Today’s Readings:
Psalm 139:1-12, 23-24
Isaiah 44:1-5
Hebrews 2:1-6
“Therefore, we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. 2For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, 3how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him. 4God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will? 5For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels. 6But one testified in a certain place, saying: ”What is man that You are mindful of him, Or the son of man that You take care of him!” (Hebrews 2:1-6 NKJV)
How do you handle your Salvation? The Scripture says that you work it out with fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12-13). Not as though you work for gain or that your supervisor is watching. But that you are first justified and then sanctified. We are to work out our faith in our outward daily lives with the knowledge that it is God that guides and gives the empowerment. Our obedience is to be genuine and wholehearted. The term ‘work out your salvation’ is not to the individual alone; it is also referring to the good health of the Church. The individual should work hard together to maintain the good health of the body of Christ, with Christ as our role model and drawing strength from God the giver of all good things. Every believer should preached about the free salvation.
The book of Hebrews is said to have been written by an articulate author, who was described as one with a gift of teaching, and a heart for ministry and discipleship. He is warning us all in today’s reading, as he did the Jewish converts not to drift from the superior Gospel of Christ handed to us so that we do not neglect the great salvation offered to us (v. 3). At this period, the Jewish converts were facing the temptation of renouncing their faith and returning to Judaism, as many of us today are contemplating because of oppression of the enemy and persecution. No matter the circumstances, we should hold on to our faith and encourage ourselves in the face of challenges and vicissitudes of life. It is God who will guide and strengthen us to fight the battle of faith, as He is the one teaching our hands to war and our fingers to battle. And to win the fight, we must live an acceptable, and righteous life before God and patiently hold on to him.
Every Christian is called upon to pay attention to, and act on “the truth heard and is written in the Gospel of Christ. “Give the more earnest heed” is to focus our mind on the Gospel of truth and act it. Anything contrary will lead to relapse and make us vulnerable to temptation to sin (v. 1). There should not be any doubt about the authenticity of the source of the Gospel because -
The Lord Jesus Christ, God’s own Son first announced it (v. 3)
The apostles whom Christ commissioned to proclaim his message heard it first and confirmed the truth in the book of Hebrews that Christ is the fulfilment and representation head of humanity (vv. 6-8)
God the Father testified to it approving of it by signs, wonders and various miracles, after the order of his first covenant with Israel at the time of the exodus (v. 4);
The Holy Spirit confirmed the message by giving gifts to believers for encouragement and edification of the Church (1Cor 12:7, 11; Eph. 4:11)
God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit confirmed the message through the apostles, the Founding fathers of our faith and ministers of God today.
It is the Word of God contained in the Scriptures, and so, it is true (Ps. 119)
Our major concern now is to wake up from our spiritual slumber, strengthen ourselves in the Lord, repent and obey the message of salvation. We must not drift away from it or neglect the least detail of the message. And the Lord will help us in Jesus name.
OLUFUNMILAYO TITILOLA ADEKUSIBE
Prayer:
The Lord reigns, let the people tremble: He sits between the cherubim; let the earth be moved.
The Lord is great in Zion; and He is high above all the people
Let them praise Your great and terrible name, for it is holy.
Lord teach me Your decrees, Your precepts, and guide me so that I do not fall into temptation, in Jesus name.
O Lord, open my eyes to see the wonderous thing in your laws, in Jesus name.
Lord give me discernment and understanding of Your Word; teach me to know good from bad, because Your spiritual things are better than silver or gold, in Jesus name.
O Lord align me to Your plans at this season, in Jesus name.
Father, we hand over our children, our youths, and young adults to Your fatherly care, deal with them as the apple of Your eye; align their steps to Your will that they may give honour to your name, in Jesus name.
Father Unite the body of Christ that they may in harmony of love, proclaim the Gospel of Christ with boldness, in Jesus name.
Our God and Father, direct our leaders to continually lead according to your plan for our nation, in Jesus name.
Comentarios