2012 Day 300 – Hebrews 5

26 Friday Oct 2012

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Verse 7 really stood out to me today, During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Even Jesus who was already holy while He was here on earth cried out to God when He was about to be put to death. As humans we would look at the situation God put Jesus in with bitterness. However, while Jesus asked for deliverance from the only One who could save Him, it was enough to know that God heard His cries. I want to be that kind of man; one who is satisfied to know God hears me, but who’s will is ultimately more important than my own.

2012 Day 299 – Hebrews 4

25 Thursday Oct 2012

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We need to take a more thoughtful approach to how we come before God. Too often I will come to the Father either meekly with my head hung low or flippantly without much thought to my conversation with Him. In verse 16 it says, Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. We need to come to God with reverence because He is our King, but we also need to come to Him with boldness and confidence because He is our friend and counselor. As we’ve discussed several times this year, it all comes down to our relationship with Him. If the only time I talk to God is when I need something, it is difficult to know His reaction to my request. However, once a relationship has been established, it is easier to know how Much He loves me and cares for me and wants what is best for me.

2012 Day 298 – Hebrews 3

24 Wednesday Oct 2012

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The Jews back in the day had a lot of reverence for Moses. They almost treated him like a deity. But God is the one who made Moses and gave him the ability to be the person that he became. We must be very careful to not do the same thing when it comes to our spiritual leaders. In verse 3 it says, Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. Jesus, being God, should always deserve all the credit. We as humans are simply instruments to be used by Him for the building of His kingdom.

2012 Day 297 – Hebrews 2

23 Tuesday Oct 2012

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There is a lot in this chapter that we could discuss, but ultimately I think it comes down to verse 18, Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. I don’t know about you, but this is very comforting to me. To know that Jesus, as a human, experienced the same temptations that I experience today helps me to know how much He empathizes with me. The other part that struck me was the last part of verse 9 where it says, …so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. Jesus didn’t have to taste death for us. Up until this point He did not experience pain, suffering, or death, but He chose to do it out of love for us. That cannot go unnoticed.

2012 Day 296 – Hebrews 1

22 Monday Oct 2012

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Sometimes, I try to imagine what it would have been like to be a Jewish believer during the time the book of Hebrews was written; in 70 AD and as a Jew who believes that Christ is the Messiah. You have non-believing Jews on one side and Romans on the other who are persecuting you from all sides. This Letter is intended as encouragement and to assure believers of who Christ is as the Son of God. Verse 3 further established Christ’s role in God’s kingdom, The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. When it says that Jesus sat down it means His work was complete. Christ’s sacrifice was final and all we need for salvation and relationship with Him.

2012 Day 295 – 1 Peter 5

21 Sunday Oct 2012

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I have read verse 7 a hundred times, but I am always amazed that God puts it in front of me when I need it most, Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. All I really need to know is God cares for me so much that He wants to know what is troubling me. He wants me to leave my troubles at His feet so He can take on the burden of carrying them for me. If He was willing to carry my sin, then everything else is simple for Him.

2012 Day 294 – 1 Peter 4

20 Saturday Oct 2012

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The verse that stood out to me today was the only one that did not have a note directly associated with it in my Bible. So, I’m on my own in sharing my thoughts about verse 8, Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. There are a lot of things we can do to serve others and to serve God. However, if we do not do them with love then it doesn’t mean very much. Love matters in all things. Love changes the perspective for us in everything we do. It’s like the book my Bob Goff, “Love Does”, where he talks about love being the motivator behind everything. This one thing has the potential to change the way and frequency of following God’s command to serving others.

2012 Day 293 – 1 Peter 3

19 Friday Oct 2012

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Ok, I really need to pay more attention to these passages. I have read 1 Peter several times and this is the first time I noticed Peter’s reference to Noah’s flood symbolizing baptism in verse 21, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also–not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. I totally get it now. The flood symbolizes the cleansing of the entire earth from evil and by faith Noah and his family were saved. So cool!

2012 Day 292 – 1 Peter 2

18 Thursday Oct 2012

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I have never picked up on this before, but in this chapter Peter seems to draw on his personal experience when Jesus referred to him as the “rock” in Matthew 16:18, And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. Peter describes those who come to Jesus as “living stones” in verse 4-5, 4 As you come to him, the living Stone–rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him– 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.(emphasis added) As we read on in verses 7-8, Peter describes how stones are great foundations, but they can also be something that causes someone to lose their footing or stumble. We must be careful to be the building blocks of God and not become the things that cause people to run away from Him. It’s easy to get caught up in things that aren’t important. We must consciously strive to focus on God and do the things that draw others to Christ and not away from Him.

2012 Day 291 – 1 Peter 1

17 Wednesday Oct 2012

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I always love reading Peter’s letters, not just because of the substance, but also because he was an actual disciple of Jesus. Every time I read these books I think to myself, “not bad for a fisherman, there is still hope for me.” This first letter was written when Christians are being heavily persecuted and executed by Nero. Paul himself would eventually be executed during this persecution. Paul works hard to encourage the believers and reminds them of the permanence of their purification through Christ in their salvation. In verse 23 Peter says, For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. The encouragement of the imperishable salvation through Christ is what should keep each of us encouraged in knowing our hardship here on earth is temporary but our salvation is eternal.