Hebrews 5: Growth in the Spirit

Scripture

 ¹¹ We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. ¹² In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! ¹³ Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. ¹⁴ But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. Hebrews 5:11-14

Observation
The passage starts by reminding us of God's greatest sacrifice in Jesus Christ, who humbly submitted himself to the father and reached out to humans. This is consistent to the gospels as it is a reminder of a faith based doctrine. However, later on, the author suggests that those who do not seek to understand shall never abide to the word of God. Making the analogy of the baby and the adults eating different foods, one can observe a clear difference in the content of information a Christian may be able to understand.

Application
Of course, it is impossible for a mere human to understand the will of God fully, but this passage is a clear reminder that we must keep our cutting edge, never to feel comfortable or complacent in our faith. What I mean is that, we must not come to a point where we feel our faith has stagnated, where we don't strive for growth (although it is worth noting that just because we don't feel it, doesn't mean we are not growing). It is rather natural for a Christian who is maturing in his or her faith to strive to learn more and more about the holy spirit and God's character, and that is a sign of us being able to grow and understand more of what God is trying to reveal to us. So, though it is enough that we acknowledge being saved by Jesus Christ, our savior and Lord, we ought to seek to grow and to pray that we grow hungrier for holy/godly discernment and vision.

Prayer:
I pray that I may continue to grow hungrier for the things of the Lord, and that I may see God's works everyday.

Hebrews 3 & 4: Wondering in Space... Finding Rest and Confidence

 

Scripture

Hebrews 3:1,6 (Jesus Greater Than Moses)
1 Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest... 6 But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory.

Hebrews 3:12-15 (Warning against Unbelief)
12 See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. 14 We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end. 15 As has just been said: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.”

Hebrews 4:12-13 (A Sabbath-Rest for the People of God)
12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Hebrews 4:14-16 (Jesus the Great High Priest)
 14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven,[i] Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Observation
The author of Hebrews urges us to stay focused on Jesus and acknowledge his divinity and reign over our lives. We are reminded of his faithfulness and his presence in our lives, as we are his house and he lives in us. And if God lives in us, we must throw away the confidence in the flesh and hold firm to the promises that God gives us. The author then gives a stern reminder that we are to remember God's power and open up our hearts so we do not fall in unbelief. For those who have a sinful and unbelieving heart may never enter the promised land, we are encouraged to have a sharp eye for the danger of being hardened by sin. The scripture tells us that sin can harden our hearts and unable us to experience and see the glory of God. Hebrews 4 presents some continuity to the previous chapter. The author reminds us that there is rest for those who believe. There is indication that this "rest" may be either spiritual or physical. If looked at as a physical rest, it is to take a day off in remembrance of God. If looked at as a spiritual rest, it is to lay aside our lives and enter God's arms in joy and grace, for when we are experiencing his power, we find true freedom from sin. These verses are also a reminder that God's word, i.e. the scripture, are alive and clearly stated. And as the scripture say, "it nudges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart" so it must stir change within us as evidence of God's influence in our lives. Finally, the author gives a last final encouragement for us to "hold firmly to the faith we profess". Do not be discouraged, but find confidence in God, whom we put trust.

Application
I find these verses actually very encouraging this week. I try to see the text in context, and the people Moses lead to the promise land wondered in the desert for 40 years! I can certainly relate to their sense of wandering, always looking forward to the finish line, but never quite reaching it. I suppose as person who has been in school for so long, and seeing others succeed in the work force, I feel a bit anxious. It is like walking in a desert, never seeing the end of the road. But the passage reminds me to stay focused on Jesus, because he has already redeemed me. We have already crossed the finish line the moment we accepted the sacrifice of Jesus who died for us. Even as I walk in uncertainty, working and hoping for a brighter future, God reminds me through Hebrews to throw away the confidence in the flesh and hold firmly to Jesus, with a tender heart, and find rest in Him who gives us strength. We are to have courage and press on forward. So in my life, I need to set my eyes on him and his grace and promises, not on the finish line.

Prayer
I pray that although I may be running in place, like the Israelites wandering in the desert, I must not lose faith in his promises. I pray that I may stay focused on the grace God has given me, and that I may press on forward, with confidence, fully trusting in him who gives me strength. Finally, I pray to find rest because God offers to take our burdens away from us.

Hebrews 2: Drifting Away & a reminder of God's grace

1 We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away

11 Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.[g] 12 He says, “I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters; in the assembly I will sing your praises.”[h]

14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. 17 For this reason he had to be made like them,[k] fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.

18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Without a doubt, this is a very packed passage. One could dissect it thoroughly and hardly come to understand it fully. The author starts by giving a word of warning to listen to the word of God that is about to be spoken. Hebrews 2:1 makes it clear that failing to listen to it may cause us to drift away (what does drifting away mean?). Then the author suggests that God made himself human, vindicating his place in heaven for a little bit, so that he could himself be sacrificed and suffer on our behalf. He shared our humanity to reach out to us. The author also demonstrates a shout of jubilee by declaring that Jesus welcomes everyone to his family, and they will rejoice at the sight of welcoming each other.

Application
I personally felt like the first first hit me right away. Earlier I posed the question, "what does drifting away mean?" I believe it has a very deep meaning. There are many ways we drift away from God's presence. We seek other gods; we doubt God's power and salvation; and we feel discouraged, essentially demeaning God's sovereignty in our lives. Stop and remember that God is God, and he has given us the ultimate act of grace. Don't forget that because as soon as we do, we stray away from God.

In addition, God knows we are going to be tempted. Satan has an uncanny ability to tempt us. His most powerful weapon is making us believe that God will save us anyway, so we don't have to worry about following God today... "just take it easy and do it tomorrow, have your sinful fun today," Satan would probably say in a more sweet way. I personally struggle with this a lot as I feel easily tempted and find myself brushing God aside. Hebrews 2 was a wake up call.

Prayer:
God, may I remember the good things you have done for me and your immense power. May I shout for joy and share your salvation. Give me strength to strive for a Christ like attitude and not heed to the lies of the devil, but with unshaken faith abide in you. Temptation has lost its sting. Praise you Lord.

Hebrews 1: God is steadfast and in Control

Reading Hebrews 1 was quite challenging. It seems that the author breaks it down into two parts, verses 1-3 and verses 4-14. The author (Paul ?) starts by asserting God's Glory. Then he moves on to making clear distinctions between Jesus & God versus the angels (and likely prophets). Though the text seemed fairly straight forward, I still had my doubts as to the intent of the scripture, which is why I turned to a commentary.

This chapter serves as a rebuttal to the Jews, who went down the path of idolatry. They idolized the Angels as powerful entities, perhaps in a similar way Catholics "worshiped" their saints. So it seems the first letter of Hebrews serves as a reminder of how God does not withstand idolatry. It makes sense to us if we take it in the context of God vs. angels, but I think God is telling us more than that. Going through great lengths to establish God's power and sovereignty very clear to us, one can't help but think of how we've failed God by placing other idols before himself.

10 He also says, “In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. 11 They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. 12 You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end.” Hebrews 1:10-12

As Hebrews 1:10-12 suggest, unlike the angels and the idols we make in our lives, God doesn't change. He is steadfast and in control of all things.

3 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. Hebrews 1:3

Yet as Hebrews 1:3 remind us, God redeemed us and took his righteous place in the throne of heaven.

Application:
I think that we don't quite remind ourselves enough of the greatness of God's power. We easily forget how pricy his sacrifice was. We also tend to diminish God's power and lead ourselves to believe that there are other things just as righteous as God. That is obviously not true. But we failed time after time, placing idols before God. "How ridiculous" we think, but we continue to seek those frivolous things as if they were long lasting. The understanding of death is perhaps the best reminder of how transient life really is. Our lives are so insignificant, and the things we value outside of God are so meaningless in the grand scheme of things that it makes me laugh at myself that we spend so much time fighting God's call in our lives. We must place our hope in God and allow him to lead us faithfully in the right direction.

How?
(1) In our professions: Who am I serving, God or money?
(2) In our relationships: Am I surrounding myself with people who share my understanding of God's might and steadfastness?
(3) Trusting that the Lord leads us in the right path: Do I really believe that the things that I seek are meaningless in comparison to God and in turn seek things that are of God?

Connecting the Dots

Try to stay with me, and tell me if you could answer the question at the end. 

1. All living things reproduce either sexually or asexually.
2. Humans are living things. 
3. In the animal kingdom, when given the chance during adulthood, male species will most often mate with their female counterparts.
4. Humans are animals.
5. Humans would like to differentiate themselves from "inferior" species based on their own reasoning. 
6. All living things are created selfish.
7. Selfish is seeking or concentrating on one's own advantage, pleasure, or well-being without regard for others.
8. Selfish things want to be on top.
9. Two objects cannot occupy the same space.
10. When one thing is on top, the other is placed lower than the top.
11. Humans show signs of being selfish.
12. Humans are selfish.
13. Humans want to believe they are not like their animal counterparts.
14. Humans are biologically wired to strive for reproductive success.
15. Reproductive success requires sexual intercourse.
16. Sex outside of marriage is looked down upon in society.
17. People who are sexually active outside of marriage feel guilt.
18. Guilt happens when someone betrays one's conscience.
19. To betray your conscience, you must do something you are not supposed to do.
20. People are supposed to have sex to achieve reproductive success.
21. Sex feels great.
22. People want to feel great.
23. Sex outside of marriage is sex out bounds.
24. Marriage, as a social construction, exists to set boundaries.
25. Boundaries exist to bring about order.
26. Boundaries are set by things that seek to place order.
27. Entropy is the ubiquitous natural tendency for all things to be in disorder.
28. Things are comfortable being disordered.
29. It takes a lot of energy and resources to bring around order.
30. Boundaries are made in one's mind and then externalized. 
31. The human mind also prefers to live in order even if it takes effort. 
32. The amount of effort is correlated to the amount of desire to achieve something.
33. The mind sometimes conditions humans to act against certain boundaries.
34. Humans act out of bounds when boundaries are not clearly understood since there are so many out there.
35. Humans learn that an ordered life is a good life.
36. Humans have an idea of what they want.
37. Humans have an idea of what they need.
38. Humans place different emphasis on long and short term wants and needs.
39. There is a balance between what we want and what we need.
40. We value that balance, but place different emphasis at different times.
41. We disregard what we need when we are close to achieving what we desperately want.
42. We disregard what we want when we are close to getting what we need.
43. Importance is the measurement of significance.
44. We want to make significant decisions.
45. Significant decisions are driven when we find the appropriate balance between "want and need".
46. Humans are imperfect.
47. Humans have a good idea of what they want, but they don't always understand what they need.
48. Humans want to understand what they need.
49. Humans look to understand what they need to make proper decisions that will bring about great positive impact in their lives through religion, ethnic morals, core family values, and doctrinal books. 
50. Humans tend to be too lazy to think about the following questions and the (my) premises that led to formulating it.

Where do you look for what you need? What do you need? Why?

Pure

“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.” Proverbs 4:23-27

Almighty God of Hosts, creator of heaven and earth. You who know all things and yet cares for me so deeply, raise me from the ground. Take this heart of stone and turn it into a heart of flesh. Take away all the loneliness, desire, and sorrow and make it worthy of your holy name. Because my heart and my soul may fail, take away all my sin and make me pure again. Cleanse my soul and give me the peace and joy. Break me and mold me into a man of God worthy of your love. This in Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Resolutions

Los Angeles is beautiful, and at the Griffith Observatory you can see this amazing view of the city. It is a picture that awes the soul and inspires you to sing. Take a deep breath, and you might feel your heart skip a beat. Take another breath and look around; romance is in the air. This is where couples fall in love. Celebrate. Aspire to build a life full of dreams, full of happiness, full of hope. As I stand by the balcony and look ahead, body leaned forward, it is as if the city is mine. I stretch out my hand and imagine Los Angeles sits at the palm of my hand. I feel like letting out a scream of joy... or sometimes frustration. As I sit there, I think about all the dreams I have and ask, "will they come to pass?" The answer to that (obviously) no one knows. Yet, as 2011 goes away like the sun in the falling dusk, I look ahead to a brighter 2012.

Resolutions are firm decisions to do something significant or deemed valuable. People make them every year only to eventually forget about them. After several failed resolutions, shamefully, I'll try to make another commitment. If it is the will of God, my resolutions will come to pass. Not that I am not already a conqueror in Jesus Christ, for through him I am already a winner. Surely, these are all things he wants me to have. By the end of the year, they will surely come to pass.

I will live healthier. 
I will read the bible from cover to cover. 
I will make life-lasting friendships & strengthen the ones I already have.
I will sing and dance and rejoice. 
I will take every opportunity God sends my way and make the most out of it. 
I will find true love. 
I will grow in wisdom and in strength.
... and in integrity. 

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[a] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-39

Rock Bottom: The View From Underneath

**Giving credit to whom credit is due, this post was taken from schmikey at Bible.org forum.

Has there ever been a time when you've hit bottom? It is not a joyful situation to be in. It feels as if someone has pulled the rug from under you. There's a feeling as if all hope has fallen away. When you hit rock bottom, you might feel as if you couldn't sink any lower. You might wonder what it would take for you to get back on your feet.

Yet, when you do hit rock bottom, don't stay there. Don't feel defeated and beaten down. Get up, and stand again. Have both faith and hope. There is One who is able to raise you up, when you hit bottom.

WHEN YOU SINK LOW

There are circumstances in life that can floor a person. These circumstances can catch a person off guard. These are things that aren't planned for, nor expected. When they do happen, there's a feeling that it's all over. All is lost. It could be an illness, the loss of employment, or financial struggles. It could be a broken relationship, or a sudden death. Whatever it might be, it can floor a person. For some people, an addiction might cause them to hit rock bottom. This happens to the alcoholic. This happens when the alcohol stops working, and life is in shambles and broken. That is hitting rock bottom.

How do people react when life hits rock bottom? Some people are able to summon all their faith and will power. They are able to bounce back from the setbacks. Some people are not so fortunate. There are those who hit rock bottom, who are unable to come out if it. They need help and encouragement. Sometimes it never comes, or it comes too late. Sometimes when a person hits rock bottom, there's either total despair, or death. When we hit rock bottom, how can we be raised up again? THE ONE WHO RAISES US UP.
There is a blessing when we've been knocked on our backs. It causes us to look up. When we've been knocked on our backs, there's no other place to look. When we look up, what do we see? We see the One who is able to raise us up. When we've been knocked on our backs, we look up to Christ.

From the cross, Jesus reaches down to us. With faith, we take hold of His hand. He stands us up on our feet again. He pulls us out of the pit. We can say of the Lord, "Yet, you have brought up my life from the pit, O Lord, my God."(Jonah 2:6) He picks us up, and restores us. In His mercy, He causes us to stand.

Christ, through His death and resurrection, reached down, and pulled us up from the curse of sin, death, and the devil. These had brought us low. But by His grace, He lifted us up. Through faith, we take His hand, and we take hold of all of the gifts that He has won for us. Through faith, our soul has been restored.(Psalm 23:3) Daily, Christ, lifts us up, through His Word and Spirit. He lifts us up through the offering of Himself. He offers of Himself in Holy Communion. Here, He feeds and nourishes us. He is present, and through faith, He forgives our sins, and renews our spirit. He picks us up, and gives us strength for the journey. DON'T STAY DOWN. GET UP
There will be times when situations will knock you down and beat you up. Don't wallow in misery or self pity. In faith, take hold of Christ. Get up, brush the dust off. Hold on to Christ, and get on with the journey. When you've hit bottom, don't stay there. Look in faith to Christ. He can raise you up, when you hit bottom.

It is better for hard words to be on paper than carry them in your heart

"I simply can't build my hopes on a foundation of confusion, misery and death... I think... peace and tranquility will return again." Anne Frank

Life is full of surprises. Some are jubilant and warm your soul; others are bitter and bring you down. It is dubious that we always have a say in the way life turns out, yet it would be ingenuous to think that God always wants to be in control. Setting apocryphal sentiments aside, I am not sure which idea to accept. To me, they exuberate similar levels of appeal for we live in uncertain times. The memory of the 9-11 attacks are just an apropos reminder of how spoiled this nation has lived - protected, unsuspected of the real world. We choose to live in a false reality that "everything is going to be okay". We choose to live in a world where if we just believe, then there's nothing to worry about. Amidst the false hopes of a mythical American Dream, no more existent today than in other capitalist nations, we wait hopeful for deliverance of evil and for a better tomorrow.

It is difficult to find a sliver of happiness from those forgotten by society. Drug abusers, children from broken homes, mentally challenged, and illegal immigrants. God only knows why bad things happen to good people. That, of course, is the million dollar question. So what is our role in life? Aren't all of us called to pursue and find happiness? Why won't God create conditions for all of us to enjoy life?

Yet I do remain hopeful. Prayerful that one day we can all let a sigh of relief fully trusting without fear in the promises God has given us. Let's not grow weary of what tomorrow brings, or be scared of difficulty, for only those who have witnessed God's work can truly believe that a better tomorrow will come. I am not scared of being alone. I am not scared of sickness, pain, suffering or even death. I am scared of losing hope, because without it there is nothing to live for.

This is my prayer,

God. Let us not be afraid of what it is to come. Let us press on forward, fully trusting in your sovereignty and might. Lord, never abandon us, never let us go. We long for you... for the hope you give us to live one more day. And though our days are short, like mere handbreaths, allow us to live a good life. Fervently we pray, to show us what we don't see. To break our hearts and for our path to be shown clearly. If it is your will, allow us to rejoice... and eat... and sing... and dance... and love. And even if those things don't come to pass, give us a heart to be grateful even in the face of despair. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Psalm 23

A psalm of David. ¹ The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
 ² He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
 ³ he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
   for his name’s sake.
⁴ Even though I walk
   through the darkest valley,^[a]
I will fear no evil,
   for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
   they comfort me.
 ⁵ You prepare a table before me
   in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
   my cup overflows.
⁶ Surely your goodness and love will follow me
   all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
   forever.

Why is this happening to me?

LORD, you are the God who saves me; day and night I cry out to you. May my prayer come before you;  turn your ear to my cry.

I am overwhelmed with troubles and my life draws near to death. I am counted among those who go down to the pit; I am like one without strength. I am set apart with the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom you remember no more, who are cut off from your care. You have put me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths. Your wrath lies heavily on me; you have overwhelmed me with all your waves. You have taken from me my closest friends and have made me repulsive to them. I am confined and cannot escape; my eyes are dim with grief. I call to you, LORD, every day; I spread out my hands to you. Do you show your wonders to the dead? Do their spirits rise up and praise you? Is your love declared in the grave, your faithfulness in Destruction[e]? Are your wonders known in the place of darkness, or your righteous deeds in the land of oblivion?

But I cry to you for help, LORD; in the morning my prayer comes before you. Why, LORD, do you reject me and hide your face from me? From my youth I have suffered and been close to death; I have borne your terrors and am in despair. Your wrath has swept over me; your terrors have destroyed me. All day long they surround me like a flood; they have completely engulfed me. You have taken from me friend and neighbor—darkness is my closest friend. - Psalm 88