“Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, who was faithful to him who appointed him… For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.) Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.
“As the Holy Spirit says,
“’Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion…’
“Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. Exhort one another every day,.. that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. As it is said,
“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts.” Hebrews 3:1-8,12-15
The writer of Hebrews has just described the supremacy of Jesus, and His incomparable power. He was completely other than men and angels, therefore, consider Him. Consider His preeminence, His plan and execution of redemption, His sovereignty. Consider that as apostle and high priest, He condescended to be called brother and taste death for everyone in order to bring many sons to glory. (Hebrews 1:1-4,8-12; 2:8-11)
So many days pass without our seriously considering much at all. We open the door to the day and jump in, get going, turn on, change stations, make plans, tackle tasks, hang up, sit down, turn in, and the day has closed without our thinking beyond ourselves and our circle. When did we past ponder that God is the builder of everything, and because of Jesus we have a heavenly calling?
How would we work differently if we considered Jesus Master over our lives? What worries will we release to Christ’s faithfulness and rule? What doubts and calloused attitudes will we bring to His merciful, cleansing intercession? When will we humbly, receptively, listen to His voice?
“How deep the Father’s love for us,
How vast beyond all measure,
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss –
The Father turns His face away,
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory.
Behold the man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders;
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished;
His dying breath has brought me life –
I know that it is finished.
I will not boast in anything,
No gifts, no power, no wisdom;
But I will boast in Jesus Christ,
His death and resurrection.
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer;
But this I know with all my heart –
His wounds have paid my ransom.” ~ Stuart Townend (1995)
Lord, give me ears to hear and a soft heart to believe, and love You.
As the rain and snow 