Hebrews 10 - 5.20.24

Scripture

Hebrews 10:36-39

You need to persevere so that when you have done with will of God, you will receive what he has promised.  For, “In just a little while, he who is coming will not delay.” And,  “But my righteous one will live by faith.  And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.”  But, we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.

Observation

This part of Hebrews 10 is an encouragement to those of the faith to continue to persevere. He is actually using other Scripture references, such as Isaiah 26:20, Habukkuk 2:3, and Habukkuk 2:4 to support his point.

Also, from today’s reading in Exodus 32, I saw a similar theme of being tired of waiting for the Lord. The Israelites were tired of waiting for Moses (who was still with God on the mountain), so they made a golden calf to worship. As a result, they were later destroyed by a plague. (Ex. 32:35)

Application

When getting tired of waiting, don’t quit. Keep persevering in the faith.  

Let us learn from the Israelites and not return to our vomit (which are our past sins and idols).

It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them.  Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to his vomit.” (Proverbs 26:11) and “A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud.” -2 Peter 2:21-22 NIV

“But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the other servants, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.” -Luke 12:45-46 NIV

Prayer

Dear Lord,

Please help us to continue to persevere in the faith.  When we are tired of waiting and tempted to go back to our “old ways,” may we continue to seek You wholeheartedly in prayer and through Your Word for encouragement. May we also remember Your promise of return. We do not want to be a people “who shrink back and are destroyed, but rather a people who have faith and are saved,” as Your Word says. Amen.

-Michelle Gaddi

Exodus 31 - 5.17.24

Scripture: Exodus 31:1-6

”Then the Lord said to Moses, “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts. Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, to help him. Also I have given ability to all the skilled workers to make everything I have commanded you:“

‭‭Observations:

Preachers and teachers are not the only people God chooses and reveals wisdom to build His kingdom. He chooses artists and other skilled people to glorify Him. He filled them with His Spirit to make what God had commanded for His temple.  God not only gave the vision, but empowered those to fulfill it.  I believe there are so many gifted people that don’t realize God is the inspiration for the talent or skill they have. 

Applications:

God’s calling cannot be put in a box.  Many people have gifts that they may not think matter. This Scripture tells us that God inspired artists and other skilled workers.  I want to look for gifts God has given others and encourage them to keep pursing their passion. I need to remember to show others the source of their gifts.  I need to remember who is the source of the gifts I’ve been given.I also need to realize that when God puts in place a big project, He will fill those to complete it with His Spirit, wisdom, understanding, knowledge and all kinds of skills. 

Before I begin a project I need to look to God and have Him show me who He is gifting to join me. 

Prayer:

Lord thank you for all the amazing things you have created and continue to create. You created your people with many gifts and abilities. I pray we would not compare ourselves to others. May we know how important the gifts you have given each of us are. There are so many gifted people serving behind the scenes. Thank you for this reminder. I pray my eyes will be open to how you want to use my gifts and how I can encourage others.  Their gifts are important and bring glory to you. You inspire people with a variety of gifts and all creation and art forms can bring glory to you. 

Amen

- Cindy Howard

Hebrews 8 - 05.16.24

SCRIPTURE: Hebrews 8:10 AMPC

“For this is the new covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will imprint My laws upon their minds, even upon their innermost thoughts and understanding, and engrave them upon their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”

OBSERVATION 

The old covenant involved keeping God’s commandments and laws about sacrifices and other external requirements. Although the Israelites had made a covenant promise of obedience, they did not remain faithful. They broke God’s covenant many times over. The Israelites could not remain faithful because their hearts had not truly been changed. 

A changed heart requires something greater than the OLD system of sacrifice. 

APPLICATION 

God’s HOLY SPIRIT changed EVERYTHING 

I will PUT a New Spirit WITHIN them.

“…I will put a New Spirit WITHIN them; 

I will remove the hearts of stone from their bodies, and I will give them tender hearts, SO—that they may follow my statutes and keep my ordinances and do them. Then they will be my people, and I will be their God.”

(Ezekiel 11:19-20 AMP)

Under God’s New’s Covenant, God’s law is Inside us-not as an external set of rules and regulations BUT God Himself has taken up residence to transform our hearts, activate our conscience and influence our motives—giving us a desire to obey Him.

1.      A New Heart. “I will put My Laws IN their Minds and Write them ON Their Hearts.”

2.      Intimacy with God. “I will BE their God AND they will BE my people.” In the first covenant, people continually failed to live up to their promise breaking relationship. With the New Covenant, the relationship is secured through Jesus Christ.

3.      Access to Knowing God for Everyone. “Everyone, from the least to the greatest, will already KNOW me.” The New Covenant makes every believer a Priest. Jesus tore the curtain, and every believer NOW has intimate 24/7 access to God through prayer. Every believer will have a New depth of understanding unlike anything before BECAUSE we have God’s Living Presence in our heart to reveal truth to us as we read His Word and continue to learn through Bible believing--Christ Centered Church community and godly teachers.

4.      God’s Forgiveness is assured. “I will FORGIVE their wrongdoings, and I will never again remember their sins.” The old covenant provided an incomplete forgiveness needing to make sacrifices over and over again for their sins. With The New Covenant, sin and its effect of separating people from God are eliminated. Sin’s impact is completely overcome AND there is no longer a barrier to our relationship with God.

God’s Law is inside us and His forgiveness is complete!

PRAYER

Thank YOU LORD Jesus for YOUR GIFT! YOUR Word is written on our mind and upon our inner most thoughts to guide and direct our ways. YOU are working IN us to give us the desire and power to do what pleases YOU (Phil 2:13). Thank YOU for YOUR Goodness and Grace and LOVE that is beyond compare. Today I am simply Thankful and say Bless the LORD Oh my soul and all that is within me, Bless His Holy Name. amen.

Tina L Kudelka