Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Tuesday, March 20th

Today's passage from the Chronological Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Deuteronomy 28-29
Today's scripture focus is Hebrews 13:22-25


22 Brothers, I urge you to bear with my word of exhortation, for I have written you only a short letter.  23 I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been released. If he arrives soon, I will come with him to see you.  24 Greet all your leaders and all God’s people. Those from Italy send you their greetings. 25 Grace be with you all.


Can you believe today is our last day in the book of Hebrews!  I`ve definitely learned a lot about Hebrews from our study.

John Piper has an excellent summary of just some of the things Hebrews has to say....
I have seen Christ and savored his supremacy over and over again. I have come near to him and spoken with him and enjoyed him and worshipped him
*as the final Word of God in these last days (1:2),
*as the Creator of the heavens and earth whom angels worship (1:6,10),
*as the Pioneer of our salvation who was made perfect through suffering (2:10),
*as one who became flesh that he might die in our place and free us from the fear of death (2:14f),
*as one superior to Moses as a son is superior to a servant (3:5f),
*as a sympathetic High Priest who opens the way to the throne of grace (4:14-16),
*as one who saves for all time those who draw near to God through him (7:25),
*as the Mediator of a new blood-bought covenant to secure that our sins will be forgiven and the law will be written on our hearts and that God will be our God (8:10-12),
*as the one who by his blood purifies our consciences from dead works to serve the living God (9:14),
*as the one who put an end to all sacrifices by putting away sin once for all through the sacrifice of himself (9:26),
*as the Pioneer and Perfecter of our faith who for the joy set before him endured the cross, despised the shame and sat down at the right hand of God until all his enemies are made a stool for his feet (12:2; 1:13),
*as the one who suffered outside the gate that he might sanctify the people by his own blood (13:12),
*as the one who will never leave us or forsake us but will help us forever by the power of an indestructible life (13:5-6; 7:16).

In these months together in Hebrews, Christ has revealed himself to us again and again for our encouragement and our hope and our perseverance, so that we might have strength and love to meet together and stir each other up to live well and to die well by faith, which is the assurance of things hoped for.

Moving on to today`s passage...Verse 25: "Grace be with you all."

In other words, as I take leave of you, I hand you over to the abundance and power of future grace. The grace of divine peace, the grace of a deathless Shepherd who guards and guides you, the grace of an eternal covenant that secures an unbreakable relationship, the grace of God's commitment to equip us with all the resources we need to do his will, and finally - lest any of his own ever be lost - the grace of God to work in us what pleases God. This grace be with you.

Tomorrow's scripture focus:  John 1:1
Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage passage:  Deuteronomy 30-31

5 comments:

Unknown said...

Ironic I should come here on your last day. Out pastor at our new church is down in chapter five however. I did love this from your post : "as the one who by his blood purifies our consciences from dead works to serve the living God (9:14)". That is well stated and a fresh new thing to realize I can be thankful for.
So what book are you on next?
Alicia

Miriam said...

Wow, love that last paragraph. I've really learned a lot from digging deeper into Hebrews as well. Thanks everybody!

Tammy said...

Hey Alicia - welcome back! Well, you can definitely go back and read the earlier ones if you`re studying Hebrews right now.

We`re doing the book of John next. Starting with John 1:1 tomorrow!

Unknown said...

I will dive into John with you. This will be excellent as a friend of outs, new in faith is reading John for the first time and having questions. I'll have to catch up. I'm also struggling with the passage today at church Heb 6:4-9. I'd like to back up and see your discussion.

Tammy said...

Sounds great Alicia!

For thoughts on Hebrews 6:4-9 check out the posts for January 21st and 22nd.