the life you’re living worth Christ dying for?

Daily Word

Now it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. It has been testified somewhere, “what is man, that you are mind full of him, or son of man, that you care for him? You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor, putting everything in subjection under his feet. Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. Hebrew 2:5-8. Such vagueness (testified somewhere) in scriptural reference is characteristic of the author of Hebrews, who stresses divine authorship of scripture rather than human authors. This way of citing well-known Old Testament proof text about a man in creation is evidence for the Jewish background of the recipients. Psalm 8 describes the glorious status of man as the head of all creation. How do you explain authorship of the bible to others? If you’ve never had the opportunity then today is a good day to prepare yourself to do so. Be ready in season and out!

Daily Word

For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? Hebrews 2:2-3. The role of the angels (declared by angels) in the giving of the law is suggested in Deut. 33:2 and became a standard element of Jewish and Christian description in Sinai. The argument is from the lesser to the greater. If what the angels said was “reliable,” then what comes from One superior to angels must be more so. The Greek word for “reliable” is legal terminology, as is witness. Violators of the Lord’s covenant (just retribution) were purged from the covenant community through death. Salvation…as first mentioned in 1:14, includes inheritance of the world to come, entry into the glory as God’s adopted sons, purification from sins, freedom from fear of death, and the privilege of drawing near to God to offer worship that pleases Him. The apostles (those who heard Him) were witnesses of what Jesus said and did in His ministry, death, and resurrection. Think about this for a moment…How exactly are YOU neglecting your own salvation….and what are you going to do to stop that neglecting?

Daily Word

Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift from it. Hebrews 2:1. The first four verses of this chapter are warnings against neglecting salvation. This warning calls each of us to pay heed to the greater salvation which was declared by the Lord Himself, attesting by human eye witnesses, and authenticated God’s power. Following standard Jewish argumentation, the argument proceeds from the lesser (retributions under the Mosaic Law) to the greater (the danger of neglecting the greater salvation). Jesus is superior to angels (Therefore), we must pay close attention to what we have heard because this message from the Son of God is also superior to prior revelation, which came through angels. To “drift away” results in dangerous “neglect” of the message. There are many today whom appear to be stuck in the OT…never accepting or acquiring the riches of the new covenant. When we listen to others be it a pastor, evangelist, or biblical teacher, and we fail to seek and search through God’s word ourselves. We simply place ourselves in great danger of “drifting away” from truth which will eventually result in our neglecting of His truth.

Daily Word

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”? Are they all not ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherent salvation? Hebrews 1:13-14. The Son’s position of heavenly authority is contrasted to the angels’ role as servants to “those who are to inherit salvation” (that is, who share as co-heirs in the Son’s rights as heir). The angels are servants to Christ, but also to His people, who inherit salvation through union with Him. In this His people are favored above angels. No matter how hard folks attempt to glorify something other than Christ the fact remains that He has set the order and nothing we do will change that. We place people, and things like angles on a pedestal often forgetting that the Throne of God is and always will be above them all!

Weekend Quote (Sun)

Do little things as if they were great because of the majesty of the Lord Jesus Christ who dwell’s in you; and do great things as if they were little and easy because of His omnipotence. ~ Blaise Pascal

Weekend Quote (Sat)

The greatest need of the human personality is to experience God Himself. This is because of who God is and who and what man is. ~ A.W. Tozer

Daily Post

“And, You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; they will parish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your eyes will have no end.” Hebrews 1:10-12 The Son’s unchanging eternity as God is essential to His high priesthood. Through Him the inheritance of believers remains forever. When you look at the scope of things in your life, and ponder for a moment that everything will wear out, everything will parish; it has to bring about great joy to know that YOU have indeed through Christ Jesus become an inheritance of believers that will remain forever. Begin today to become more heavenly minded a directed than earthly minded and driven.

Daily Word

But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.” Hebrews 1:8, 9. The quotation (Ps. 45:6-7) is from a Psalm extolling the Davidic King. Only Jesus, as the Davidic Messiah (the Anointed one), truly meets this description, since by reigning at God’s right hand He possess an eternal kingdom (Forever and ever) and reigns in true righteousness. The messianic Son is rightfully also called God, in this case by God the Father. There is no mistaking as to whom Christ Jesus is or from where Christ Jesus stands (or sits). Recognize today that YOU hold many roles in His kingdom from Servant (slave) to child of the living God!

Weekend Quote (Sun)

Watch where Jesus went. The one dominant note in His life was to do His Father’s will. His is not the way of wisdom or of Success, but the way of faithfulness. ~ Oswald Chambers

Daily Word

And Again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all the angels worship him.” Of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, and hid ministers of flame.” Hebrews 1:6,7. As the Son condescends to assume our human nature, angels worship Him. As in Ps. 89:27, the term “firstborn” means “of the highest rank,” above the kings of the earth, and not “first in order of birth”. In Ex. 4:22 it means “chosen” or most “desired.” The storm clouds of Ps. 104 adorn the Lord’s heavenly court. “Winds” and “flame” associate angels with the created worlds mutability in contrast to the Son’s eternal permanence. In contrast to the Son’s royal enthronement, the angels are merely “ministers” or “servants.” While there are many books, and many different approaches in the teaching of “angels. Today we bring angels into perspective in contrast with Christ. There is nothing greater or in a higher position than Christ whom sits at the right hand of God.

Daily Word

For 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.” Hebrews 1:5. The Fathers decree declaring the messiah to be His Son is identified with Christ’s exaltation. Though Jesus is the eternal and divine Son of God, the declaration of redemptive Sonship prophesized in Psalm 2:7 was conferred on Him in time, when He completed His messianic work. As believers you and I cannot become divine and share in Christ’s eternal divine Sonship, but our adoption as sons of God means that we participate in Christ’s redemptive Sonship through union with the “founder of our salvation.” There are many today who are preaching false doctrine…Know and understand the difference between His Sonship and your adoption as a son of God.

Daily Word

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, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. Hebrews 1:3-4. The Greek word rendered “radiance” describes divine wisdom personified in the Jewish intertestamental book Wisdom of Solomon. But Hebrews speaks not merely of a personified divine attribute, but of a divine Person who entered history to purify sinners. The “exact imprint of his nature” expresses both the Son’s oneness with the Father and the distinction of divine persons. As One whose being corresponds exactly to the Father, the accurately reveals the Father. Christ is “the image of the invisible God,” through whom we see the Father. In the midst of history the Son’s command holds the created order in existence (“upholds the universe by the word of His power), preserving it from destruction until that day when His voice will remove all but the unshakable kingdom of God and its heirs. The “purification of sins” reminds us of the Son’s atoning death in history, the priestly act that cleanses us to worship in God’s presence. The Son’s enthronement at God’s “right hand” in heaven, promised in Ps. 110:1, reveals His superiority in two ways. At the “right hand” of the majesty of Christ is ministering in the true, heavenly sanctuary and not an earthly copy. Secondly, He “sat down” because His sacrificial work (unlike that of Levitical priests) was finished once and for all. Today take some time to read, and re-read through this, and truly see Christ in a deeper light than he is typically portrayed.

Daily Word

Today we begin in the book of Hebrews. The prologue introduces the two time periods in God’s speaking to His people: “Long ago” and “these last days.” The Son’s coming marks our time period as the “latter days” of salvation promised through the prophets. The piecemeal character of prophetic revelation showed its incompleteness (“at many times), just as the repetition of animal sacrifices showed that they could not remove guilt. “In many ways” included visions, dreams, and dark sayings. “God Spoke is an important theme throughout Hebrews to be watchful for. “His Son” this revelation is qualitatively superior to that given through the prophets. Moses, the greatest prophet, was only a servant in God’s house; Christ is “over God’s house as Son.” The Son speaks, as the prophets did, but speaks as the Son whose revelation is final. The Son’s supremacy will be displayed at the end of history, for “all things were created…for Him” (heir of all things). He is the first born, the preeminent heir, whose enemies will be put under His feet. As God’s adopted sons through Jesus, we to are heirs. The son’s supremacy was displayed at the dawn of history, for “by him all things were created” (through whom…He created the world). The Greek word rendered “world” is lit. “ages” also “universe” in highlighting the successive periods of history in the created order. Later in Verses 10-12 quote Ps. 102:25-27 as testimony to the Son’s role in creation and His eternal preeminence, in contrast to the created universe. Re-read those first two verses and meditate on the fact that God has been speaking to us for a very long time. Do you hear Him today speaking to you through His son Jesus the Christ?

Daily Word

Now to Him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of the Lord Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of all the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith- to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen. Romans 16: 25-27. The authenticity of this closing doxology is questioned by some on the grounds of its length, its emphasis on mystery, and its textual history. There is, however, a certain appropriateness about its length, coming at the end of a letter like Romans. Its themes draw to a fitting conclusion much that has already been said. In particular, Paul draws attention to his own teaching of the gospel and its power to edify, to the revelation of God’s mystery, to the faith and obedience among nations, and to the wisdom of God in redemption. Today we conclude our walk through the Book of Romans, I pray these daily devotional post have encouraged, strengthened, and help start your day off on a positive foot. I will begin in a new book tomorrow… Have a blessed day!

Weekend Quote (Sun)

"Churches don’t need new members half as much as they need the old bunch made over." ~ Billy Sunday

Weekend Quote (Sat)

Never once did it occur to me that when I found the trail again, it would ruin my life forever. For once you feel the breath of God breath on your skin, you can never turn back, you can never settle for what was, you can only move recklessly, with abandon, your heart filled with fear and your ears ringing with those constant words, “fear not.” ~ Mike Yacconelli

Daily Word

For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Romans 16-19,20. The Romans need spiritual wisdom (innocent) and hearts without any alloy of evil. Prior to the closing greeting and doxology, Paul includes a promise of a prophetic nature, rooted in the first biblical deliverance promise in Gen. 3:15. Satan is the source of all “evil.” “The God of peace” (wholeness and integrity as well as tranquility) will act as the Divine Warrior to overcome him. This will take place “soon .” Paul may be speaking here of matters in the near future, or about the last things, which by faith is always seen as near at hand. What would it look like, and mean to you that “your obedience is known to all?” If not…Why not?