How you doin? So as usual Stacey was at work for her one day a week yesterday. I ended up re-reading Hebrews 1-11, Philemon, and Titus 1-3. It was like getting hooked on a really good story, I couldn't put it down. It was very refreshing and uplifting. The Bible offers new revelation, understanding, and wisdom every time I read it. AWESOME!!!!!!! Stacey's back today, so back to our regular routine and that's a great thing. Hebrews 12 today.
What a chapter. I put X's next to verses that stand out to me while reading. Man, did I mark up my Bible this morning. I'll try not to copy every verse I marked today. With that being said, please read this chapter on your own today.
This chapter starts with the idea of God disciplining His children. I believe that this subject is often perverted or twisted. I do not believe that everything bad that happens to me is God's discipline or punishment for my sin. God's discipline is different from ours as humans. I associate discipline with punishment and negative reinforcement. Let's see what God's looks like. Verses 9-11, "Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! 10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." WOW WOW WOW!!!!!!! This doesn't sound like a punishment to me in any way. This sounds like growth. It sounds like being stretched and molded. To me God's discipline is transformation not punishment. It sounds like the way I feel after just getting back to the gym after a long time away. I'm sore and my muscles hurt, but I know they are righting themselves. God's discipline is so I can share in His holiness, not so I stop behaving a certain way. God's discipline produces righteousness and peace after being trained in it. A mini search in my Bible's concordance, I found that most Scripture spoke of not despising the discipline of the Lord. Here's some pretty plan language, Proverbs 12:1,
"Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
but whoever hates correction is stupid."
"Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
but whoever hates correction is stupid."
This topic of discipline is a great bunny trail. I would think you may hear about some Monday when I'm by myself.
Verses 14-29 are titled, "Warning Against Refusing God". The title should be enough after the beginning of this chapter is about God's discipline. Don't cut it short. This chapter holds titles of songs. Verses 22-24, "But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23 to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel." COME ON!!!!!!! It's Jesus mediating the new covenant that makes it possible for me to approach the Father unblemished. It's because Jesus' blood speaks a better word then Abel's. HOLY MAC A LOLY!!!!!!!
Verses 25-29, 'See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”[e] 27 The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our “God is a consuming fire.”[f]" Are you kidding me. I'm getting rocked over here. I don't know about you but, I'm finding this Scripture really exciting. Any time the Scripture says, "see to it", I now that it's something I'm responsible for. It's my choice to "see to it". I love that because I choice God. I will not refuse to hear Him. The thought of refusing Him makes me want to vomit. I will be thankful for receiving His unshakable Kingdom. I love how it says "receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken". It's not over. I'm in the process of receiving and I love it. I will worship Him in an acceptable way with reverence and awe. Enjoy your process today.
PS I feel consumed by the "consuming fire", that is God. Check your pulse if you're not, at least, smiling really hard.
PPS While discussing this mornings reading with Stacey, she worded very well what I couldn't. New covenant punishment shouldn't be confused with old covenant curses. Punishment is not the same as curses.
PS I feel consumed by the "consuming fire", that is God. Check your pulse if you're not, at least, smiling really hard.
PPS While discussing this mornings reading with Stacey, she worded very well what I couldn't. New covenant punishment shouldn't be confused with old covenant curses. Punishment is not the same as curses.
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