For [earthly fathers] disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Hebrews 12

For [earthly fathers] disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:10-11

I continue my study of Hebrews, and this morning my focus is Hebrews 12:1-11, and my unaided observations of the text.  Here, we pivot from chapter 11 and the "hall of faith," where the author of Hebrews provides examples from the Old Testament - those who did not taste the fullness of the promises made by God but remained obedient and faithful regardless.  They believed in the unseen and saw what others (those not faithful) could not see because of the hardness of their heart. Chapter 12 starts with a "therefore," where the author wants us to, in light of the many examples of faith provided, also be faithful...and faithful to the end when either Jesus returns or He brings us home to heaven.  We are encouraged not be weary and to look to not just the Old Testament examples of faithfulness, but more importantly to Jesus Himself, who despite His suffering up to and including the cross, endured. The author of Hebrews uses the analogy discipline and how an earthly father disciplines us for our own good - although it may be difficult for us to endure. Earthly discipline is compared to how God disciplines us.  

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My Prayer: Jesus, You are so good and You are full of amazing grace and compassion for me - even when I am disciplined.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of Your grace and compassion for me.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus.  Help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Please give wisdom and energy to Lisa and myself.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

Hebrews 11

And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect. Hebrews 11:39-40

I continue my study of Hebrews, and this morning my focus is Hebrews 11:28-40, and and I am assisted in my understanding by the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary Series for Hebrews. The commentary outlines two divisions for this text: 

III. Surprising Faith in the Covenant-Keeping God (11:28-31): Here, the commentary reminds believers of the faith of Israel in crossing the Red Sea, that God would hold back the waters allowing them to cross on dry land while drowning the following Egyptian army.  We are also reminded of the faith of Israel in how they followed God's battle plan in Joshua 6 where they are instructed to march around the walls of Jericho.  The commentary also highlights the text where it discusses Rahab's faith from the Jericho story and how, although she was a prostitute and not an Israelite, "[s]he was motivated by faith. Rahab trusted in the God of Israel not only to fulfill his promise to his people but also to protect her from the destruction of Jericho. In a time of danger, she identified herself with the people of Yahweh and believed his promises, even though she was not an Israelite."

IV. Final Examples of Faith (11:32-40): The commentary then pivots to what it describes as "flawed lives marked by remarkable faith" in the concluding verses of chapter 11 - the "hall of faith."  All described in the text are highlighted by the commentary as sinning greatly, yet hailed by their faith regardless.  This includes Gideon (who demanded signs from God and led Israel to sin - Judges 6, 8), Samson (who was sexually promiscuous and broke his covenant with God - Judges 13-16), Jephthah (who vowed to sacrifice his daughter Judges 11, 34-40), and David.  Also highlighted and described in the commentary are the women who received back their dead (v35), as the commentary points to the work of both Elijah and Elisha (1 Kings 17:17-23, 2 Kings 4:18-36). 

The commentary pauses on the final verses of chapter 11 to share - regarding verses 39-40 - that those mentioned in the "hall of faith" are commended because although they "only had preliminary glimpses of God’s wondrous fulfillment of his promises," they still believed and had faith. It also comments on v40 how "[a]part from the new covenant, there is no hope of perfect, unmitigated fellowship with God on the last day."

Believers, endure in your faith and model those in the "hall of faith" as we have a better possession waiting for us in Heaven.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who gives me my faith, the Holy Spirit, my church, Your Word, my brothers and sisters in Christ - all of which support me in my faith.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.

Hebrews 11

By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them. Hebrews 11:24-28

I continue my study of Hebrews, and this morning my focus is Hebrews 11:20-27, and and I am assisted in my understanding by the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary Series for Hebrews. The commentary outlines two divisions for this text:

I. The Future-Looking Faith of Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph (11:20-22): Here the text focuses on the faith of Issac, Jacob and Joseph.  All anticipated and trusted in God's plan that a covenant promise would be fulfilled.  With Joseph for example, the commentary shares - based on Genesis 50:24 - that "[f]or Joseph to look forward to the exodus and to communicate that to his sons is almost as shocking as Abraham saying to Sarah, “We are going to have a child.” Nevertheless, Joseph demonstrated remarkable trust in God’s plan."   

II. Moses’s Faith-Fueled Obedience (11:23-27): Here the text examines the faith of Moses and starts by sharing how Moses had a choice: "comfort and privilege in the house of Egypt or persecution and suffering with the people of Israel. Making the former choice is faithlessness; the latter is faithfulness. Moses chose the latter. Rather than laying claim to stature, he aligned himself with Israel because he trusted the Lord and knew Egypt was not his home. Moses recognized the vanity of Pharaoh’s house and the all-surpassing worth of obedience to God." It then pivots to v26 where the text raises how Moses considered the reproach of Jesus of greater wealth than Egypt.  The commentary posits how Deuteronomy 18:15-22 and 2 Corinthians 1:20 point emphasize how we should view Jesus in light of the promise made by Moses that a prophet from among Israel would rise.  The text wraps by looking at v27-28 and how Moses feared God over Pharaoh and how Moses kept the faith by keeping Passover - and this led to the protection of Israel's first born. 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and faithfulness - Your promises all come true and You never leave or forsake me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You love me.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

Hebrews 11

And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect. Hebrews 11:39-40

I continue my study of Hebrews, and this morning my focus is Hebrews 11:20-40, and my unaided observations of the text.  Here, building on text throughout chapter 11, v20-40 continues the "hall of faith" by providing readers with examples of the faithful, who, while they did not see fully see the promises made by God, nonetheless trusted God and endure and persevered in their faith - many despite deadly persecution. These include Issac (v20), Jacob (v21), Joseph (v22), Moses (v23-28), the faithful Israelites who crossed the dry Red Sea (v29), the faithful who marched around the walls of Jericho (v30), Rahab (v31), Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, and Samuel (v32).  Many other unnamed (but not insignificant) "who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight" (v33-34). V35-38 shares how some were tortured, mocked, flogged, imprisoned, stoned, sawn in two, destitute, afflicted, mistreated - not worthy of this world, etc. The application for all of us is that we should follow in the footsteps of these faithful and be prepared for whatever the world throws at us as Jesus tells us that we should take heart as Jesus has overcome the world (John 16:33).

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is with me always - never leaving or forsaking me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You love me.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

He considered that God was able even to raise [Isaac] from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.

Hebrews 11

He considered that God was able even to raise [Isaac] from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. Hebrews 11:19

I continue my study of Hebrews, and today my focus is Hebrews 11:11-19, and and I am assisted in my understanding by the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary Series for Hebrews. The commentary outlines three divisions for this text:

I. The Faith of Sarah in Childbearing (11:11-12): Here, the text shares how God has providence over all life, including childbearing.  It shares: "First, there are no accidental births. Every human being is made in the image of God and comes to life because God says, “Let there be life.” Second, there are no naturalistic births. Scripture speaks of God opening the womb. God is ultimately sovereign, even over the conception of children." Referencing Genesis 21, where it is written in v1-2 that the "Lord did to Sarah as he had promised. And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him," the commentary states "in his sovereignty, God chose a ninety-year-old woman in order to make a point about his power to fulfill his promises."

II. The Faith of Those Who Died in Faith (11:13-16): Here the text describes how those in Hebrews 11 - the "hall of faith" - only saw a foretaste of God's promises but still believed in the ultimate fulfillment of these promises.  It references both 1 Peter 1:1, 2:11 and Philippians 3:20 where both Peter and Paul write about a longing for believers true home in heaven.

III. The Faith of Abraham in Child Sacrificing (11:17-19): Here, the commentary discusses Hebrews reference to Genesis 22 and how it describes Abraham's response to God's command to sacrifice Issac as "most important and also one of the most infamous passages in all of Scripture."  It describes Abraham's obedience as he "believed God was able to raise Isaac from the dead if he was sacrificed."  It does further in describing this passage by sharing that "Issac didn’t die physically, but he did die in a figurative sense. He was taken right up to the point of death and then brought back to life. So in a sense we can say that Isaac died and was resurrected. In this way, this story and Isaac’s role in particular anticipate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, our great high priest. Abraham passed God’s test because he was committed to God’s promises. He showed faith in God through his willingness to obey God’s command and sacrifice his son. He trusted God to deliver Isaac, and he may have even perceived that doing so would be the greatest display of God’s glory. That’s the story of the gospel. God has determined to save sinners and has done so in a way that brings him the greatest glory possible. This explains why God, who loves his Son to an even greater degree than Abraham loved Isaac, sent his Son to die for us."

Believers should our current life and what God has done as a foretaste of the promises we have yet to see.  While we have yet to see what God has in store for us, we have faith.

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My Prayer: Lord You are good and You have given me and all believers a foretaste of what we are ultimately promised in heaven - thank You Jesus for the faith that we have and I pray that my faith will continue - regardless of the circumstances.  Help me see the faith of those described in Hebrews as an encouragement and model for my own faith and trust in You that You are faithful.  I am not deserving of how You encourage and bless.  My sin is great and it continues.  Please forgive me and help me turn from my sin towards You and overcome such sin.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

 

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

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

I continue my study of Hebrews, and this morning my focus is Hebrews 11:11-19, and my unaided observations of the text.  Continuing with text referred to as the "hall of faith," Sarah is provided as an example who had faith in the promise God gave her that she would conceive, despite her age (v11).  V12 describes how the Abrahamic Covenant, first given in Genesis 12 but more specifically given once again in Genesis 15 is referred to here in Hebrews 11, and it is described as fulfilled.  The text then pivots to how faith drives us to allegiance to our eternal home - Heaven - where our true citizenship lies.  V13-16 describes the faithful from the Old Testament as being "strangers and exiles on the earth" and as having faith in new land where God is leading them - that this land is better and there is no desire to return to the old country.  V17-19 then describes how Abraham believed in the promise of God once more when asked to sacrifice his only son Issac - an amazing verse where the author of Hebrews describes Abraham as believing that "God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back" (v19).  Believers, do not go back to your former country but instead look forward to the home and city God has prepared for us!  It will be amazing!

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My Prayer:  Lord Jesus - You are good and You are saving a place for me in Heaven and it will be amazing...thank You Jesus for my salvation!  I am not deserving of such a God and for such a blessing...my sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from and overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

Hebrews 11

By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. Hebrews 11:3

I continue my study of Hebrews, and this morning my focus is Hebrews 11:1-11, and and I am assisted in my understanding by the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary Series for Hebrews. The commentary outlines five divisions for this text - which is often referred to as the "hall of faith."

I. An Invested Assurance (11:1-3): As posted yesterday, we can endure and persevere though faith and trust in God that He has something in store for us greater than any joy we can experience in this life. The author of Hebrews gives us examples of Old Testament faith to demonstrate faith. V2 includes commendation, something believes should seek but the commentary refers us to this as "final eschatological approval—an eternal commendation instead of an eternal condemnation."  It shares that there are only two options - commendation or condemnation.  Each of the examples provided here received commendation. "They had an assurance that they invested in the promises of God. They hoped in things yet unseen, in a deliverer that had been promised but had not yet come."

II. Abel’s Faith (11:4): Abel's faith was demonstrated by a superior sacrifice - one of shedding blood, vs first fruits of the harvest as provided by his brother Cain. The commentary shares that "Abel understood that his greatest problem was that he was under divine judgment, and he needed a propitiatory sacrifice. His blood sacrifice pointed to his own sin and to his hope in God’s provision of a sacrificial Savior. This is why Abel’s sacrifice was “acceptable” to God: it was offered “by faith” in God’s promises (Gen 4:4)."

III. Enoch’s Faith (11:5-6): Enoch is only noted in scripture in Genesis 5 and here again in Hebrews but we understood that he walked with God and God "took him."  Such an inclusion offers great encouragement for those who sometimes view themselves as insignificant - God never shares these views and He is pleased anytime a believer walks with God and we never know how God will use our small faith to move mountains (see Matthew 17:20).

IV. Noah’s Faith (11:7): Noah is described by the commentary as living in reverent fear of God, as God stood in judgement of all of humanity as the flood "is the archetypal example of God’s judgment and the catastrophe of human sin." 

V. Abraham’s Faith (11:8-10): Abraham is noted for his faith as he never saw the fulfillment of those promises of fruitful land and vast descendants.  The commentary also shares the following about Abraham: "Abraham’s faith is seen in the fact that he left his home country of Haran in Mesopotamia in obedience to God, even though at the time he had no idea exactly where he was going. Of course, this may not strike us as a remarkable act of faith, but that simply proves how unfamiliar we are with the culture of the ancient Near East. The Mesopotamian world could be quite dangerous. Physical protection was often the result of being closely knit to one’s kin and community. Travel was particularly hazardous since it separated a person from his place of protection and exposed him to marauders and thieves. In this light, the fact that Abraham left Haran and traveled to a land that he did not know is indeed a remarkable act of trust in God."

The commentary wraps by summarizing how believers should live with the end in mind - seeking a better possession that we experience now. It notes: "we cannot place our ultimate satisfaction and hope in the promises and pleasures that this world has to offer. We must live by faith, recognizing that one day we will experience a joy that is greater than any joy we can know here in this life. The joys of this world are fleeting and passing. But the joys of heaven are eternal, abundant, and never-fading. If we live for those joys, we will set our affections on eternity, live meaningful lives for Christ, and endure suffering in his name as we look for the joy that awaits us in God’s heavenly city."  Amen!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion - giving me a greater possession than anything I will ever experience in this life.  Thank You for not just saving me but for saving a place for me in Heaven!  Incredible.  I am not deserving.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.