Tag Archives: the book of Hebrews

November 11
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“Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.”  (Hebrews 12:14, NIV)

Conventional wisdom is not God’s wisdom.

Conventional wisdom says, “Do unto others as others do unto you.”  God’s wisdom says, “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.”

Conventional wisdom is earth-bound.  Follow it, and you’re only as good as the crowd.

Godly wisdom is heaven-bound.  Follow it, and you’re good for God.  Live it, and you will not only see as God sees; but you also will see God.

To be holy is to be as God is, and begins with seeking reconciliation with everyone – particularly enemies and foes; looking past the outward appearance to the heart; valuing the things of heaven over the things of earth; and redeeming time for eternity.  – Luther

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November 10
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“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.”  (Hebrews 12:11, NIV)

No pain, no gain.

The book of Hebrews concludes its encouragement to godly discipline by reminding the reader that the practice of discipline — though inconvenient and painful in the moment — produces peace and righteousness in those who persevere in it.

God’s recipe for peace and righteousness confounds “conventional wisdom,” which continuously seeks the short-cut or an “edge.”

The question for you and me is whether we will believe God and submit to His discipline in order to apprehend the peace we desire; or will we spend our limited time on this earth trying to prove Him wrong by seeking peace through other means.  – Luther

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November 9
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“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!  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.”  (Hebrews 12:9-10, NIV)

God’s plan for you and me is that we become like Him.  This state is called “holiness,” and it was what God had in mind when He created us “in His image and after His likeness.” (Genesis 1:26a)  Through the heritage of sin, we fall short of our original destiny.

God is at work in us (always) through our circumstances (all of them) for our good.  We aid the process through obedience to God.  We hinder God’s work in us when we delay, debate, or detour.

How do we know when to get involved — or when to get out?  It begins with our full commitment to do whatever it is that God’s spirit leads us to do; and full confidence in our heavenly Father’s plan for us.  – Luther

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