TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Acts 10:1-6
Your prayers...have come up as a memorial offering before God. - Acts 10:4
TODAY IN THE WORD

A.B. Simpson, founder of the Christian and Missionary Alliance, wrote concerning today's verse: ""What a beautiful expression the angel used with Cornelius...It would almost seem as if the supplications of the years had accumulated before the Throne, and at last the answer broke in blessing upon the head of Cornelius.""

The amazing thing about the prayer life of Cornelius, which God commended along with his giving, is that at this point in his life Cornelius was not yet a Christian. Neverthe-less, Cornelius's prayers served as a memorial, a reminder to God, of his sincere heart. And when the time was right, God remembered that sincerity by providing the way for Cornelius and his household to be saved.

Today, as we observe Memorial Day, it's appropriate that we offer up prayers that serve as a memorial to those who have given their lives to preserve our freedom. One of the powerful effects of prayer is what we might call its ""reminding"" ability. A serious, regular prayer life will help us remember the milestones in our spiritual journeys, such as God's goodness to us in days past and His promises for the future.

Even though Cornelius was a member of the occupying Roman army and thus in the enemy camp, his devotion to the God of Israel became the dominant theme in his life.

The Old Testament speaks of a memorial offering (Num. 5:26) that was part of the test for adultery, using the term because the offering brought the alleged iniquity to mind. And the Israelites were to blow trumpets as a memorial over certain offerings (Num. 10:10).

One way we remember those who have fallen in battle is by building memorials. But in addition to these visible remembrances, we can keep their memory alive by thanking God for their sacrifice and committing ourselves once again to the principles of God's Word on which this country was built.

Cornelius was building a memorial in heaven by his fervent prayers. Obviously, God does not need a reminder in the sense that He might forget who we are. But our prayers keep us and our requests before His throne. And judging by the case of Cornelius, our prayers incline God to act on our behalf.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY

Even if this Memorial Day observance does not touch you and your family directly, all of us have benefited from the sacrifices of others.

Because God has stretched His protective hand over this country, we are able to enjoy so much. Today, let's join together as His people to praise Him for His care, and to pray for His comfort on behalf of the families who are remembering loved ones lost in battle.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 55:1-8
Arise, cry out in the night...pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord. - Lamentations 2:19
TODAY IN THE WORD

Thomas Paine's famous Revolutionary War pamphlet, The Crisis, includes these profound words: ""These are times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in the crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheaply, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives everything its value.""

Paine's insights take on even more meaning when you read them in the context of our study on prayer.

A person who is facing a crisis, not of war, but of intense spiritual turmoil, knows that times like these do in fact try our souls. And in times like these we learn the difference between being a ""sunshine patriot"" who shrinks back from trouble, and a soldier who stands strong during the conflict and experiences the joy of winning something of priceless value.

If today's devotional had a title, it would be ""The Agony of Prayer."" It's safe to say that most people who have prayed consistently have had times of agonizing prayer. This is another side of prayer we need to explore.

It's much more exciting to talk about answered prayer and prayer that flows out of deep joy. But there is also power in the prayer that comes from an anguished heart, when it seems that God is far away and the problem is pressing us to our limits.

Lamentations is filled with examples of agonizing prayer. Today's verse is part of Jeremiah's distressful cry to the Lord as he watches Jerusalem being besieged by the Babylonians and unthinkable horrors being committed.

David was no stranger to trouble himself. He had real enemies with real weapons hounding him. Even though most of us haven't faced that reality, who hasn't expressed a wish like the one David voiced (vv. 6-8)? We believe that honest, trustful, tenacious prayer in times of pain provides us with that refuge.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY

Another believer who experienced a time of agony wrote ""Near to the Heart of God,"" a beautiful hymn we can draw comfort and strength from today.

Cleland McAfee was a pastor in Chicago and wrote these lines at the double funeral of his nieces, who had died of diphtheria: ""There is a place of quiet rest, Near to the heart of God; A place where sin cannot molest, Near to the heart of God."" Why don't you sing these words to the Lord today?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Corinthians 12:1-10
My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. - 2 Corinthians 12:9
TODAY IN THE WORD

In one of God's wonderful ironies, Russia has provided a British Christian broadcasting company with radio frequencies once used by the Soviet Union to broadcast Communist propaganda. The frequencies will allow these Christian broadcasters to air the gospel to the British Isles and the rest of Europe. The transfer has been described as one of the great ""peace dividends"" to emerge from the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Stories like these are exciting to hear! They remind us that in the end, God is in control of people and nations, working all things together for the advancement of His work and the good of those who love Him.

What about the other side of the tapestry of events God is weaving--the side that looks as though it's just a jumble of threads? It's great to hear how God has turned someone else's trial into a triumph. But when you're in the middle of a severe test that doesn't seem to make sense and the answer to your prayer is ""no,"" what happens then?

Thankfully, we have an answer to this question from the life of Paul. No one prayed harder or with more faith than Paul did for relief of a problem that was like a ""stake"" in his flesh. God definitely heard and answered Paul's prayer. The apostle's problem was not that God had turned a deaf ear to him.

Instead, Paul's challenge was to accept the answer he received. God could simply have said, ""No, Paul. Do not ask again."" We can be sure Paul would have thanked God and moved on.

But God was much more gracious than that. He explained the reason for the thorn. One paradox of the Christian life is that we discover our greatest spiritual power when we admit our total inability to do anything in our strength. God taught Paul this lesson through his distressing problem.

So the issue for Paul was this: did he want relief more than he wanted God's power? Did he hunger for peaceful circumstances more than he hungered for spiritual strength? Paul's answer rings out: ""I delight in [my] weaknesses"" (v. 10). Can we do the same?
TODAY ALONG THE WAY

How many times have you told a child ""no,"" only to hear this response: ""That's not the answer I wanted?""

It happens all the time, because being told ""no"" is hard for us to accept. But one sign of spiritual maturity is when God says ""no"" to a particular request and we bow before His wisdom because we know He is working another--and better--plan for us.

Are you there yet in your prayer life? This is worth thinking about today.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 5:12-16; 6:12-15
Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. - Luke 5:16
TODAY IN THE WORD

Some of the greatest names in church history are also people who were powerful in prayer. John Wesley had an exemplary prayer life, and Martin Luther was said to spend two hours each morning in prayer. Maybe this is why Wesley became the founder of Methodism, and why Luther became the great reformer.

The link between prayer and power in ministry is evident in many lives, including the earthly life of Jesus. We want to take one more look at the Savior's prayer life and to see what lessons it holds for us.

Luke recorded Jesus at prayer on about half a dozen occasions in addition to His prayer in Gethsemane. Two are listed above, and we can learn from both. Luke's comment that Jesus often escaped the crowds to pray comes at the end of a healing that caused Jesus' fame to spread and that attracted large crowds.

Jesus knew that ministry, even miraculous ministry, was not a substitute for prayer. But our tendency would be to say: ""I can't withdraw and pray now. Look at all these people who need me."" And we would have exhausted ourselves trying to deal with everyone.

But we can't nourish someone else when our own spiritual life is starving for time with God. Jesus didn't let the urgent take the place of important .

Jesus also prayed before the selection of the apostles, at His baptism (Luke 3:21), and during His transfiguration (Luke 9:28-29). Matthew adds another prayer experience when He says that Jesus sent the disciples across the Sea of Galilee in a boat while He went to a mountain alone to pray (Matt. 14:22-23).

The most extended prayer experience of Jesus' life does not mention the word prayer. But we can be sure that Jesus prayed continually during the forty days He fasted in the wilderness preparing to meet Satan (Luke 4:1-13). Even the Son of God did not attempt to engage Satan without prayer.

We could say that private prayer was the secret behind Jesus' public ministry. He prayed not because of any weakness or sin, but to express His dependence on the Father. Since we are weak and sinful, our need to pray is infinitely greater.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY

These passages suggest several specific times when prayer is in order. Let's consider the first one we discussed.

Jesus got away to pray when the demands on Him were at their greatest. We often get it backwards, figuring we'll pray when things aren't so busy and we have more time. When was the last time that delightful state of affairs was true in your life? We can't afford to wait until all the crowds have gone home and our time is our own. Let's learn to develop a powerful, effective prayer life despite the demands that fill our days.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Matthew 6:5-8
When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. - Matthew 6:6
TODAY IN THE WORD

""The first thing the Lord teaches His disciples is that they must have a secret place for prayer,"" writes Andrew Murray in With Christ in the School of Prayer. ""Everyone must have some solitary spot ...to be alone with God. Every teacher must have a schoolroom. We have learned to know and accept Jesus as our only Teacher in the school of prayer.""

Once again, Murray has given us a helpful picture of prayer. In effect, every prayer we pray is in a ""secret place,"" because prayers come from the heart. And it is in our hearts that God meets us, and listens. It is in our hearts that God begins to teach us--our schoolroom--what He requires of us in offering our prayers: sincerity of heart. In this very schoolroom, the lessons of prayer are applied to our lives.

For, because our Father know what is in our hearts, what flows out of our mouths when we pray will show the state of our hearts.

To God, a simple prayer in the privacy of our hearts is much more desirable than a flamboyant prayer prayed for the ears of those around us. The secrecy of prayer stands in sharp contrast to the attitude of hypocrites, for whom prayer was a public demonstration of piety (see Luke 18:11-12). Because their hearts were filled with pride, it was revealed when they prayed.

The secret to the power of prayer we have been talking about is the Father who sees into our hearts and rewards us in keeping with our sincerity. As we have said before, there is nothing magical about prayer. It is a communication and communion between two living spirits: our spirit and our God, who is spirit (John 4:24).

There is also nothing mystical or magical about words spoken in prayer. The idea that a certain formula of words automatically achieves the desired effect, even apart from the spiritual standing of the person praying, may be one of the greatest misconceptions about prayer. This makes prayer seem like a ""vending machine:"" put in the right combination of words, and the desired request comes out.

Jesus turns our thinking in the opposite direction. It's not that God doesn't want to hear our prayers. But since He knows our needs, He is more interested in the heart attitude with which we ask than He is in the exact wording we use.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY

One of the age-old dilemmas of prayer is this: if God knows our needs even before we ask, why are we to ask?

One reason is that asking develops dependence. God wants us to ask for our daily needs (Matt. 6:11). Asking also generates gratitude when the Father meets our needs. In addition, asking helps us to clarify our thinking and gives the Holy Spirit a chance to help turn our desires toward God's will. Bring your needs to the Lord today in your private prayer place.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Exodus 3:1-6
Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. - Exodus 3:5
TODAY IN THE WORD

A researcher for the National Geographic learned more about Hawaii's Kilauea volcano than she planned to learn. After four hours of hiking across the heated soil of this active volcano, her feet felt too warm for comfort. The heat from Kilauea had melted the glue that held her hiking boots together.

The soil on which Moses stood when he met God on Mount Horeb was out of the ordinary, too. It was not volcanic heat, however, but the holy presence of God that made the ground very special that day. Moses at the burning bush is a powerful reminder that when we step into God's presence, we come into the presence of infinite majesty and holiness.

Why did Moses have to remove his sandals in God's presence? It was definitely a sign of respect for a superior. It has even been suggested that as Moses stood in this holy place, even being raised by the one-inch leather on his sandals was too much elevation for a sinful man before the God who was about to reveal Himself as ""I am who I AM"" (Exod. 3:14).

The text says the figure who appeared to Moses in the bush was the angel of the Lord. However, this was not merely an angel, but God Himself. Fire became a symbol of His presence on earth.

When Moses approached the strange sight of the bush that burned without being consumed, God called his name. When Moses responded to God's call, God identified Himself. At this, Moses was overcome and hid his face.

Does Exodus 3 teach that God wants us to be afraid when we come into His presence to pray? God is not looking for fear from us, but for a deep reverence that leads us to come to Him in awe and humility.

The Word urges us to humble ourselves before God. Humility comes about when we recognize who God is and who we are and when we put those two facts in perspective. When we realize whom we are approaching, we may even feel compelled to ""remove our sandals,"" as it were. What we must remember is to approach God with a proper heart attitude.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY

Everything about the scene on Mount Horeb suggested God's holy and awesome presence.

But you may pray in your car on a crowded freeway, bow your head at the breakfast table, or close your door at work for a few minutes with the Lord. In these modern settings, can we experience the same sense of God's holy presence that Moses felt?

Yes we can, because prayer and worship are matters of the heart. Israel's early worship center, the tabernacle, was portable. The people literally carried the presence of God with them wherever they went. You can do that yourself today, for you are a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Revelation 5:6-10; 8:3-4
Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. - Revelation 5:8
TODAY IN THE WORD

When a person touches others as profoundly as Christian author C.S. Lewis has touched this generation, the blessing of his work outlives him. Lewis's writings are more popular today than they were at his death in 1963. And in recent years, we have seen an outpouring of works probing his life, his conversion and faith, and offering analysis of his profound writings.

All of us know that God wants our work here on earth to count for something even after we are gone. Our prayers fall into this category in the sense that the people we have prayed for may still be having an impact for Christ long after we are with Him. So our prayers can have eternal effects.

These two brief references to ""the prayers of the saints"" in Revelation may suggest that our prayers themselves are being stored up in some fashion in heaven. Since John does not explain this portion of the vision, we can't know with certainty all that is meant by the golden bowls and censer (Rev. 5:8; 8:3).

But the simple description of these prayers seems to suggest that we should take the phrase at face value. Storing up the prayers of His people would certainly be no problem for God. He hears whenever one of His children cries out against evil and injustice, praying for His kingdom to come and His truth and righteousness to be vindicated.

The context of these two passages suggests that this is the focus of the prayers being poured out. When the risen Christ takes the scroll from the hand of God and prepares to open it (Rev. 5:7), the heavenly creatures are holding their bowls of prayer.

The scroll contains God's righteous judgments that will be unleashed against evil, and the prayers seem to echo heaven's cry for the Lamb to carry out His ministry. The context in Revelation 8 is similar.

Will other prayers be offered in this manner in the last days? That remains with God. But we can take comfort in knowing that no prayer, delivered in the name of Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit, is ever wasted!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY

Back on May 1, we suggested that you write out your greatest prayer need and keep the card with you this month as you prayed.

Has God chosen to meet the need? Praise Him for His graciousness. Has God shown over the past few weeks that your greatest prayer need is something different from what you thought? Thank Him for this insight. And if nothing has changed, humanly speaking, in the need you recorded on your card, keep praying--God-honoring prayer is never wasted!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 10:1-11:36
He who listens to you listens to me. - Luke 10:16
TODAY IN THE WORD
In 1976, Jaime Escalante began teaching math at Garfield High School in East Los Angeles, a struggling program so weak, he had to work just to find a dozen students to study algebra. But in three years he had begun teaching calculus, and by 1982 the controversial but innovative teacher had successfully led eighteen students to pass their Advanced Placement calculus exams.

Even more amazing than Jesus' powerful miracles was His ability to empower His disciples to do the same. When Jesus sent out seventy two of His disciples, He was sending out people whose potential was hidden . . . deeply. No one would have expected the “sinners” who followed Jesus to become healers and preachers of the good news of the kingdom, but that's exactly what Jesus had developed them to be in just three years.

The training of His followers had become the central focus of Jesus' ministry. He taught them to go and tell of His kingdom. He instructed them on the privilege of eternal life, giving them knowledge that even the prophets didn't have (10:20, 24). He told them to show compassion that defied cultural traditions (10:30-37). He showed them what to value (10:42), how to pray (11:2-4), and who was truly blessed (11:28). But the words about Jesus Himself were limited to a Spirit-directed prayer to the Father.

Another theme returns in this passage as well, and that is Israel's rejection of the Christ. Jesus compared Israel to the condemned foreign cities of Tyre, Sidon, and Sodom, saying that their disbelief was worse and that their judgment would be more severe. He cited the pagans of Nineveh who saw no miracles, heard only the threat of impending judgment from a foreigner, and found the message sufficient to initiate repentance. The people of Israel wanted signs and wonders, and even those weren't enough to convince them to repent. Jesus made it perfectly clear that genealogy wasn't enough to inherit eternal life. Rather than rely on their physical heritage, His followers resembled Him in action and in faith.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
One of the most convincing pieces of evidence for Jesus' identity was the transformation that took place in His followers. That's also an important part of our witness as believers. Ask God to authenticate your role as a Christian by empowering you with the Holy Spirit so that you can lead others to grow in Christ. Ask God to be glorified, His children to grow strong, and for your reward to be in heaven. Don't seek popularity; just be productive.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Matthew 28:18-20
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. - 2 Corinthians 13:14
TODAY IN THE WORD
The movie Star Wars follows the adventures of young Luke Skywalker, who rescues the beautiful princess Leia and saves the galaxy from the evil Darth Vader. In the process, the aged Obi Wan Kenobi instructs Luke in the ways of “the Force”—a power that mysteriously guides and protects Luke as he battles evil. Throughout this movie, the defenders of good encourage one another with the benediction, “May the Force be with you.”

Unlike the impersonal Force, the Holy Spirit is a Person who intimately lives within believers. Yet for many Christians, the Holy Spirit seems more like the nebulous Force of Star Wars than the third Person of the Trinity. This false thinking impacts the way that we relate to the Holy Spirit and understand His ministry. We can never appreciate God's great gift of the Holy Spirit if we think of Him as some impersonal force or power!

Many Christians have a hard time understanding the Holy Spirit, so this month we'll explore what the Bible teaches us about Him and His ministry. We begin by stressing that the Holy Spirit is completely equal with the Father and the Son, as our passage from Matthew affirms. Before His ascension, Jesus charged His disciples to make new disciples. Then He instructed them to baptize and teach new converts. Baptizing in “the name of” signified the allegiance of the converts to the triune God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

It's clear from this command that the Holy Spirit is an equal member of the Godhead. This same truth is expressed in Paul's benediction to the Corinthians, our verse for today. It may be helpful to think of the three members of the triune God in this way: 1 x 1 x 1 = 1. Each member of the Trinity is one person and together they comprise the one God.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Describing the Holy Spirit as the third member of the Trinity helps to understand His ministry. The Father sends His Son to pay for our sin; then the Holy Spirit makes Jesus Christ's atoning work effective within us. In his book, The Holy Spirit, Billy Graham writes, “If we wish to . . . live victoriously, we need this two-sided gift God has offered us: first, the work of the Son of God for us; second, the work of the Spirit of God in us.”

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hebrews 1:1-4
- Hebrews 1:3
TODAY IN THE WORD

Moody Bible Institute president, Dr. Joseph Stowell, has written concerning today's text: ""God has always had spokesmen ready to speak for Him. When He wanted to announce the birth of His Son, He sent an angel with a message too significant to trust to a human being."" The same was true for the news of Christ's resurrection. But god's greatest spokesman was neither a patriarch nor a prophet nor an angel. According to the author of Hebrews, when God wanted to reveal Himself fully, He spoke ""by his Son"" (Heb. 1:2).

There's a very good reason that God spoke fully, and finally, through Jesus Christ. Jesus is the only Person of whom it can be said, ""He is exactly like god."" That's because Jesus is God--He is therefore both perfect and superior to anyone who has come before or since.

In a nutshell, that's the thesis of the letter to the Hebrews: Christ is superior in every way. This wonderful, and sometimes hard to understand, book is the focus of our study this month. We believe you'll be richly repaid for the time you spend in God's Word over the next thirty days. Hebrews will remind you of the incredible provisions and privileges you have in Christ.

Our study of Hebrews will follow this basic outline: the superiority of Christ's Person (1:1-4:11), the superiority of Christ's priesthood (4:12-10:18), and the superiority of Christ's power (10:19-13:25).

Since the book is anonymous, we don't know who the author of Hebrews was. It could have been Apollos, Barnabas, Silas, or Paul. It was probably written before the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD, since it refers to the Mosaic sacrifical system as if it were still in practice.

What we don't know about the book of Hebrews is not nearly so significant as what the content of the book itself makes clear. In Jesus Christ, we have a Savior and a High Priest who is superior to the Old Testament prophets (vv. 1-2), superior to the Old Testament priests and their sacrifices (v. 3), and superior to the angels (v. 4). Jesus alone can claim the title ""Son of God.""
TODAY ALONG THE WAY

If it's been awhile since you have thought about the provisions and privileges you have in Christ, Hebrews is the right book for you!

Here are three privileges you can praise God for today, as you prepare your heart for this study. First, since Jesus is God's finale ""spokesman,"" we have God's complete Word in our hands. Second, since Jesus offered the final sacrifice on the Cross, you don't have to bring an animal to church to sacrifice next Sunday--He paid the price of sin once and for all! And third, because Jesus is superior to the angels, you don't have to go through any other human or heavenly being to gain direct access to God.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hebrews 1:5-14
Your throne, O God, will last forever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom. - Hebrews 1:8
TODAY IN THE WORD

When George Vanderbilt opened his new home for a family dinner on Christmas Eve, 1895, it was more than just a family get-together. The home, though still not completed, was the fulfillment of Vanderbilt's dream: a 250-room mansion majestically nestled in the mountains of Asheville, North Carolina. Young Vanderbilt felt he had a name and a family reputation to uphold. His grandfather, Cornelius Vanderbilt, had been the most powerful and successful business baron in America in his day.

Jesus Christ also has a name to uphold, but that's where the comparison ends. Jesus is the Son of God--eternal and exalted far above any other name, title, or created being in heaven or on earth.

The author of Hebrews wanted to be sure his readers understood the superiority of Christ over everything they had ever known. The writer had a good reason for demonstrating Christ's greatness. The evidence from the book suggests that the Hebrews were a group of Christians who had come to faith out of Judaism.

As we will see later, these believers had undergone persecution for their faith and may have been facing trials again. Such persecution seems to have caused them to waver in their commitment to Christ. They may have even thought about returning to Judaism.

Yet the writer wanted them to see that they had no reason to go back, for, in Christ, they had Someone who was superior--even to the angels.

Why the comparison of Christ to angels? There is evidence that first-century Judaism gave extra prominence to the ministry of angels. So the Hebrews author begins his case for Christ's superiority by demonstrating how much higher He is than angels.

While angels are ""ministering spirits"" (v. 14), Jesus bears the exalted title of ""Son of God."" The Father has bestowed this title on Jesus in much the same way God declared the Davidic king as His Son (see Ps. 2:7, which the writer quotes in v. 5).

But Jesus did not just become the Son of God one day. He is the Son, the eternal Second Person of the Trinity. The following verses clearly demonstrate His eternal nature as God. Jesus was active in creation (v. 10), and He will never change (v. 12), being ""the same yesterday and today and forever"" (Heb. 13:.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY

There are lots of famous family names in history, but no one bears a higher name than Jesus.

We also bear His name, because we are His children. Part of our calling as believers is to bring Jesus Christ honor by the way we conduct our lives. Today, let's pray that the people who are watching our lives will get a favorable picture of what Jesus is like.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hebrews 2:1-9
We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. - Hebrews 2:1
TODAY IN THE WORD

According to the Campus Journal, a major university recently removed a popular line of study notes from its bookstore. These notes summarize the plots, themes, and characters of well-known books so students can pass an exam without having to read the required book. The university wants its students to wrestle with the message of great books rather than to opt for the easy way out.

The writer of Hebrews did not want his ""students"" to take the easy way out and turn away from their commitment to Christ. Because he wanted them to wrestle with the great truths of their faith, he wrote them a letter that has become one of the great books of history.

The Hebrews were not simply students trying to make the Dean's List. Defection from Christ would result in more serious consequences than a failing grade. Today's verses offer the first of five warnings in the book. Here, the recipients of the letter are pictured as being in danger of ""drifting away"" from Christ--much like an inattentive child in a crowded mall who refuses to heed his parents' warning to stay close and who consequently gets lost.

The author reminded his readers that just as violators of the Mosaic Law received punishment, they also could not expect to drift away from the new covenant in Christ without receiving discipline.

The text does not spell out the discipline the Hebrews could expect if they pulled away from Christ. Perhaps the writer did not define it because he was ""confident of better things"" from them (Heb. 6:9).

One of the blessings the Hebrews might have forfeited is suggested in the first chapter of Hebrews. In verses 1, 5, and 13, the picture is of God enthroning His king and giving Him absolute triumph over His enemies. The king would then share His joy with ""His companions"" (Heb. 1:9).

This is a picture of Christ on His millennial throne, a reign in which His followers will share. The writer was looking at the ""world to come"" (Heb. 2:5), showing that even though humankind had lost dominion through sin, the Son regained it through His sacrificial death.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY

Obviously, the Hebrews weren't the only believers in danger of drifting spiritually.

We've all known times of lethargy and lack of attention to our ""great salvation"" (v. 3). One way you can guard against drifting is to promise the Lord you'll be faithful in prayer and Bible study this month. It may help to write out your commitment, sign and date it, and put it in a prominent place in your kitchen, bedroom, or office.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hebrews 2:10-18
[Jesus] had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest. - HEBREWS 2:17
TODAY IN THE WORD

Seeking the Democratic presidential nomination in 1960, John F. Kennedy visited a coal mine in West Virginia, where a miner asked him, ""Is it true that you're the son of one of our wealthiest men?"" Kennedy said it was so.

The miner continued, ""Is it true you've never done a day's work with your hands all your life?"" Kennedy nodded.

""Well, let me tell you this,"" the miner replied, ""you haven't missed a thing.""

So much for a presidential candidate trying to identify with his constituents! One of the problems of finite human beings is that we can't possibly identify with others perfectly and understand exactly what they are going through.

But we have a Savior who can! This great section of Hebrews holds more blessing and encouragement than we can absorb in one setting. It's worth several days of study. Consider what these verses tell us about our great salvation, and our great Savior.

First, although the Hebrews were looking back to Judaism, the writer was pointing them forward to Christ's glorious reign. It was God's purpose to bring His children to glory by giving them a ""leader"" or ""captain"" of salvation who could identify with them in every way (v. 10). In fact, so close is the relationship between Christ and His people that He is not ashamed to call us family (v. 11)!

But why did the sinless, eternal, perfect Son of God have to come to earth to identify with humanity in His suffering? He came so that He might render the devil powerless, freeing those held captive by him in the slavery of sin and the fear of death (vv. 14, 15).

Think of it. Jesus is not some distant deity, far above and aloof from our pain. He took on human flesh so that He might live a sinless life and die a sacrificial death--all to pay the debt for our sins! No wonder the author of Hebrews set Christ before his readers and said, in effect, ""Take a good look at Jesus before you decide to slip away.""

This is also the first mention of Jesus' priesthood, a theme we will meet again. Unlike human priests, Jesus did not have to pay for His sins before offering atonement for the sins of the people. Because He was tempted, He understands what we face. But He never yielded, so He can help us in our need (vv. 17, 18).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY

God said we would be tempted, but that we do not have to yield.

Although the devil is still in business for now, Jesus has disarmed Satan (Col. 2:15). We can have victory in Christ over temptation, but we also need to make sure we aren't helping the enemy gain a foothold by our actions. Why not do a ""temptation checkup"" this weekend to eliminate anything that may be giving Satan an opening into your life?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hebrews 3:1-6
Fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess. - Hebrews 3:1
TODAY IN THE WORD

As the procession wound its way down the west side of the Mount of Olives and the city of Jerusalem loomed ahead, the band of disciples became increasingly excited. Their leader, Jesus, was riding triumphantly into Jerusalem in recognition of His rightful claim to be the Messiah. Just as the prophets had written, the Messiah was coming to the nation of Israel on a lowly donkey (Zech. 9:9). The joyful disciples could not help but shout praise to God and throw palm branches in Jesus' path.

On the day we now celebrate as Palm Sunday, the thoughts of Jesus' followers were fixed on Him. The author of Hebrews would have applauded that focus. We need to fix both our thoughts and our eyes (Heb. 12:2) on Jesus.

Earlier in this book, Jesus had been compared to the prophets and to angels and was found to be superior to both. His salvation was also shown to be greater than the system of law handed down to Moses. It is not surprising that the author would again introduce Moses into his argument here in chapter 3.

The mention of Jesus as our high priest brings to mind the sacrificial system instituted under Moses. The Law even specified the ""house"" that Moses was to build, which was the tabernacle in the wilderness, so that sacrifices could be offered. Moses was faithful to build the Israelites' place of worship just as God commanded.

But Moses was still just a servant in God's house. Jesus, on the other hand, was the ""builder of everything"" because He is God (vv. 5-6). The ministry of Moses pointed forward to Jesus and was a testimony to His coming. Jesus was the fulfillment of this testimony. Moses was ""in"" God's house, but Jesus is ""over"" God's house; the Son is greater than a servant is.

This passage of Hebrews ends with a wonderfully encouraging reminder that we, too, are part of God's house--the body of believers of which Jesus is the Head.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY

It's impossible to overstate the importance of keeping our focus fixed on Jesus.

But to do that effectively, we need to ""unplug"" our minds and hearts from things that distract us and keep us from focusing on Christ. Perhaps a problem area for you is the temptation that you brought before the Lord yesterday. Try to identify the activity that occupies most of your time and attention. Then evaluate whether the time being spent on this activity is proportionate to the importance of the activity.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hebrews 3:7-19
Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts. - Hebrews 3:7-8
TODAY IN THE WORD

What one national park worker calls ""a false sense of security"" continues to lead visitors of national parks to ignore warnings and to take dangerous chances. Despite clear warnings, for example, people still try to pose with the bears, to get too close to other wild animals, or to enter waters that are not safe for swimming. This park worker suggests that perhaps the word ""park"" itself helps to lull people into feeling safe when they are actually in a potentially dangerous environment.

It seems to be part of our human nature to ignore warning signs. The recipients of the letter to the Hebrews had a very clear warning posted before them of the tragic consequences of allowing their hearts to be hardened through unbelief. But the writer was afraid these believers were about to crash through the warning sign and commit the same error that a previous generation of God's people had committed.

These verses are part of an ongoing series of warnings directed at a group of people who were wavering in their commitment to Christ. They were reminded that the generation of Israelites that came out of Egypt under Moses never reached God's promised rest in Canaan, although it was waiting to be claimed.

The problem was the people's hardness of heart, which led them to test God, to doubt His provision, and to rebel against His will for them. These Israelites provoked God to anger, and He ""declared on oath"" (v. 11) that their bones would bleach in the desert until the entire generation died out (v. 17).

We also need to take this warning to heart. Unbelief always displeases God. The solution to this problem is to keep our hearts tender toward Him, something believers need to help one another do every day (v. 13).

The urgency of doing this today is obvious from the fact that sin is very deceitful. If we ignore it, sin will harden our spirits as surely as cement hardens once it has been poured. We need the same kind of faithfulness the writer of Hebrews urged his readers to maintain (v. 14).

Just to make sure the point wasn't missed, the writer returned to the example of Moses' unbelieving generation (vv. 15- 19). It's a warning we can't hear too often. God honors faith, whereas unbelief invites His judgment.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY

This very day is one of the ""todays"" that the author of Hebrews urges us to take advantage of as we encourage one another.

Through today's study, we have attempted to encourage you to walk faithfully with Christ. Do you know someone you can encourage in his or her walk? It might be a family member or a friend who is experiencing doubt or a trial. Ask God to lead you to someone who needs an encouraging word this week.