Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?

Hebrews 2

Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? Hebrews 2:1-3a

I continue my study of Hebrews, assisted by the commentary Christ Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Hebrews. My focus this morning is Hebrews 2:1-3a, the first of three divisions in Hebrews 2:1-9, and this first division exhorts believers to - in light of how Jesus and His messages are more superior than angels (Hebrews 1) - heed the "warning signs of spiritual drift."  The commentary describes this drift as a nautical image whereby such drift is not one wave at a point in time but instead a slower, meandering process, where we fail to take Jesus' words to heart.  This of course happens both corporately (by churches that water down theology in an effort to gain believers) and individually by those who fail to drop "the anchor of our souls in the deep waters of the Word of God" and allowing for reading of God's Word supernaturally, and enabling spiritual hearing which the commentary defines as "believing, obeying, and submitting to what is heard. Right hearing is more a matter of the heart than a function of the ear. We must hear with our hearts."  The devotion ends with with both good and bad news. "The gospel is good news. The good news is only good, though, when it is accepted in place of the bad news. The bad news is we are truly deserving of hell for our transgression of God’s righteous requirement. The really bad news is we will be even more accountable to God if we reject Christ. The seriousness of the gospel cannot be overstated. The gospel is good news for those who repent of their sin and trust in Christ. It is terrible news for those who do not."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great, great God and Your Word is worthy of my close attention as it is Good News!  Thank You for sharing this Good News with me and saving me.  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.

Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.

Isaiah 28-29

Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. Revelation 3:10

I resumed my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series. Today, looking at Isaiah 28-29, I move along to the remainder of Lesson 11, Day 3, which looks at primarily how God warns us of destruction due to our inability to listen and heed His Word.  Isaiah first warns of destruction in Isaiah 28:2 as a result of the pride of Ephraim (28:3).  Isaiah then is more explicit in Isaiah 28:22 where he delivers a message from God warning of destruction "against the whole land." We are encouraged to refer to Revelation 3:10, where encourages believers that have "kept [God's] word about patient endurance" - those who have done so are protected "from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world." God delivers the same message from Isaiah that He does in Revelation - LISTEN to me and OBEY my Word!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God indeed and You seal me forever from eternal damnation - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and protection.  My sin is great and it is daily - I know You saved me out of GRACE and not from anything I did.  Thank You Jesus.  I KNOW that I am not deserving.  Please forgive me Jesus for my sin 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.

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.

Jeremiah 1

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. v5

As I progress with my study of the major prophets, in Jeremiah we see a recurring theme - a nation that does not heed the word of God.  Yet before we go there, we see Jeremiah's call by God.  Jeremiah, like others, feels unprepared for what God desires for us - see v6.

Moses also felt this way.  Paul knows how serving God can sometimes be difficult and he encourages young Timothy (1 Timothy 4:12-14).  Everyone feels to a certain extent ill prepared to serve when God calls, yet we must understand that God is with us to help us.  It is also important that we serve with others who can support and encourage us.  God gave Aaron to Moses and both Paul and Silas encouraged and supported Timothy.

God will equip us and provide others to support and encourage us as we serve.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an awesome God You are that You have never left or forsaken me as I have felt Your presence through difficult times - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such a God as I often lack trust and faith that You are with me.  Please forgive me! Help me overcome and turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  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.