Hebrews 6
"Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, 'Thus far has the Lord helped us.'"
(1 SAMUEL 7:12)
Now that we are a month into the New Year, it's good to look back and recall God's mercy and faithfulness to us in the past. With hindsight we see where God removed an obstacle or built a way over it.
Joshua instructed one man from each tribe of Israel to bring a stone from the Jordan River to set up as a memorial in the place where they camped on their first night in the land God had promised His people. We, too, ought to remember the victories won thus far along our way. Those experiences are the memorial stones that remind us to press forward knowing everything we need has already been prepared for the next segment of the journey. We are given fresh strength, peace and joy to tackle each new day and week and month.
Paul's writings encourage us to hold on to hope because our hope is in the Rock of our salvation: Jesus. Never will He fail you; always will His strong arm be sufficient to carry you through. Truly, you can move forward with assurance of an amazing future with Christ.
INSIGHT
HERE I RAISE MY EBENEZER;
HERE BY THY GREAT HELP
I'VE COME;
AND I HOPE, BY THY GOOD PLEASURE,
SAFELY TO ARRIVE AT HOME.
(ROBERT ROBINSON, 1758)
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Exodus 11-12
Psalm 31
Mark 11
ew International Version (NIV)
6 Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death,[a] and of faith in God, 2 instruction about cleansing rites,[b] the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And God permitting, we will do so.
4 It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age 6 and who have fallen[c] away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. 7 Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. 8 But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.
9 Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are convinced of better things in your case—the things that have to do with salvation. 10 God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. 11 We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. 12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
The Certainty of God’s Promise
13 When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, 14 saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.”[d] 15 And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.
16 People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. 17 Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. 18 God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. 19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20 where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priestforever, in the order of Melchizedek.
Footnotes:
a. Hebrews 6:1 Or from useless rituals
b. Hebrews 6:2 Or about baptisms
c. Hebrews 6:6 Or age, 6 if they fall
d. Hebrews 6:14 Gen. 22:17
"CHRISTIAN" MYTHS ABOUT MONEY [PART 4]
with Dr. Ben Witherington
Have you ever heard about the prayer of Jabez? Jabez asked God to enlarge his territory and God answered his prayer. Does that mean we should do the same and expect God to increase our wealth?
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