2010-08-18
5:11-6:12
(v6:1-2) “Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.”
(v1) “…us…
Before we start, “HA!”
I had to get that out of my system before continuing on in my little walk through Hebrews. Because from all and every angle you look at this verse, the it is talking to “…us…”
The issues that were plaguing the early church is not all that different from the ones that are ripping “…us…” apart. On top of all the things that Adam brought upon us, namely sin, the church had and is still struggling with the issues of doctrine that have been burning bridges in every aspect of our lives. What do the “…us…” of today struggle with? The Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian talk about when regarding the doctrine? Its namely, “…the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.” (this is good cuz crtl+c, crtl+v is much easier than typing)
And God’s reply to our strife? “Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity,…”
So… immature… “…us…”
-Worm
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Monday, August 16, 2010
A Prayer
I subscibe to PTWG and there was a prayer that really was 'me.'
Dear God, I am getting rid of my spiritual aches and pains. Please help me in this process as I seek to to submit fully to You, resist the devil, draw near to you, cleanse my hands, purify my heart, and repent of sin (James 4:7-9). I want to be humble before You, my God. My worth comes from You alone, not from what the world has to offer. All glory and honor to You, for You alone are worthy of praise. You alone can lift me up and give me abundant life and joy beyond comparison. Thank You, in Jesus' name. Amen.
-Worm
Dear God, I am getting rid of my spiritual aches and pains. Please help me in this process as I seek to to submit fully to You, resist the devil, draw near to you, cleanse my hands, purify my heart, and repent of sin (James 4:7-9). I want to be humble before You, my God. My worth comes from You alone, not from what the world has to offer. All glory and honor to You, for You alone are worthy of praise. You alone can lift me up and give me abundant life and joy beyond comparison. Thank You, in Jesus' name. Amen.
-Worm
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Hebrews 5:4-10 "Begging to be Made Perfect"
2010-08-11
5:4-10
I wont go deeply into writing but interesting, interesting.
(v7) “…to the one who could save him from death…”
(v8) “…he learned obedience from what he suffered”
(v9) “and once made perfect…”
Ah~ the tangents I can draw from this! The tingling sensation in my mind. The confusion it would bring! Ah~ the smell of chaos. But the pain of having to leave it to your imagination. Sigh.
-Worm
5:4-10
I wont go deeply into writing but interesting, interesting.
(v7) “…to the one who could save him from death…”
(v8) “…he learned obedience from what he suffered”
(v9) “and once made perfect…”
Ah~ the tangents I can draw from this! The tingling sensation in my mind. The confusion it would bring! Ah~ the smell of chaos. But the pain of having to leave it to your imagination. Sigh.
-Worm
Monday, August 9, 2010
Hebrews 5:1-3 "Weak.... Me"
2010-08-09
5:1-3
(v2) “He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness.”
“…since…”
Short and powerful is today’s order as I am late, bloated with too much food (수원 갈비 for lunch and 증조할머니 제사 때 갈비찜이 ummmm good, I don’t think I even have room for morning coffee). Humility is the order here. “…since…” all of us who are fore Christians who have a obligation for leading others of the same and others of yet to receive Jesus into their hearts, are “…subject to weakness.”
Dear God, take hold of my tongue, control my actions, reside in my heart, comfort my soul, and crush my pride.
-Worm
5:1-3
(v2) “He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness.”
“…since…”
Short and powerful is today’s order as I am late, bloated with too much food (수원 갈비 for lunch and 증조할머니 제사 때 갈비찜이 ummmm good, I don’t think I even have room for morning coffee). Humility is the order here. “…since…” all of us who are fore Christians who have a obligation for leading others of the same and others of yet to receive Jesus into their hearts, are “…subject to weakness.”
Dear God, take hold of my tongue, control my actions, reside in my heart, comfort my soul, and crush my pride.
-Worm
Friday, August 6, 2010
Hebrews 4:14-16 "Faith via Grace"
2010-08-06
4:14-16
(v16) “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
"…so that…”
Its getting harder by the moment to fine the right sound bit for my subtitles (hehe). But, “…so that…” we could reap the help, we much approach the throne, which is possible because of God’s grace. The grace being embodied by our Great High Priest, who is Jesus the Son of God. (Yeah I’m hacking today’s portion and yes I couldn’t get on a word processor yesterday and today is darn busy also.)
But the point is, our faith, that is the belief that there is a throne that we could approach, and that the God who is sitting on that throne will accept us is purely possible by Grace. Which is Jesus the Son of God.
"Faith via Grace"
-Worm
4:14-16
(v16) “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
"…so that…”
Its getting harder by the moment to fine the right sound bit for my subtitles (hehe). But, “…so that…” we could reap the help, we much approach the throne, which is possible because of God’s grace. The grace being embodied by our Great High Priest, who is Jesus the Son of God. (Yeah I’m hacking today’s portion and yes I couldn’t get on a word processor yesterday and today is darn busy also.)
But the point is, our faith, that is the belief that there is a throne that we could approach, and that the God who is sitting on that throne will accept us is purely possible by Grace. Which is Jesus the Son of God.
"Faith via Grace"
-Worm
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Hebrews 4:6-13 "The Grace of '...Again...'"
2010-08-04
4:6-13
(v7) “Therefore God again set a certain day, calling it Today, when a long time later he spoke through David, as was said before:
‘Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.’”
(v7) “…again…”
Upon this portion of the bible there is a much more famous verse that many have stored it in their memory. (v12) “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edge sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Though a great verse, many have just memorized the verse without thinking about the “For…” And upon examining the “For…,” or the why verse 12 was written, it is apparent that it is because of verse 11, “Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest s that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.” Then again, if we examine the “…therefore…” we arrive upon verse 7, “Therefore God again set a certain day,…”
The “Therefore…” in verse 7 refers to yesterday’s entry, of us facing a rock and a hard place. But the point I am trying to make is based on the “…again…” portion of this passage. The reason for Jesus’ coming. The reason for all that has happened and all that is happening, pivots around the “…again…”
The ‘perfectness’ after the 6th day of creation was cut short by our sin, and the effort or sacrifice could not regain the ‘perfectness’ that God embodies. So God set another “Today,” “…again…”
Chances do not come very often. In my opinion, though God is a God of second chances, in our walk of life there certain choices that is never too late. You don’t have to taste that chocolate, nor do you have to say something of importance such as “I love you.” But the choice of “Today” might not come “…again…” You can live with certain choices, but ‘Life’ of the everlasting kind, demands us the choice of “Today.”
The world that we are living in, time, the era that we are living in, we are blessed by the fact that it is the era of “…again…” It can only be explained by Love, Mercy, and Grace that we have been provident enough to be able the make the choice of “Today.” Thank God for the grace of “…again…”
The grace of “…again…”
-Worm
4:6-13
(v7) “Therefore God again set a certain day, calling it Today, when a long time later he spoke through David, as was said before:
‘Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.’”
(v7) “…again…”
Upon this portion of the bible there is a much more famous verse that many have stored it in their memory. (v12) “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edge sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Though a great verse, many have just memorized the verse without thinking about the “For…” And upon examining the “For…,” or the why verse 12 was written, it is apparent that it is because of verse 11, “Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest s that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.” Then again, if we examine the “…therefore…” we arrive upon verse 7, “Therefore God again set a certain day,…”
The “Therefore…” in verse 7 refers to yesterday’s entry, of us facing a rock and a hard place. But the point I am trying to make is based on the “…again…” portion of this passage. The reason for Jesus’ coming. The reason for all that has happened and all that is happening, pivots around the “…again…”
The ‘perfectness’ after the 6th day of creation was cut short by our sin, and the effort or sacrifice could not regain the ‘perfectness’ that God embodies. So God set another “Today,” “…again…”
Chances do not come very often. In my opinion, though God is a God of second chances, in our walk of life there certain choices that is never too late. You don’t have to taste that chocolate, nor do you have to say something of importance such as “I love you.” But the choice of “Today” might not come “…again…” You can live with certain choices, but ‘Life’ of the everlasting kind, demands us the choice of “Today.”
The world that we are living in, time, the era that we are living in, we are blessed by the fact that it is the era of “…again…” It can only be explained by Love, Mercy, and Grace that we have been provident enough to be able the make the choice of “Today.” Thank God for the grace of “…again…”
The grace of “…again…”
-Worm
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Hebrews 4:1-5 "With Faith"
2010-08-03
4:1-5
(v2) “For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith.”
(v2) “…because…”
This passage gives the Sabbath-rest takes on a whole different meaning from the plain rest on the 7th day routine. Yes there are other mentions of this notion of the Sabbath-rest being the symbol of completeness but here we see that it is more than that. It is a direct reference to our salvation. In fact it seems that the completeness after the 6th day of creation, the 7th day’s rest is in a continual form. However, with sin coming into the mix, we have stepped out of this ‘complete rest period’ and have entered a state of ‘un-completeness.’ And with Jesus’ coming and dying for our sins, God has allowed us a venue in which we could reenter this state of ‘complete rest.’
However, “…because…” if we do not accept Jesus in our lives, we will fall short of the ‘complete rest’ that God so want us to experience. The proof is all there, as with yesterday’s devotions, God is moving mountains around us. We see it happening, but the question is, do we really see it? By Faith. Combining what we see with faith.
“For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith.”
Am I the “…we…” or the “…they…”?
-Worm
4:1-5
(v2) “For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith.”
(v2) “…because…”
This passage gives the Sabbath-rest takes on a whole different meaning from the plain rest on the 7th day routine. Yes there are other mentions of this notion of the Sabbath-rest being the symbol of completeness but here we see that it is more than that. It is a direct reference to our salvation. In fact it seems that the completeness after the 6th day of creation, the 7th day’s rest is in a continual form. However, with sin coming into the mix, we have stepped out of this ‘complete rest period’ and have entered a state of ‘un-completeness.’ And with Jesus’ coming and dying for our sins, God has allowed us a venue in which we could reenter this state of ‘complete rest.’
However, “…because…” if we do not accept Jesus in our lives, we will fall short of the ‘complete rest’ that God so want us to experience. The proof is all there, as with yesterday’s devotions, God is moving mountains around us. We see it happening, but the question is, do we really see it? By Faith. Combining what we see with faith.
“For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith.”
Am I the “…we…” or the “…they…”?
-Worm
Monday, August 2, 2010
Hebrews 3:7-19 "What Am I Seeing?"
2010-08-02
3:7-19
(v13) “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”
(v16) “Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt?”
(v16) “Who were they…”
Today’s passage is very interesting, (I probably will not stop starting one of my devotions with the phrase, ‘interesting.’) because of the fact that God gives us specific reasons for what befell the Israelites during the 40 years of wondering. More specifically, “Who were they…” who were not able to enter the promise land?
The writer of Hebrews answers the questions with very rhetorical questions that he kindly answers them for us. “Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt?” God had literally shifted the world, devastated a nation, wantonly murdered, and parted a sea for “…those Moses led…” However, it is not ‘what’ God did for these people that is important. Rather it is ‘what’ these “…they…” saw, which is of importance.
The point is for 400 years the Israelites did not see God working amongst them. But we cannot forget a certain fact. In the Bible, it is mentioned that the Egyptian Pharaoh feared the Israelites because their numbers had grown. Now why would the king of a country fear the Israelites? In a contextual view point, we have to understand the social norm of that time concerning religion. The Pharaoh, considered a god in the minds of Egyptians, was considered powerful in the eyes of other surrounding countries. The thought process is, if your god is strong, then your country would be prosperous due to your god’s favor. Within the realm of ‘strong’ lay many different parameters. But above all one considered a nation’s power by its military prowess. There are two things that are paramount in measuring military strength during that time. Firstly, wealth, you have to feed your men and horses. Secondly, population, no man power, no army. Pharaoh, even before the plagues, feared the Israelites, or rather the god of the Israelites. In his mind was the question, ‘Who is their god that even without their own country, grow to have such a large population?' When gods were credited with the health, death, and sickness, a growing population meant that the God of Israel was indeed powerful enough to take care of his children even when in the presence of Ra, Anubis, Pharaoh, and hundreds of other gods.
God without a doubt is moving mountains around us. Israelites for 400 years could not see the mountains moving. And when God appeared in plain sight and sent the plague on the Egyptians, parted the Red Sea, guided them with the column of fire and cloud, sent manna and quail, lead them to victory against nations with seemingly bigger gods, but they saw, “…heard and rebelled…”
(v13) “…encourage one another daily…”
To see but not see. God even today is moving mountains for me. Do I see it? Do I listen to it? Do I then, follow it? There is no other way but by the grace of God that we do not fall into the same trap that the Israelites fell into. However, with the help of the Holy Spirit who resides within us, we are call to help each other “…so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”
Am I listening?
-Worm
3:7-19
(v13) “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”
(v16) “Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt?”
(v16) “Who were they…”
Today’s passage is very interesting, (I probably will not stop starting one of my devotions with the phrase, ‘interesting.’) because of the fact that God gives us specific reasons for what befell the Israelites during the 40 years of wondering. More specifically, “Who were they…” who were not able to enter the promise land?
The writer of Hebrews answers the questions with very rhetorical questions that he kindly answers them for us. “Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt?” God had literally shifted the world, devastated a nation, wantonly murdered, and parted a sea for “…those Moses led…” However, it is not ‘what’ God did for these people that is important. Rather it is ‘what’ these “…they…” saw, which is of importance.
The point is for 400 years the Israelites did not see God working amongst them. But we cannot forget a certain fact. In the Bible, it is mentioned that the Egyptian Pharaoh feared the Israelites because their numbers had grown. Now why would the king of a country fear the Israelites? In a contextual view point, we have to understand the social norm of that time concerning religion. The Pharaoh, considered a god in the minds of Egyptians, was considered powerful in the eyes of other surrounding countries. The thought process is, if your god is strong, then your country would be prosperous due to your god’s favor. Within the realm of ‘strong’ lay many different parameters. But above all one considered a nation’s power by its military prowess. There are two things that are paramount in measuring military strength during that time. Firstly, wealth, you have to feed your men and horses. Secondly, population, no man power, no army. Pharaoh, even before the plagues, feared the Israelites, or rather the god of the Israelites. In his mind was the question, ‘Who is their god that even without their own country, grow to have such a large population?' When gods were credited with the health, death, and sickness, a growing population meant that the God of Israel was indeed powerful enough to take care of his children even when in the presence of Ra, Anubis, Pharaoh, and hundreds of other gods.
God without a doubt is moving mountains around us. Israelites for 400 years could not see the mountains moving. And when God appeared in plain sight and sent the plague on the Egyptians, parted the Red Sea, guided them with the column of fire and cloud, sent manna and quail, lead them to victory against nations with seemingly bigger gods, but they saw, “…heard and rebelled…”
(v13) “…encourage one another daily…”
To see but not see. God even today is moving mountains for me. Do I see it? Do I listen to it? Do I then, follow it? There is no other way but by the grace of God that we do not fall into the same trap that the Israelites fell into. However, with the help of the Holy Spirit who resides within us, we are call to help each other “…so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”
Am I listening?
-Worm
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