October 18, 2010, Hebrews 3

Key Verses:

“[T]heir hearts are always going astray, and they have not known myways . . . . [S]ee to it, brothers, (Christ followers) that none of you has a sinful unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God (all other “gods” are dead in their graves) . . . . but encourage one another daily . . . so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness."

(Hebrews 3:10b, 12-13)

Central Truth:

Christ followers need each other. I need you . . . you need me!

Hebrews . . . challenging, wonderful Hebrews! It is a Cliff Notes condensed version of fulfilled Old Testament themes in the New Testament. The new Jewish Christians needed to be reassured that Christianity was indeed true and that Jesus was indeed the Messiah. (Sounds practical for the multi-religious culture of today!) The message of Hebrews is that Jesus is better than the laws and regulations of Judaism: Christ is supreme - Christianity is superior . . . . It surpasses Judaism . . . It is much better! In Hebrews we are challenged to hold onto our new faith, encourage each other, and wait for Christ’s return. (Information: thanks to the NIV Life App. Study Bible---my favorite!)

Warnings abound to not harden our hearts to the good ways of a good God. (Incidentally, my assigned Ephesians chapter also dealt with hard hearts---amazing connections in scripture!) It is so very easy to be deceived, because the nature of deception is that we often don’t recognize it. It is easy to think that our own choices are “not too bad.” Verse 13 says, “if we continue in sinfulness, wanting our own way, rather than God’s way, our hearts get hard." Ouch!

Our hearts stay softer to God when we:

1. Delight in his longer email to us (the Bible) and shorter text messages also (verses)

2. Stay in fellowship with other Believers (Christ-followers)

3. Evaluate with whom we spend the most time -THEY are powerful influences on our lives and our children’s lives

4. Speak often of faith issues

5. Know that sinful things attract at first but later destroy our faith and strength

and

6. Stay close to those who encourage us to live obediently to our good heavenly Daddy.

These things help keep our hearts tender to Christ. That’s why we needto meet together often, build relationship with other Christians, study His word and encourage one another in Godliness. The Christian faith is nota solo trip. Hebrews reminds us that it is a “one another” faith, growing in a family of faith.

When we are strong in our faith, our power of influence for the Lord is ever so much stronger. So keep your heart tender---the world can harden it! Please do what it takes to “hold firmly to the end.” (v. 14).

That’s what I plan to do. It’s worth it!