Hebrews 12

God shakes things. He does it to confirm what is unshakeable. After He shakes, whatever is left is then known to be solid and of eternal value.

The U.S.A. is being shaken right now. God either does it or allows it. He’s not worried. We shouldn’t be either. After all the shaking is done, we will have a clearer picture of what to build our lives upon.

The wise man build his house upon the Rock and when the storms came, it remained firm and established. [Matt. 7]

Hebrews 11

Walking through life holding God’s hand is living by faith.

Applying His Word to every situation is living by faith.

Seeking to honor Him in everything you do is walking by faith.

Negating fear in every challenge is walking by faith.

Expressing gratitude to God for all provision is walking by faith.

Trusting God for every need is walking by faith.

Waiting for God to act is walking by faith.

Praising God in every circumstance is walking by faith.

Totally relinquishing your will to God is walking by faith.

Heb. 10

Time was when evangelical and Pentecostal churches would meet Sunday morning, Sunday evening, and Wednesday evening. I served a church in Bowling Green, Ohio, that also met on Monday evening.

The current trend in such churches is one meeting a week. This cuts against what the writer of Hebrews stated in chapter ten … “Some people have gotten out of the habit of meeting for worship, but we must not do that. We should keep on encouraging each other, especially since you know that the day of the Lord’s coming is getting close.” [Heb. 10:25]

The solution may be to re-characterize the efforts to meet into smaller groups, or theme-based meetings. For instance, I meet weekly with a group of Christian men called R-O-M-E-O-s … which stands for Retired Old Men Eating Out. Get it? We have prayer and sharing every Thursday morning.

Get creative.

Heb. 8,9

Since my diagnosis of Multiple Myeloma in 2012, I have been much more aware of the function and importance of blood. This disease is in my blood. My blood is tested ALL THE TIME. I’m still here. I’m grateful to be alive. I’m grateful for the medical community who checks me and prescribes medication that arrests my bad plasma cells.

When we get to Heaven and fully realize what Christ’s blood has done for us, we will praise Him for eternity. His blood sacrifice cleanses us from our sin. He keeps us eternally alive. He’s better than medicine. He is our All in All.

Hebrews 5-7

Christ is our eternal high priest, always making intercession for us before the Heavenly Father. He is perfect, holy, sinless, pure, not influenced by sinners, and he is raised above the heavens. [Heb. 7:26]

Although He was tempted in every point, and thereby understands the challenges of remaining pure, He overcame the pull of flesh and showed us how it can be done. What’s more, He puts His Spirit within us to empower us with overcoming energy to do likewise.

The life that we now live in the flesh, we live by the faith of the Son of God who loved us and gave Himself for us. [Gal. 2:20b] Greater love has no man than this, that He would lay down His life for His friends. [John 15:13]

Hebrews 1-4

Rest is the opposite of labor. Rest is the status of an object which is not moving. (Enough of the physics lesson)

God wants us to build our lives UPON Him. We can be that object that doesn’t have to labor to exist. We can settle upon the Lord and let Him do all the labor. That’s what He wants.

We rest because Christ has given us a salvation that He earned for us. We don’t earn it by our labor. He is carrying us.

Amazing love, how can it be that You my King would die for me.

Philemon

Although it’s not clear if it was Philemon’s home, there was a home church that Paul was writing to. A home is merely a dwelling where people can live in family relationship. In a family, the parents are the authority. In a church, the qualified elders [Titus 1] are in authority. When a church building is not available, someone’s home will do just fine. All you need is spiritually hungry and committed people, God’s Word and someone to expound upon it, and a guitar or piano to help lead the singing of praise songs … or a cappella … very sincere and unpretentious.

It’s possible that seekers will be more open to learning about the Lord in a home setting than a church building with all its unfamiliar cultural trends.

Titus 2,3

In this letter to Titus, we find practical Christianity advice. Paul encourages us to be gentle, allowing our meekness to be apparent to all men.

People have different personalities. Some are more forceful and forward than others. Offensive behavior usually shows up when someone wants something. It’s easy for them to push to get what they want. This is the time gentleness and meekness are needed. A gentle soul is willing to wait for their answer, in meekness deferring to God and allowing Him to supply what they really need.

Gentleness and meekness allow God’s character to shine through.

Titus 1

Paul authorized Titus to sharply rebuke a believer who is out-of-bounds on their doctrinal position on following the law. Paul called them “The Circumcision.” He had little patience for their heretical teachings because they implied you need more than Christ’s sacrifice for your salvation. Their error was accompanied by other self-serving lifestyle shortcomings.

Paul’s zeal for a pure gospel was exemplary. He labored to keep the message accurate to prevent wrong thinking.

2 Tim. 3,4

At the end of this life, God has a crown awaiting us. The crown traditionally represents power, legitimacy, victory, triumph, honor, and glory, as well as immortality, righteousness, and resurrection. God assured Paul that he would be safely escorted to the after-life, after much suffering at the hand of persecutors.

We serve the Lord not because of what we can get from Him. We serve Him because we love Him and because He rescued us from our sin which would have eternally separated us from Him.

My great joy will be to see Him in His great splendor. There I will cast my crown at His feet and worship Him forever.