Day 320: Hebrews 13:1-25

“Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” - Hebrews‬ ‭13:15-16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus’ sacrifice was a setup for our salvation, and all that flows out of this regeneration is to be beautiful. We are now freed to offer sacrifices as an overflow, a response to the sweet saving.

SACRIFICE OF PRAISE // This is the only time this word for praise (ainesis) appears in this way throughout the New Testament. Nida and Louw define it as to speak of the excellence. Regular praising should come naturally from our mouths! Sunday mornings, at work, when we are driving, working out, walking to class—it is appropriate at all times.

SACRIFICE OF GENEROSITY // Jesus met our greatest need. He saved our souls and gave us new hearts. Meeting the needs of others is an obvious response. What plan do you have in place to ensure you never forget to share? Our finances are something we will always be prone to guard and keep exclusively for ourselves, but Psalm 24:1 sings that it all belongs to God; we are just the managers.

Here's the thing about sacrifices. They hurt, stretch, and push us into places we wouldn't have defaulted toward on our own. Praise and generosity are acts of worship that we will never regret offering.

Jesus has done the heavy lifting, and now we get to respond to his great work on the cross.

One more thought. Think about the most joyful Christians you know. The ones that come to my mind are always praising and the ones you can’t keep from giving. It is the overflow of a thankful heart.

Day 319: Hebrews 12:14-29

“But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering,” - Hebrews‬ ‭12:22‬ ‭ESV‬‬

I think we’ve all heard our phones declare, “You have arrived at your destination!” It is a relief to listen to these words, especially if we were wandering aimlessly for a while. Verses 22-25 is God reassuring these Hebrew Christians that all of their sufferings are a reminder of what they are now approaching. The detail provided is also helpful for us today.

Now approaching…

• Heavenly City (alluding to Revelation 21)

• Thousands of angels, singing (they’ve been doing this since the beginning, Job 38:7)

• All of our Christian family gone before us (not yet fitted with resurrection bodies—to come later)

• God the Father (the righteous Judge)

• Jesus and His blood (allowing us to approach God the Judge)

Our future is literally bright and will be non-stop joy. The singing, the unity, the majestic presence of God—all will be made right.

“You will one day arrive at your destination.”

Until then, the following quote is great to consider:  'It is interesting that he employs the perfect tense here rather than the future: “you have come to Mount Zion” (v. 22). The heavenly reward of the believer may become complete at the consummation but we can begin to experience it in the present.' - Girdwood, J., & Verkruyse, P. (1997). Hebrews (p. Heb 12:22)

Day 318: Hebrews 11:32-40, 12:1-13

“Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.” - Hebrews 12:3 ESV

Reading our passage today, and being from the United States, may cause us to feel disconnected from what has been the norm throughout the church's history. Our country provides the freedom to worship, for the most part, without fear of harm.

Yet we are the living legacy of Christians (and Jews) who suffered unthinkably at the hands of their oppressors. Even today, we know that millions of Christians and Jews worldwide live with the reality of putting their lives at risk to follow Jesus. All we have to do is spend five minutes scrolling the World Watch List on the Open Doors website to get a glimpse of what is still happening.

The writer of Hebrews flows from backs being ripped open, to the grandstands of heaven cheering us on, to the example of Jesus and then considering it all as a helpful discipline. This may seem inconsiderate to us, but again, we don't really know what it's like to experience this kind of physical suffering (though it may be in our future, 2 Timothy 3:12).

We do know that God is moving us all forward, encouraging us to take "a new grip" and to "stand firm."

The Christian life is historically hard. Still, at the same time, it is the best life, not only for now but also for all of eternity.

”…as conquerors and as sufferers, they witness to His power and faithfulness; and those who regard them cannot but be strengthened by their testimony.” - Brooke Foss Westcott

Day 317: Hebrews 11:17-31

“By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned.” - Hebrews 11:29 ESV

Death by drowning has to be one of the most fearful things to think about. Would we be willing to risk this fate by stepping out in faith if God commanded us to do so? The Israelites walked across on the dry land, through the Red Sea, with water walls on either side. Surely they had to wonder if the barricade would hold for all 1.5 million-ish of them to cross. God kept the waters at bay and allowed them to cross. Their faith had not been misplaced.

As we meander through Hebrews 11, we see people who did things by faith, causing them to take risks. Faith will always call us to take uncomfortable action. The Greek word used for faith throughout the New Testament is pistis, and it can also be translated as trust.

If we trust God enough to see us through, we need to believe He'll support us as we step into an unknown/exciting space.

In these moments, if God doesn't come through, we will fail miserably. History has shown, though, that God has always responded significantly to people who put simple trust (faith) in Him. What step is Jesus asking you to take next?

“There are two redemptions: redemption by price and redemption by power. Redemption by price was typified in the paschal lamb and the Passover. Redemption by power was typified in the passage of the Red Sea, when the children of Israel went through it dry-shod and the Egyptians were drowned.” - C.H. Spurgeon

Day 316: Hebrews 11:1-16

“But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.” - Hebrews 11:16 ESV

The Greek word used for ashamed here is epaischynomai. Jesus used the same word in Mark 8:38 when he said, "Whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."

We know what it is like to be ashamed of association with someone else. Maybe we don't want some of our friends to know about another group with which we are close. Possibly you dated someone, and it went wrong, and it continues to be awkward when you run into them. Shame and regret flood in with a simple glance.

When it comes to His children, His faithful ones, God doesn't shrink back when He thinks of us. He isn't worried about his reputation being weakened. If this is how you feel about your association with Jesus, the feeling is promised to be reciprocated.

Need proof? Check out the cast of characters that God used as laid out in Hebrews 11. None of them were perfect. I mean, Abraham even lied about his wife twice to try and save his own life and mistreated an Egyptian slave.

T.D. Lea says it well as he wrote, "Despite the obvious failings of all these men, God was not ashamed to be called their God. He had prepared a spiritual city for them, and he was delighted to be known as their God." - Lea, T. D. (1999). Hebrews, James (Vol. 10, p. 202)

God is getting ready for us. Are we getting ready for Him? We should be honored for everyone to know that we are secured children of our heavenly Father, saved by the blood of His Son, Jesus, and empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Day 315: Hebrews 10:18-39

“…let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.” - Hebrews‬ ‭10:22‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This verse may not hold that much significance with us until we consider the reaction of those in the Bible that came into contact with God’s presence (or even an angel). Abram was overcome (Genesis 17:3). Samson’s parents fell face down (Judges 13:20). Ezekiel also fell on his face (Ezekiel 1:28). Daniel did the same (Daniel 8:17). A leper fell before Jesus as well (Luke 5:12). John fell as if dead (Revelation 1:17).

So, are you ready to stroll right into God’s presence with your sincere heart? Yeah, it makes me a little nervous as well to think about it as well.

Yet, we have no reason to fear God’s presence. This isn’t because we’ve finally started to sin less often. It is all because of Jesus granting us access through his blood and resurrection!

“In Christ we are to see accomplished all that is needed for atonement. But there are conditions also required in ourselves, expressed first by the ‘true heart,’ and the ‘fulness of faith,’ and then by the clauses that follow.” - Spence-Jones, H. D. M., ed. (1909). Hebrews (p. 266)

This context makes the iconic Hebrews 10:25 so much richer. Since we have access to God's presence and all of our guilty consciences have been made clean, why wouldn't we want to share in this fellowship with other Christians?  It is a joy to walk side-by-side with those who can encourage us with these truths.

Day 314: Hebrews 10:1-17

“Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, ‘Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure.’ Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’” - ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10:5-7‬ ‭ESV‬‬

We actually have no record of Jesus saying these words, but we do have evidence of him living them. They are a quotation from Psalm 40:6-8, which is clearly about the Messiah.

The Father provided His Son with a body. That body would be nurtured as a baby and would grow to offer healing for many. Ultimately, though, the will of God was not focusing on a temporary fix.

The end game was to see us receive (by faith) eternal healing by the blood of that body.

Jesus also lived Psalm 40 as He submissively prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane (see Luke 22:39-46). He knew what His body wanted to do, but His desire to do God’s will triumphed over the pull of His flesh.

May we take the example of our Savior to heart. Let’s be about our Father’s will over everything else, even if it may hurt in the short term.

This quote is a little long, but such a great way to close our time today:  “The human nature of Christ was taken on Him in order that He might be able to do for us that which God desired and required. God desired to see an obedient man—a man who would keep His law to the full, and He sees Him in Christ. God desired to see one who would vindicate the eternal justice and show that sin is no trifle. Behold our Lord, the eternal Son of God, entering into that prepared body, was ready to do all this mighty work by rendering to the law a full recompense for our dishonor of it!” - C.H. Spurgeon (“Hebrews” pg 270)

Day 313: Hebrews 9:11-28

“And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.” - Hebrews 9:27-28 ESV

Thomas Edison and his researchers in Edison's laboratory in Menlo Park, N.J., tested more than 3,000 designs for light bulbs between 1878 and 1880. They needed all of these unsuccessful attempts to get to their finished product.

How about Jesus? How many times did He need to carry out his rescue plan? It took one cross, a single offering, to atone for our many mistakes. When we receive this generous gift of grace, we are forgiven and set on a new path that leads to life (see Matthew 7:13-14).

Yet that isn't all. One day Jesus will come for a second time to bring justice to completion (all will be made right). Who is it that will be saved? Those who "eagerly await" him. This is one Greek word (apekdechomai), and it means to "look forward eagerly" or to “expect anxiously.”

Jesus saved us by His death when we came to Him in faith. Now we look ahead, not fearfully, but filled with hope.

And as we established at the start, Jesus is an expert in saving. He only needed one take to do what no one else could.

“At His first manifestation Christ took on Him the sins of humanity, and, though Himself sinless, endured the consequences of sin. At His second coming this burden will exist no longer. Sin then will have no place.” - Brooke Foss Westcott

Day 312: Hebrews 9:1-10

“In that room were a gold incense altar and a wooden chest called the Ark of the Covenant, which was covered with gold on all sides. Inside the Ark were a gold jar containing manna, Aaron’s staff that sprouted leaves, and the stone tablets of the covenant.” - Hebrews 9:4 NLT

Ever wondered why these three items were placed inside the Ark of the Covenant? All three were rich with significance when it came to Israel's history.

• Jar containing manna - Exodus 16:14-36, Numbers 11:1-14

• Aaron's staff that sprouted - Numbers 16-17

• Stone tablets (10 Commandments) - Exodus 20, 25:16, 32:19

If you take the time to read all of these passages, you'll see that each of the items was a physical reminder from times of Israelite rebellion. The people moaned about the manna, they questioned Aaron's leadership, and they regressed by worshiping a calf idol (resulting in the first tablets being smashed).

Why place warnings in the Ark? Why not put a copy of the Song of Moses in there or maybe a section of Moses' miraculous staff?

It seems clear that these three were to be perpetual reminders of their great need for Yahweh. They would not be able to live their best life by their own strength. Our natural course is sinful defiance against God, trying to create our own way, making gods of ourselves and our culture.

Even though these three were reminders of unfaithfulness, they were also to recall God’s patience and lavish grace to the people. He didn’t wipe them out. He continued to give them food, he provided them with strong leadership, and he made a second set of tablets.

Today, they help us to see how blessed we are to have a Lord and Savior like Jesus, by whose stripes we are healed (see 1 Peter 2:24). We, too, have been found unfaithful, but Jesus’ blood sets us right. God is still in the business of second, or even third, chances.

Day 311: Hebrews 8:1-13

“For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.” - Hebrews 8:12 ESV

This section is a direct quote from Jeremiah 31:31-34. The theme of that Old Testament passage is centered around the promise of the Israelites' return to Jerusalem after 70 years of exile. Yet Jeremiah (by the Holy Spirit) is intentionally overshooting in his prophecy to the time when the Messiah (Jesus) would arrive to set up a new covenant.

The way he speaks of sin here would have been mind-blowing to a Jewish reader, largely because of their continued need for sacrifices. The cycle for them included piles of sin that would need rolling back regularly. Sin was never truly satisfied and driven out by "the blood of bulls and goats” (Hebrews 10:4).

Does God really forget our sins when He forgives us via the blood of Jesus?

God is omniscient (all-knowing), but now our sin account is paid in full. Donald Gutherie writes that this passage "is reassuring because it means that forgiveness is complete. There will be no possibility of sins, once forgiven, being brought against the people of God."

May this motivate us to avoid all that for which Jesus has paid the price. Nothing is worth compromising the lavish act of grace that was made on our behalf, especially the temporary thrill that sin offers.