Category: Hebrews

Reading

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SAA Notes

The only worthwhile religion fits you to eat of that Altar Above. Worthwhile religion will strengthen your faith in Jesus Christ, help you to be a peacemaker in your family and church, and a Gospel blessing to church leaders. Take this prayer (v.20,21) as your model in your prayers for family and congregation.

SJA Notes

* Righteous God, please teach us more of the life You want us to live, from Your word today.

“For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.”

This has been an ongoing theme through this wonderful book – The unseen, the heavenly, the better country, the new Jerusalem.

And we are exhorted toward the behaviour that this reality produces,

“Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.”

We will bear the same reproach that Jesus endured when we stand in Him, knowing that it was outside the camp on that hill called the skull that He suffered for us.

And so we can continually offer up sacrifices that are pleasing to God, walking in obedience to our leaders in God’s church, desiring to act honorably in all things, praying without ceasing, doing good and sharing what we have.

This is true religion!

* Father God,

Thank You for Your word that reminds us to look to Jesus, to consider Him!

That He suffered outside the camp, and so we are to bear the same reproach – As we await a city not built with hands. A new heavens and a new heart.

What a hope this is, thank You Lord God!

Amen.

Reading

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SAA Notes

Mount Sinai is the mountain that God’s people were not to touch. Mount Zion Above is the mountain that you should touch. It is only with Christ and His Gospel that all peoples will find God, will find their true home. Verses 12:28,29 are worthy of your deep thought.

SJA Notes

* Lord God, You are worthy of all praise and honor, Your Name is to be kept holy.

“Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.'”

The writer of Hebrews has some very practical wisdom towards the end of today’s passage.

We have read of God who shook the earth with His voice, and will shake earth and heaven “Yet once more”.

And this LIVING GOD is with us (who are we?) – He will never leave us or forsake us.

So where is our love? Where are our hearts placed?

Let us guard our hearts against veering off toward a love of money and earthly gain, to guard our love for our God – The one who called us from darkness into light.

He alone is worthy of our praise.

Let us love Him and those around us as He has first loved us.

* Holy God,

You are a consuming fire.

Please help us to offer up to You acceptable worship. Today and each day onwards.

Amen.

Reading

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SAA Notes

When you face much opposition to your faith, there is someone whose life we should always turn to and consider – Christ’s. (v.2,3) A time of reflection on His life every day will strengthen you emotionally, spiritually and in every other way. This is the fount of living peacefully with others, the fount to a holy life – the good life.

SJA Notes

* Holy God, Your word to us is true, Your Name is to be hallowed. Please teach us what to do and may we walk in it.

“Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.”

Consider Him!

Look to Jesus, for He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with the same grief we experience.

He is able to intercede for us _and_ He is caring to do this – Doubly so because He is not outside of our sphere of life, but instead came down and dwelt among us.

This is our God.

When we are discouraged with life, disheartened and feeling low, let us be reminded and exhorted to … Consider Him.

* Father God,

Thank You for Your discipline, which is painful for a moment, but yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.

May we be trained up in righteousness, by Your working in and around us, please Lord God.

Amen.