Hebrews___5

Scripture  Hebrews 5:12-14  For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child.  But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. Observation-What does it say?  In the beginning part of this chapter, the author is highlighting Jesus’ role as our great high priest.  Through Jesus, and his sacrifice on the cross, our debt for sin has been paid.  He fulfilled the old testament law requirements of sacrifice for sins, once and for all.  He is the perfect high priest appointed for God as mediator for all time.  It is through Jesus we have our freedom from the law. At the end of the chapter and into the next, the author shows some frustration for the immaturity of his audience.  They have gotten stuck in a rut, which isn’t only hindering their growth, but also puts them in danger of falling away from the faith altogether.  A remedy to this is discipline in searching and studying God’s word. Understanding-What does it mean?  My commute to work is just a little bit under an hour.  Having this much time can feel like a bit of a waste, so I like to listen to educational based podcasts, so I feel like I am making good use of the two hours a day.  I recently started listening to a podcast by a former Navy SEAL.  One of his catch phrases is, “Discipline equals freedom.”  It seems contradictory, as the idea of discipline evokes the thought of being restricted to something.  Almost as though you have a ball-and-chain stuck to your ankle.  But, he points out the fact that pushing through times of adversity, becoming a master of our circumstances, allows us to become stronger versions of ourselves.  Discipline involves having a clear goal as to where you are going.     Athletes attempting to qualify for the Olympics have a clear sight on their goal.  Despite going through days where they don’t feel the desire to work out, they discipline themselves to their cause.  Paul gives us a similar charge.  Having our sights set clearly on spending eternity with Jesus, he encourages us to have discipline in our spiritual walk.  To the Corinthian church he writes “24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. 25 Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; 27 but I [l]discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:24-27).
Life Application:  Jesus, in this world of instant gratification and convenience, help me to search daily for the narrow road.  Help me to dig down into the trenches of this spiritual warfare we live in.  Help me to hold the line.  When I have run my race and reached the finish line, I not only want to hear you say well done, but I also want to know that I helped bring my Christian family through this warfare as well.  

 

-Tyler Galloway