Even though we might have preferred to take the day off, we are once again grinding away, but that isn’t so bad, is it? Consider the opportunities to share our faith, and the opportunities to show the example of Christ’s love to those around us. Consider the chance we’ll have to bring Christ to others, and to walk side-by-side with Jesus through our days.
When we stop to notice, His glory is all around us. If we are in the country, maybe we can see His awesome creation; the mountains, the trees, the pastures, and forests. If we are in the city, maybe we will notice His glory through vegetation, planters, and trees; we might even see His work in the sky overhead. If we are near the shore, we might see and hear His majesty in the breaking surf or the rolling thunder of a storm. No matter where the week might take us, God’s glory is all around.
In the workplace, though, there is an even better chance to see His glory, for in shining His light to others in the way we speak, the way we behave and the manner in which we approach problems, we can become part of His reflected glory when others see Christ in us.
We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
Hebrews 2:1-4
This letter was sent to Jewish Christians in Rome during the time of Nero’s persecution, and it has a theme that carries from front to back that screams ‘Persevere in times of trial! Hold on firmly to what you have in Christ and don’t let go!’ As you might imagine with such a theme, there are several warnings in the letter, and here is the first one.
Like the opening of the first chapter, this one has an opening paragraph that is heavy on content. The content here is a contrast between the Old and New Covenants
Old Covenant
New Covenant
A message spoken by angels
Announced by Jesus Himself
It was binding
It was confirmed by its hearers and by God Himself
It contained just punishment for every infraction
It includes no escape for ignoring it or even for just drifting away
Simply stated, these verses are telling us that we must give our relationship with Jesus Christ (New Covenant) the highest possible priority. In fact, this is the thesis for the entire chapter.
Now, let’s think about this another way. The author has included a contrast between the Old and New Covenants here, as well as throughout this entire letter: Why?
I think the reason is a simple one, but maybe not as obvious to the modern reader as it would have been when it was written. Remember, it is written to Jewish Christians. Of course, they would be interested in this comparison, just on general principle, but there is a deeper reason. Nero persecuted Christians in his day. Remember the story of the great fire in Rome that burned out the center of the city, and resulted in a whole new building program by Nero that seemed to be his way of immortalizing himself as a Roman Emperor? Who did Nero, who probably had quite a bit to do with starting the fire, blame for the fire?
Exactly: Christians! The Christians were the specific target of his persecution, not Jews. Thus, a Jewish Christian might have felt pressure to renounce Christ and just be an innocent Jew again to avoid Nero’s persecution. That, dear reader, is the historical context of this letter. Hold on to what you have in Christ. The author is constantly reminding his readers how much better their lot as Christians is, in spite of Nero… so this theme is oft-repeated.
We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. (2:1)
We need to pay careful attention to what we have in Christ (what we have heard) lest we drift away. Thus “drift away” would mean going back to the old ways to avoid trouble in this life. He goes on in verse 2 to describe their situation under the Law with its system of rules and punishment for infractions, and then verse 3: how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? refers back to “drift away”. If they would be ignoring their great salvation and returning to the old system, they would find themselves in a world of hurt with God. On the one hand, they turned their backs on salvation, and on the other hand, they’d be returning to the condemnation of the Law; a lose – lose situation. Verse 4 underscores the fact that God Himself has confirmed to them the validity of the New Covenant in various ways. As we continue through the rest of the chapter, our author will build this case even more.
We might not have been Jewish, and we might not be living under Nero’s persecution, but are we ever tempted to “drift away?” Are we ever tempted to slack off, get lazy, not care…? What will be running through your mind if this kind of temptation ever comes your way?
In an arid land, you can always tell from a long distance where the water is, for wherever there is a creek, river or spring there is life. You can see the trees sticking up from the desert from miles away. You can see a green patch in the brown landscape and know there’s a spring… There simply is no life on earth without a source of water.
Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
John 4:13-14
Jesus points out in this passage that the water we need for physical existence is of temporary value, for it must be replaced over and over, and if it cannot be replenished death will result. He offers something different, a source of life-giving ‘water’ that will never run dry. Of course, He was not speaking of a physical water source, but of a spiritual one. He was speaking of something far greater than physical, biological existence; He was speaking in eternal terms.
It is a terrible thing to seriously lack water in our bodies and we all know that it is miserable and unhealthy. How many millions endure spiritual thirst and have no idea what the problem is? How many sufferers of this malady cannot understand why their years of therapy produce little or no results, or why they just can’t stop engaging in self-destructive behaviors?
The answer so often is that they are dying of thirst spiritually and do not know where to get a drink. It is for us, therefore, to take the water bucket of Christ’s living water to a thirsty world.
As we continue through the rest of Hebrews chapter 1, the author is setting about to prove his assertions of Chris’s supremacy by comparing Him to the angels. Verses 5-13 are quotations from the Old Testament that contrast the Son with angels.
For to which of the angels did God ever say,
“You are my Son; today I have become your Father”?
Or again,
“I will be his Father, and he will be my Son
Hebrews 1:5
Notice that in these words, God has a special relationship with Jesus, the relationship of Father and Son; this is quite a different relationship than that which He has with the angels. In the next verse, our author shows that at the Incarnation, the angels must worship the Son:
And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says,
“Let all God’s angels worship him.” (1:6)
As the chapter continues, we can see that the Son will reign, but the angels are His servants (1:8-9 c.f. 1:7). In vv. 10-12 he quotes Psalm 102 indicating that the Son will reign over the universe, will destroy it and yet remain the same always. In verse 13 he quotes Psalm 110 showing that God will destroy all of the Son’s enemies and make them “a footstool for your feet” surely God has never made such a promise to an angel!
Finally, comes verse 14 and a curve…
Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
As the book continues, we will see the author demonstrate that Jesus is not only superior to the angels, but that He is also superior to Moses, that His sacrifice is superior to the sacrifices of the Old Covenant, that His New Covenant is superior to the Old Covenant, and that the promises of the New Covenant are superior to those of the Old Covenant, for they are brought by a superior High Priest (Jesus) who brings a superior sacrifice to establish a superior Covenant. With this in mind, consider 1:14 above…
By asking the question, the author is asserting its truth: Yes, the angels are “ministering spirits” sent to “serve those who will inherit salvation.” Slow down, take a closer look; Jesus is the “firstborn” of the Father, His salvation isn’t even an issue, who are these people the author is referring to? Let’s figure it out: Who inherits salvation? Who are called “co-heirs with Christ?”
Let’s see… salvation comes from accepting Christ as savior, by His work on the cross. Those who are “in Christ” are His co-heirs. Therefore, the angels are ministering spirits sent to serve you and me. Again, slow down and let that sink in…
This “in Christ” thing is really too cool!
So, why is it that we waste so much time arguing and complaining? It seems to me that our author is going to make the point that we really need to grab on to what we have in Christ, and not worry about all of the noise and distractions of this life.
“‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
Luke 15:31-32
Once upon a time, back in the late spring of 1965, when I was in the 2nd grade, we were all sitting at the dinner table, when there was a knock at the front door. My father went to answer the door, but something very unusual happened: He stepped outside and closed the door behind hm. When it was apparent that he wouldn’t be coming right back, and that none of us, including my mother, had the slightest idea what was going on, she told my sister and I to hurry up and finish eating. We both knew that tone, and neither of us asked any more questions.
Some time later, my father returned with our half-brother in tow. My Dad quickly told us that Mike was here for a little visit, and they had made a quick trip to the barber shop, and now Mike is going to hop in the shower and then we’ll have some ice cream…
It was some time before I found our the whole story, but I did find out that Mike had been in the 82nd Airbourne Division of the U.S. Army. The previous year, part of the 82nd was merged with parts of the 101st into a special ops unit that was sent to Vietnam for some special operation there. After that most of them returned home and my brother’s hitch in the Army ran out just before his buddies shipped out to intervene in the civil war in the Dominican Republic in April of ’65.
Mike was, let’s just say, a bit shaken up by his experiences in special ops, and then the guilt of being out of the Army right when they we deploying again, and he went and joined up with the Hells Angels, who were on quite a rampage in those days. The only thing he ever told me about that experience was that it was worse than Vietnam.
Consider our father: He, of the World War 2 generation, was so proud that his oldest boy was in the storied 82nd Airbourne, but when he left the Army and joined the Hells Angels, Mike became a son who was now lost and gone… and then he comes to his senses and repents! In our house, it was the prodigal son all over again (as soon as he got a haircut and shaved off the beard… and bathed).
Our verses above tell of the joy of a father whose son has rebelled and then come to repentance, as he explains the situation to the son who didn’t rebel. (Luke 15:11-32) The purpose of the parable is to teach how our Heavenly Father views all of us, for we have entered into rebellion against Him, and yet through Christ, have repented and come back home again. When this happens, all is forgiven, and the Father and the hosts of Heaven shout for joy!
That’s how it was in our house too, and in the eyes of the 7-year-old little brother, who was way too young for all of the gory details, Mike was just about the coolest guy who ever lived. When I recall those days, and think of how God and the angels of Heaven rejoice when we come to faith, for me anyway, it makes the toughest times shrink to insignificance by comparison.
In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.
Hebrews 1:1-4
Here we are at the beginning of a tour of a new book from the New Testament, my very favorite book of all, a book that will show you how the Old and New Covenants come together, a book that will both challenge and encourage each one of us. I sure hope that you will have the time and inclination to be fed and encouraged on our tour: Here we go!
The book begins with a bang in these four verses! Take a minute to drink them in; they are simply amazing. Look first of all at the contrast between God’s former ways, and His ways now. In the past, He spoke through the prophets. Now, He speaks directly by His Son. Can you see the difference? In the Old Testament, there is always an intermediary, but in the New Testament, God speaks directly to us by His Son; a paradigm shift of massive proportions. This Son by whom God speaks is not just some kid, He is not only heir of all things, He is also the one by and through whom God created the entire universe. When God spoke the words “let there be light” it was the Son’s lips that were moving… Just let that sink in… This is a huge statement. There’s more coming, catch this one:
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. The “radiance” of God’s glory! Jesus Christ is the radiance of God’s glory, and God sent Him to be with us, to teach us, to have relationships with us… and to die for us. It’s one thing to be amazed at God’s unending love for us in sending His Son to die for us, but when you combine that kind of love with just exactly who this Jesus is… WOW!
Jesus is also the “exact representation of His being”: Jesus is in fact God. This is what Jesus meant when He said “the Father and I are one.” WOW! If you want to know what God is like, look at Jesus. If you want to know what God thinks, look at Jesus. If you want to know if God loves you, look at Jesus on the cross.
“…sustaining all things by his powerful word.” Ever wonder why the planets don’t just fly off into space? Ever wonder why the seasons keep coming at the right time after all of these years? Ever wonder who made up the laws of physics, of nature, of right and wrong? Ever wonder why your head doesn’t explode? The entire universe is sustained by His Word! Ever wonder why so many people seek to denigrate the Bible? Now you know why; it is His Word. It is so powerful that it could call the universe into existence. It is nothing to be trifled with, as so many philosophers have found out. It is a force that we cannot even begin to fathom, and God sent Him to give us direct access to Him. If this does not inspire you, then maybe you need to see if you can still fog a mirror!
After He finished His work on the earth, He was returned to the glory from whence He had come, superior to the angels, yes. Superior to all living beings everywhere? Yes. This is our Savior, with whom we have a relationship. I wonder, do we value that relationship as we ought?
Hebrews is simply an awesome book. I think you’ll see as we continue going through it, that it is like no other.
I’ll bet you know somebody who will never put up with a slight or an insult. I’ll bet this person will react strongly and immediately in this kind of a situation and give the other person a piece of their mind: You can’t talk to me that way!
The Lord Jesus Christ was on the receiving end of quite a few insults, and probably a number of slights as well. I can’t recall that He was the sort to get into arguments and confrontations about such things. The only confrontations that I can think of that He was involved with are confrontations with people who directly opposed God’s purposes, and these were normally along the lines of teaching and instructing, never trading insults.
It seems that in some quarters these days, rough talk is in vogue, but it isn’t God’s way of dealing with a situation. I think God would have us look at it more like this:
A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.
Here we are, the very first episode of “Sunday Reflection” which is intended to be a very short thought for reflection and (hopefully) inspiration. If I did everything correctly… and that is very much in doubt as of this writing… there should be a video below.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23
To be a follower of Jesus, a person needs to set aside the old ways of living and thinking, and take up His ways. Of course, this requires a sort of surrender to God that recognizes His supremacy, and not our own. This is not difficult to say, nor is it all that difficult to understand, but it can be quite challenging sometimes to put into practice. Yet, God tells us that when we set aside the old to live according to His Spirit, we will bear fruit. The first of these is love.
True Godly love is the cornerstone of the Christian life, filling us with a caring concern for those around us, and enriching every sort of human relationship and interaction. Following closely on the heels of Godly love is the joy that we will experience when we live in the Spirit, for this is a life without guilt or regret or upheaval resulting in a deep inner peace that we have when we know that we are working and living within God’s plan for our lives.
Forbearance, or patience, becomes a testimony to our trust in God’s plans and timing. Kindness and goodness characterize our relations with others, expressing God’s love to them in a living and practical way. Faithfulness is another testimony to our new life in Christ, as we are seen as keepers of our word in all things.
Gentleness and self-control, so rare in our modern culture, are testimony of the all-sufficiency of our relationship with God, for He provides all that we need, removing so much of the stressfulness of modern life.
It’s occurred to me just now that the fruits of the Spirit are incredibly valuable… maybe even in monetary terms. Suppose I were to offer you a million dollars to forgo the fruits of the Spirit, would you take the money? Think carefully; you might miss out on the fruits of the Spirit, but you could really throw a party for a million bucks! How about 10 or 15 million? Think of the fun you could have… until the money ran out.
The fruit of the Spirit are blessings from God that are eternal― they never run out. We would have to be a special kind of stupid to even consider selling our blessings, don’t you think so?
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