Read it . . .

 

READ Hebrews 1:1–4

A young teacher said, “No one wants people to hate them.” How true. Our pastor said, “No one wants to be a failure.” Also true. The pastor pointed out that we are created by God who also does not us to fail, but we do and this is why He gave us the Bible. It says:

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness. (2 Timothy 3:16)

God shows us the way to live, corrects our failures, and trains us how to be like the One in whose image we were created. His Word was not only written but revealed in a man:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made . . . . And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:1–14)

God wanted us to know Him so He became one of us so we could see what He is like and know Him, but more than that; Jesus came to deal with our sin, sin that separates us from knowing our Holy Creator . . .

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high . . . . (Hebrews 1:1–4)

Of Jesus God says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.” (1:8–9)

This is why I must read the Word He gave, that I might “pay much closer attention to what I have heard, lest I drift away from it.” (2:1) This is no idle warning . . .

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people . . . . For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. (2 Timothy 3:1–5; 4:3–4)

Don’t I see the evidence in the news? In our neighbors and friends? Even in myself? How much better to look at Jesus, the Word of God made flesh and read that Word so I can know how to live? In Jesus I see who God is, what He is like, how much He loves me!

We see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone . . . . Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery . . . . Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. (9–18)

Even though we need to “exhort one another every day” so we do not become “hardened by the deceitfulness of sin” and we need to strive so we will not fall into disobedience, we also need the Word of God for it is “living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account” for by drawing near to God in His Word, we “receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (11-16)

And when I read and study it, I realize just how needy I am and how graciously God supplies!