The Devotional - 136 - A Better Answer

Thought for the Day – 136 – A better Answer

Proverbs 18:10 – The Name that is above every name, is parallel to the “King of kings or the LORD of lords. As in the Name of the LORD is a strong tower, a secure haven of Faith and Truth and the Righteous will join Him on that day… a very near day in the future. Revelation 19:11-16

  

Comments and challenges

Mark 3:1; 4-5 – “And He entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hand”… and He said to them, “is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they kept silent. So when he had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.

Religion deceives the hearts of people; believers and unbelievers alike who adopt religious systems of legalistic “do’s and don’ts anger God. Also any system of doing good deeds to gain access to heaven is spiritual deception and this grieves God. Religion is unfulfilling, unrewarding and unprincipled. It is unrewarding because religion does not meet the needs of knowing if one has done enough. It is unfulfilling because the soul has no communication with God who created it and finally religion is unprincipled because the men and women who lead these religious efforts are like the white washed tombstones spoken of by the LORD Jesus and recorded in Matthew 23:27-28.

And someone is saying out there; why should God get angry over what religion I belong to, don’t all religions lead to the God of the Bible? The answer to that question is found in many verses of scripture from the Holy Bible, but this Psalm will do. Psalm 96:1-13 – there is a need to look deeper into this Psalm then I did yesterday since a right relationship with God is fulfilling, note verses 1 – 2 “Oh sing to the LORD a new song! Sing to the LORD, all the earth. Sing to the LORD, Bless His name, and proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day”.

Psalm 96:3-5 – “Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples, for the LORD is great and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all the gods. For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the LORD made the heavens, honor and majesty are before Him; strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.” Thus it is very rewarding to have this Truth resident in your soul and ready to share with others, 2 Timothy 4:1-5.

So here we have come to the final point of answering the question originally asked by my pastor. How does Hebrews 4:11-16 relate to the faith/rest principle of Hebrews 3 and 4? And my answer is that God has from the very beginning of time laid the foundation of Creation, Worship, Faith and Obedience. Being diligent and not deceived is mankind’s responsibility to observe those foundations. Failing to do this leads an unfulfilling religious or irreligious relationship with God leading to an unrewarding and disobedience. Disobedience leads to being unfaithful and unprincipled; sins that are against the neighbor resulting in further hardening of the heart (the mind and soul).

Do not think that the Epistle of Hebrews is not for the gentile, note Isaiah 49:1-2 “Listen, O coastlands, to Me, and take heed, you peoples from afar! The LORD has called Me from the womb; From the inward parts of My mother He has made mention of My name. And He has made My mouth like a sharp sword; In the shadow of His hand He has hidden Me, and made Me a polished shaft; In His quiver He has hidden Me.” That Name that is above all names is JESUS.

So we must all give an account, not to the earthly religions of the world, but to the great High Priest; the LORD Jesus Christ who has pasted through the heavens. As believers we must hold fast our confession of faith as He is able to help in our weaknesses, He was in all points tempted as we are yet He did not sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16. According to this verse God makes it simpler for believers in that while we can be deceived and lose the pathway of grace we can find it again by going boldly to His Throne, receive His Mercy and help in our time of need.