Hebrews

Well, I thought I might start off by making my first real post about a scripture that interested me recently. I read Hebrews yesterday for a school lesson. The whole thing is pretty intense, and it has some really passionate parts. The one that hit me the most, was when the author described the faith of the OT believers... :

"And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth."

Then he comes to a point...He says that even with this testimony of faith, they did not see the Christ and His new covenant. But we have. That was the next thing pointed out here. What should our response be? :

"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

The right hand of the throne of God...where He remains today. As described earlier in the book, he sits there as our High Priest..interceding for us and providing that communion with God. How great a Savior! We were not just saved...we were brought near. We have one who intercedes to the Father on our behalf. So we should lay aside every weight, every sin. What room is there for that in the life of one for which so much was given?

Its a very odd place, to read something like that and know that we still have a sin nature. Our only real option is to go to that High Priest, that Savior. To ask for strength to withstand. To be humble enough to know what we cannot do on our own. We want to please God, and the only way to do so is in the way He made, and by His strength. how weak we are without Him!

My prayer is for us all to consider the weight of what the OT saints endured..what the apostles endured, and what millions of believers worldwide still endure for the sake of the Gospel. Not for TV, not for XBox, not for music or entertainment, and certainly not for prestige. They risk(ed) all for the sake of spreading the gospel...how much more should we with all this opportunity learn to be humble, and to sacrifice, and to live for others.

Be Blessed!

New Beginning

I deceded to go with a new blog, considering all the new things that have been going on for me in the last year or so.

Myonly goals in having this blog is to bring out some issues of my own, or issues in the world that I find interesting, or want to share. I may also show some pictures (i'm getting the new camera body for my Canon in the mail within a day or 2).

I really want to focus on my lessons every now and then. Sharing something from the books i'm going through. Who knows. Hopefully i'll have lots to share.

Thanks for your interest.