SCRIPTURE: Hebrews 3:1-19
OBSERVATION:
A message to those who have accepted Jesus as the messiah, to keep their focus on Jesus through all their trials and challenges.
Like Moses, Jesus was faithful to God in fulfilling His assignment; but Jesus is greater than Moses, a “son” compared to a “servant”.
As believers we are God’s house (no longer a physical temple) and Jesus is our Master, our Builder, our Owner.
Quotes the old covenant (Psalm 95:7-11) which refers to how the people of Israel turned from Moses, and urges believers not to turn from Jesus, who is even greater than Moses.
The readers of this letter were being severely persecuted for their faith (Hebrews 10:32-34), and the author is urging them to stand firm, and not fall away like the Israelites did.
APPLICATION:
Each day is “today”, the time of testing when we can choose to stand firm or give up.
Those who surrender to their circumstances, surrender to temptation, and give up their confidence in the Lord, ultimately lose the rest they are seeking.
My temptations and challenges may be different that these, but I am still in a battle, and I often give up against lesser things than they did.
Fixing my eyes on Jesus (3:1) takes on new meaning when I see it in light of facing hard times. It means I need to aggressively, with determination, choose to keep my heart and mind focused on Jesus even though so much is blowing up or falling apart around me.
My “today” is nothing compared to what they were suffering, yet I often give up, and that explains why I also forfeit the rest and peace that God has for me.
PRAYER:
Lord, help me to see that I am also under attack, and that I need to stand firm against Satan’s attempts to discourage and defeat me. Help me to see what is at stake! Amen.
I must fix my eyes upon Jesus. I am God’s house if I but trust and obey each day of the Hope I have in Jesus. Help me Lord to walk in Your Sonshine so that I will not stray. You have shown the Way. Continue to work in me and through me with Your Encourager Lord so that I too may encourage those around me. Help me to anchor myself in You so that when I hear, I do. When I see Your faithfulness, I praise and worship. Ears that hear and eyes that see — the LORD has made them both (Proverbs). May my faith grow stronger in my obedience. Help me, Lord, in my unbelief.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.