Hebrews 11 verses 25 & 26 today tell us so much about the character and faith of Moses! “He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of the Messiah than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to the great reward that God would give him.” Do these verses speak to us today as well? Will we share in the oppression of God’s people? Or do we enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin? Do we suffer for the sake of Jesus? Or would we prefer to chill out and hang out with our luxuries in life? Do we look ahead to the great reward that God promises? Will we pursue the character and faith of Moses in our own lives today?
Worship Video: Today’s readings reminded me of the Third Day song “Your Love is Like a River:”
Comments from You: What verses or insights stand out to you from today’s readings? Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!
Grace, love, peace, and joy! Mike
p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!
Today we read Hebrews Chapter 11, which is a great reflection of the faith of our spiritual ancestors in the Old Testament! Some call this chapter the “Hall of Faith” – as in the Hall of Fame. 🙂 I would encourage you to read this chapter entirely today – and again tomorrow in its entirety. Chapter 11 opens with this critically important verse for us to memorize and take to heart: “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Are you sure of what you hope for? Are you certain of what you do not see? As you read through this chapter, do you see the value in the faith of our spiritual ancestors? In what area of your life might God be calling you to step forward in faith?
Enoch in verse 5 is an intriguing example of faith coming from Genesis chapter 5’s genealogy from Adam to Noah (see Genesis 5:24 at this link): “It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying—”he disappeared, because God took him.” For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God.” Below is a painting of Enoch being taken up to heaven by the Italian painter Sebastiano Ricci (1659-1734):
Verses 13 through 16 I think are four of the most amazing verses we’ve read in Hebrews and I think each of us should really meditate on what these verses might mean in our lives today: “All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth. Obviously people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their own. If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back. But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.” What do you think of these verses? If these heroes of our faith died still believing what God promised them – even though they did not receive what was promised here on earth – do you think that perhaps you and I should always be faithful in our lives to God no matter what we may think we’re not “receiving” here on earth? If we’re not receiving perfect health. If we’re not receiving a perfect job. If we’re not receiving a perfect family. If we’re not receiving a perfect mental state. If not, if not, if not…. will we still believe what God promised us? Will we still believe that God is not ashamed to be called our God? Will we still believe that God has prepared a heavenly city for us? Let us believe!
Worship Video: Today’s readings reminded me of Third Day’s fantastic song “King of Glory”! Below is a live version of this song. Watch this to the 2:15 remaining mark to hear Mac Powell leading an awesome reflection/prayer on the power of Jesus’ name. Who is this King of Glory!
Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today:“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)
Prayer Point: Pray that you are living by faith. Pray that you are sure of what you hope for. Pray that you are certain of what you do not see. Pray that you are living by faith in Christ alone!
Comments from You: What verses or insights stand out to you from today’s readings? Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!
Grace, love, peace, and joy! Mike
p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!
Hebrews chapter 10 today is amazing! In verse 22 we read: “Let us go right into the presence of God, with true hearts fully trusting him. For our evil consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.” Great stuff! The last few words of this verse remind me of the blessing of Baptism – as an outward sign of our inner transformation and faith in Christ. Verse 24 is just pure joy & goodness: “Think of ways to encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds.” Outbursts of love & good deeds indeed! Who are you encouraging these days to outbursts of love and good deeds? Can you think of some ways to do this? And verse 25 reminds me of the importance of finding a church community to do life with together: “And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near.” Do you meet together with others in a local church? Have you found a small group, community group, or prayer group that you can spend some quality time with outside of regular church services? A group where you can encourage, warn, and pray for each other? Verse 26 and the following verses are strong reminders of the one option we have for our faith – the one true God to follow: “Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received a full knowledge of the truth, there is no other sacrifice that will cover these sins.” Is there another sacrifice besides Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross that will cover our sins?
Worship Video: Today’s readings remind me of Third Day’s song “Call My Name:”
Please join us in memorizing and meditating on two verses of Scripture today:“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV)
Prayer Point: Pray that you are spurring on others in your life toward love and good deeds each and every day. Pray that you meet together with Christ’s body, the church, regularly. Pray that you are encouraging others and being encouraged as the Day of Christ’s return is approaching!
Comments from you – What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings? Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!
God bless, Mike
p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!
Hebrews chapter 10 is powerful today! I did come across a great learning, which I hadn’t really picked up before. In verse 9 we read this about Jesus: “He cancels the first covenant in order to establish the second.” At first glance you might think, wow, the old / first covenant is over. Things like the Ten Commandments don’t matter anymore. Well, not so fast! Tyndale’s One Year Bible companion tells us that this verse refers to the doing away (canceling) of the system of sacrifices contained in the ceremonial law. However, this does not mean canceling / eliminating God’s moral law (the Ten Commandments). Only through faith in Christ we can fulfill the moral law, as Jesus lives in us. Good to know, eh? I’d never really picked up this distinction before of Jesus canceling the ceremonial law but not the moral law. Do you see this distinction? As I’ve done some more reading on this, I realize this is a bit of a contentious point for many Christians. Check out this great overview of the Mosaic Law in light of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection – including a disagreement on my point above about the moral law – at bible.org at this link.
Worship Video: Today’s readings in Hebrews reminds me of the Big Daddy Weave song, “What Life Would Be Like:”
Comments from you – What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings? Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!
God bless, Mike
p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!
Hebrews chapter 9 verses 27 & 28 today teaches us: “And just as it is destined that each person dies only once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ died only once as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people.” This stands in stark contrast to the old covenant where the High Priest had to atone for the people’s sins over and over and over again. With faith in Jesus, our sins are forgiven all at once – for eternity – and Christ does not need to forgive us of our sins over and over and over again. Faith in Christ is the one and only thing that matters. Do you believe this?
Worship Video: Today’s readings in Hebrews reminded me of the fantastic Jason Castro song “You Are:”
Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today:“For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.” Hebrews 9:15 (NIV)
Prayer Point: Pray that Jesus Christ is your mediator and that you have been called to receive eternal life. Pray in faith that Jesus Christ died as a ransom for your sins and that you are now living a new eternal life in Christ.
Comments from You: What verses or insights stand out to you from today’s readings? Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!
Grace, love, peace, and joy! Mike
p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!
Hebrews chapter 9 is a fairly brief reading today on the Old Covenant rules for approaching God. We also read today about the ark of the covenant. Below are a couple of good images of the tabernacle, which you’ll recall details about from our readings in Exodus chapters 26 & 27 earlier this year:
One thing that stands out in my mind when reading this chapter today is that just after Jesus dies on the cross there is an earthquake, which shakes the Temple in Jerusalem where the Most Holy Place was located at the time of Jesus’ death. The curtain separating the Most Holy Place from the rest of the Temple is torn in two. This is incredible imagery that shows that no longer is the Most Holy Place and an earthly high priest the only way to God. Jesus has torn that veil in two and Jesus is our new and eternal High Priest ushering in the New Covenant!
Worship Video: Today’s readings remind me of JJ Heller’s song “What Love Really Means:”
Comments from You: What verses or insights stand out to you from today’s readings? Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!
Grace, love, peace, and joy! Mike
p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!
Hebrews chapter 8 is awesome in that it dives into some verses we read recently in the book of Jeremiah about the new covenant! Verse 3 stands out: “And since every high priest is required to offer gifts and sacrifices, our High Priest must make an offering, too.” What was the offering Christ made for our sins? Verse 13 stands out too: “When God speaks of a new covenant, it means he has made the first one obsolete. It is now out of date and ready to be put aside.” Something I learned recently – the old / first covenant referred to in this chapter is the “Sinaitic” covenant and not the Abrahamic covenant – the difference being not the promise to Abraham that his descendants will outnumber the stars in the sky and God will be our God and we his people (the Abrahamic covenant) – but the “Sinaitic” covenant are the laws given to Moses on Mt. Sinai and in the desert for how the Israelites were to live – including how priests would make sacrifices for sin. The Abrahamic covenant still stands today – the Sinaitic covenant is now out of date and ready to be put aside because it was completed by the new covenant of Jesus Christ. Our High Priest who offered His life for our lives.
Worship Video: Today’s readings in Hebrews reminded me of Matthew West’s song “Save a Place for me:”
Comments from You: What verses or insights stand out to you from today’s readings? Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!
Grace, love, peace, and joy! Mike
p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!
Hebrews chapter 7 verse 27 teaches us today: “Jesus does not need to offer sacrifices every day like the other high priests. They did this for their own sins first and then for the sins of the people.” I hadn’t really thought a lot about this before. In the Old Testament the Levitical priests had to offer sacrifices first for their own sins – and then they would be clean / pure enough to offer sacrifices for others sins. The good news of course in the New Testament and in this chapter is that we now have the perfectly clean and pure High Priest of Jesus Christ – who does not need to purify himself first! He never sinned. Will you take your sins to Jesus, your High Priest?
Worship Video: Today’s readings reminded me of Casting Crowns wonderful worship tune called “Lifesong.” Let this be our prayer today – “Let my lifesong sing to you!”
Comments from You: What verses or insights stand out to you from today’s readings? Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!
Grace, love, peace, and joy! Mike
p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!
Hebrews Chapter 7 is fascinating! It’s basically an argument for why Jesus is our High Priest today – even though he is not from the tribe of Levi – the tribe of priests. Instead, the author of Hebrews argues that Jesus is immortal and is a priest in the line of Melchizedek. Most commentators I have read have said that Jesus is not Melchizedek nor vice versa. Basically, the author is making the case for the New Covenant – New Testament – that the Levitical priesthood line is completed by Jesus who is instituting a new covenant with Jesus as our High Priest. We need no other. We can go directly to God through Jesus. Do you believe this? Do you practice this? Do you pray in Jesus’ name? The name of our High Priest in heaven!
Worship Video: Today’s readings reminded me of TobyMac and Blessing Offur’s song “The Goodness:”
Comments from You: What verses or insights stand out to you from today’s readings? Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!
Grace, love, peace, and joy! Mike
p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!
Hebrews Chapter 6 verse 1 definitely stood out today: “So let us stop going over the basics of Christianity again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don’t need to start all over again with the importance of turning away from evil deeds and placing our faith in God.” I think sometimes we can get too caught up on the basics of Christianity and then never really grow in our faith. I do believe God is calling us first and foremost to come into relationship with Him through faith in his son Jesus. But, after that, let us grow! Let us no longer conform to our worldly ways and passions, even though we now have faith in Jesus. Let us become saints. Let us love and serve God, other people, and the poor more and more with each passing day. Let us go on and become mature in our understanding! Let us move forward from always being “disciples” to becoming “apostles.” How is your spiritual growth these days? Are you growing? Do you want to grow?
In verses 7 & 8 today we read: “When the ground soaks up the rain that falls on it and bears a good crop for the farmer, it has the blessing of God. But if a field bears thistles and thorns, it is useless. The farmer will condemn that field and burn it.”
Verse 18 is awesome: “Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can take new courage, for we can hold on to his promise with confidence.” Have you fled to Jesus for refuge? Are you holding on to God’s promise with confidence?
Worship Video: Today’s readings reminded me of the Aaron Shust song “To God Alone be the Glory:”
Comments from You: What verses or insights stand out to you from today’s readings? Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!
Grace, love, peace, and joy! Mike
p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!
New Testament in a Year 