Hebrews 8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

Today, we are reminded of the “better Covenant” that has been made with us through Jesus Christ. I praise the Lord this morning for who He is. He is love. He is just. He is faithful. He is compassionate. He can relate with us. He feels our infirmities. He is our High Priest. He is our burden bearer. He is our Friend. He is our brother. He is our Father. He is our Head. He is “better”. He is so much more. But this morning I’m reminded of a specific attribute of Christ for which I am forever grateful – He is merciful.

I’m thankful that the Lord reached down and saved an incapable, unable, undeserving sinner like myself. He extended His mercy and grace, drawing me to Himself, and saving my soul. And to this day, and into eternity, my sins and my iniquities (both past and future) He chooses to throw into the deepest see, and behind His back, to remember them no more. What mercy! What love! What a covenant!

Having understanding of this, might we love Him with an unconditional love (because He first loved us). Might we walk in His grace, living for His purposes, for His glory. Thank the Lord for His mercy.

Hebrews 7:7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.

This morning I am reminded of a great truth: Jesus Christ is so much better. Over and over in Hebrews we are reminded of this. He’s better than the Levitical priesthood. He’s better than the law. He’s better than Moses. He’s better than the angels. He’s higher than the heavens. He brought a “better hope”. He brought a better resurrection. He brought “so great salvation”. He’s so much better.

This morning I am reminded to pursue Jesus Christ, for He is better. He is better than my ambitions. He’s better than my dreams. He’s better than anything else this life has to offer. Might my relationship with Him and His purpose for His life be what I live for, for it is better. Might we choose that which is better.

Hebrews 6:19-20 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

This morning, I praise the Lord for the hope we have in and through Jesus Christ. Our soul is like a ship, sailing through testy and at times tempestuous waters of life. But with Christ, and the hope we have because of Him, our soul has an anchor – one that is “sure and steadfast.”

It’s a wonderful life with Christ on this side of eternity, but when sorrows, anxieties, fears, and storms come, I praise the Lord that He is my hope, my anchor, and the “health of my countenance” (Ps 42:11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.). Might we “set our hope in God” (Ps 78:7) today, for it is that hope that will keep us anchored, and faithful, until the day He calls us home!

Hebrews 4:7 Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

The Scripture is full of counsel about the heart. My heart is the seat of my emotions. It is the driving force behind decisions that I make. Scripture says that the very “issues” of life come from from our heart.

In these chapters we read the warning, “harden not your hearts“. Naturally, as with soil, my heart becomes hard. But I must take heed to “break up the fallow ground”, to sow not among the thorns, and to not allow my heart to become hard.

A hard heart is an early step to a messed up life. We see a hard heart leads to falling into “mischief” (Prov 28:14). A hard heart leads to destruction (Prov 29:1). A hard heart destroyed Egypt and Pharaoh. A hard heart inflicted much pain on the children of Israel. It cut Nebuchadnezzar to the ground. And it will do the same to us.  For with a hard heart, the Holy Spirit’s voice isn’t as clear as it ought to be. With a hard heart, I’m not as sensitive to the warnings of my conscience. With a hard heart, I’m not led by the Lord as He desires to lead me.

This morning, might we do a “heart check”, and see how soft and sensitive our heart is to the Lord and the things of the Lord. We may realize that we need to “break up” the fallow ground of the things of this world, the cares of this life, or the busyness that has choked the things that really matter and hardened my heart. A great way to start is to ask the Lord to “search me”, and to go to the Word of God, which is able to pierce, and which knows even the thoughts and intents of the heart, that we may be given a “heart of flesh” that He desires us to have.

Hebrews 3:1-5 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house. For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house. For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God. And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;

God is always looking for faithful men. I remember the first time I ever preached. Naturally, I was very nervous. I went to my father and asked him for some help. I remember his answer, now 14 years ago: “Son, God is looking for faithful men. Why don’t you preach from Proverbs 20:6 – ‘A Faithful Man Who Can Find'”?  He was right. As we read through Scripture, God is constantly looking for a faithful man to make up the hedge. He tells Timothy to commit truth to faithful men. He found David because he was faithful. And even today, He’s looking for faithful men.

The word faithful can be defined as: constant in the performance of duties or services; exact in attending to commands; as a faithful servant; not fickle. As we read today’s passage, we see two men who are called “faithful” through Scripture. One is Moses, and a brief study of his life shows us his faithfulness, for decades. The second is Jesus Christ. The Scripture says that He was “faithful to Him that appointed him“. As our example, we’d do well to look to Jesus as we seek to be faithful men and women for God. We, too, have One Who has appointed us. As Moses, and as Jesus Christ, might we take hold of the “appointment” that God has given us, and strive towards it as long as we live. Let’s remember that this isn’t a 50 yard dash. This is a marathon. And as Paul, let us “press toward the mark” – faithfully through our lives.

Questions I might ask this morning are: How faithful is my walk with the Lord? How faithful is my prayer life? How bout my love for my wife and children? Winning Souls? My thought life? Let us examine our faithfulness this morning, as we “consider Christ”.

Hebrews 2:16-18 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

Meditation on this chapter simply give one a greater love for the Lord. He could’ve been made like an angel. He could’ve come in great power. But it “behooved Him”, or, it “was incumbent on” Him to be made in the likeness of men. And because He did, He can relate with us, and us with Him. Here are a few observations:

1. Because He was made in the likeness of men, He is all the more merciful. Jesus was always merciful. That’s why He came. But His living in the flesh and living among us as He did – feeling our pain and suffering our temptations – leaves a special impression on His heart. And having this, He is a merciful High Priest for us.
2. Because of His human work, He makes reconciliation for the sins of the people. He is our redemption, our propitiation, and our reconciliation to the Father. I thank Him that He was willing to go through with it for us!
3. Because He was tempted, He is able to succour (give assistance and support in hard times) us when we are tempted. He is not one that cannot be touched with our infirmities. He was tried, tempted, and tested. He knew what it was like to be weak. He knew what it was like to be hungry. He knew what it was like to suffer temptations of the flesh and of the spirit. Yet He was without sin. He was victorious over temptation and sin. And because He did, He is able to be our sustainer and refuge and ever present help in times of trial and temptation. And we can know that He knows exactly what it feels like.

I praise the Lord today that He knows me and what I go through, because He subjected Himself to the same. In times of trial or temptation, let us run to the Lord. He knows exactly how to “succour” us, and help us to come out victorious.

Hebrews 1:9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

This chapter is an amazing tribute to the Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom all things are, and through Whom exist. Here we see His majesty, and His exaltation. We see His Lordship, and His deity. We see His position as King, at the right hand of majesty.

Tucked in middle of the chapter is a verse that gives an important, unchanging attribute of Christ. It is a characteristic that made Him Who He was and is. It is a characteristic of which we would do well to learn. The verse says, “Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity…” And because of this, He has been anointed with oil of gladness. Because of this, the Father exalted Him higher. Because of this, He is far above “His fellows”.

In this day and age of tolerance, I’m afraid that many Christians have lost our holy hatred for sin. We are taught to “hate the sin, and love the sinner”, and we MUST. But we must not muddy the waters and soften our position or our disdain for sin. It is sin that nailed Jesus to the cross. It is sin that tears marriages apart. It is sin that leaves families and children broken and brokenhearted. It is sin that ruins preachers. It is sin that leads the young person astray. It is sin that leaves scars. It is sin that leaves regrets. It is sin that lifts one up before he falls.

In a day where sin is placed on a pedestal, on the prime-time screen, and lifted up all over the land, might we as God’s people not lose our holy hatred for sin. Might we not buy into the “tolerance” for sin that is pumped. I believe we cannot truly love the sinner without a proper hatred for the sin. If we will be like Christ, and conformed into His image, we’ll learn the proper balance of loving righteousness, and hating iniquity.

2 Corinthians 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

I have counseled with two young men recently who told me “yes, I have a problem with jealousy.” I know people have differences of opinions here, but I have seen that a “problem” with jealousy can cause insecurity, anxiety, and lead to major problems in a marriage. When jealousy isn’t kept in check, imaginations (which we wrote about yesterday) begin to come to play, and then unnecessary conflicts result. We see that there is wrong kind of jealousy.

We also see that there is also a godly jealousy. The definition of jealousy is “intolerant of rivalry or unfaithfulness – real or perceived.” The motive behind jealousy determines what kind of jealousy it is. In this passage, Paul’s jealousy is a godly one because it was driven by a fear of a rivalry, or lack of faithfulness, to God.

There are three areas godly jealousy might apply in my life. The first is in me individually. God is a jealous God. He doesn’t want anything to take His rightful place as preeminent in my life. Might I examine and see if I have given reason for a “Godly” jealousy through things, people, or philosophies that have made their way into my life. Secondly, is in my family. Aside from the real possibility of putting my family on a pedestal where the Lord should be, might I examine and see if there is anything in the lives of my family that might or should cause a godly jealousy. And thirdly, there may be a godly jealousy in the lives of those we serve in ministry. This is where Paul was. Might we challenge, exhort, and admonish our people to keep the Lord in His rightful place – preeminent – without things (work, children, money, hobbies, things), taking His place. If we will be jealous, let it be with a godly jealousy, that we might present ourselves, our family, and our people as “chaste virgins” to Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Someone once said “the battle always has been, and always will be, for the mind.” This passage reminds us of this battle with three words: imaginations, knowledge, and thoughts. These all have to do with what’s going on in my mind(/heart). This is why it’s so vitally important that we guard (keep) our eye gate, our ears, and our heart from being infiltrated by the imaginations, knowledge, and thoughts that the enemy would like to have indwell us. For, if we do not guard against these, they can easily become strongholds.

I praise the Lord that the weapons with which we fight this battle are not carnal. It’s not a battle I must win alone. If the enemy is sowing thoughts (which he will), or if I’ve allowed a thought or imagination to become a stronghold (which may happen), I have spiritual weapons with which I can engage and be victorious over the enemy, and bring his thoughts and mind games into captivity. Thank the Lord for the Word of God, prayer, and Jesus Christ, which help us to wage war and win the battle for the mind. Might we ask this morning, what thoughts, knowledge, or imaginations do I need to cast down today? And as they come, let us cast them down.

2 Corinthians 9:2 For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many.

The simple thought from today’s reading is this: what is my zeal provoking others to do? I guess I could take it a step further: Do I have zeal to begin with? Is it evident to those around me? Paul told the Corinthians that the zeal that they a year earlier, to meet the needs of others, had provoked many others to get involved, and themselves to make a difference.

Zealous people are contagious. We’ve all seen and been around them. They rub off on people. Here at the college we’ve given our students an opportunity to help sponsor some national students through Bible college this semester. Yesterday, one of our students came in with a beaming smile, from ear to ear. One of our staff said, “you’re mighty happy today.” The student showed us a receipt and said with excitement, “I just gave to help sponsor my national college student. That’ll make anyone happy!” That did something for me!

What is our zeal causing others to do or be? Might we be zealous for the Lord and His work. Our zeal will provoke others. Might we get fired up ourselves, and then provoke others to love and to good works (Heb 10:24).