For a full description of the (Y3) reading plan, see the “About” page.
- What attributes of God’s character does this passage reveal?
- How does the passage point to Jesus?
- How should the truth of this passage change me?
- How do the events of today’s reading help you better understand the grand narrative of Scripture?
Heb. 10
If we desire forgiveness of sins and relationship with God, Christ is it. He is the only way that any of that happens. In the Old Testament, God prescribed sacrifices to atone for people’s sin. But those sacrifices were nothing more than acts of obedience and faith. “For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” (Heb. 10:4). Because of Christ, we now have a sacrifice that does take away sins and it is still all about the obedience and faith. “For if we deliberately go on sinning after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment” (Heb. 10:26-27a). There was and ever will be only one sacrifice that can take away our sin. If we reject that, we choose judgment over mercy because there is nothing left.
Heb. 11
“Now without faith it is impossible to please God” (Heb. 11:6a). I never really realized how much of a Captain Obvious statement that is. But the author of Hebrews spells it out for us. How can you please someone if you don’t believe in and trust them? You just can’t. Captain Obvious stuff, there. And yet people persist in thinking that they can please God by relying on their own works. The reality is that there is no “Jesus and…”. Either His sacrifice is sufficient or it isn’t. To be certain of that truth is faith because it is our hope for what is yet to come.
Heb. 12
I keep coming back to the topic of suffering, lately. I don’t really know why, except that it is a question that comes up so frequently among newer and ‘weaker’ believers. I don’t use that term judgmentally but, rather, as a simple fact of their level of maturity and development in the faith. And that lack of development is really the point.
The author of Hebrews wrote, “Endure suffering as discipline: God is dealing with you as sons.” (Heb. 12:7a). When I initially hear the word, “discipline”, I immediately think of punishment or correction. In thinking more about it, however, I see that it is far more than that. Actually, punishment isn’t really a good word, though correction fits the concept quite well. So one aspect of discipline is correction. Another aspect is training. I played sports in high school and college and I would absolutely say that my coaches disciplined us. I would also say that discipline often felt like suffering! Running laps and sprints, doing drills and calisthenics – these things are HARD. Yet they are critical for our development in the sport. They increase our strength and endurance, home our skills, and build our character. With the correction aspect added in, discipline develops these things correctly.
So it is with God’s discipline for us, His children. Why do we suffer? Because God is developing, honing, and building our faith, discernment, and endurance. He is creating the character of Christ in us. In suffering, Christ was found to be perfect; complete. Thus, God exalted Him to His right hand. When we suffer with Christ, as part of His body, we, too, because of His perfect sacrifice, are made complete so that we will be exalted with Him by God’s mercy at the time of His judgment. And that reward is worth whatever amount and degree of suffering it takes to obtain it.
Heb. 13
Not everybody is strong in empathy. Yet I hear the author of Hebrews encouraging us all toward empathy none the less. “Remember those in prison, as though you were in prison with them, and the mistreated, as though you yourselves were suffering bodily.” (Heb. 13:3). We aren’t simply to think about these people, but to try to imagine ourselves in their position. To what end? The writer didn’t really say. But I suspect it has to do with unity and understanding, which foster earnest prayer. After all, which is more loving – to throw up a hasty prayer of, “please be with so-and-so who is suffering such-and-such”, or to pray for that person as if it were you sitting in their hard position?