A Call to Listen to God
14 Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. 15 Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. 16 Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a single meal. 17 You know that afterward, when he wanted his father’s blessing, he was rejected. It was too late for repentance, even though he begged with bitter tears.
18 You have not come to a physical mountain,[h] to a place of flaming fire, darkness, gloom, and whirlwind, as the Israelites did at Mount Sinai. 19 For they heard an awesome trumpet blast and a voice so terrible that they begged God to stop speaking. 20 They staggered back under God’s command: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.”[i] 21 Moses himself was so frightened at the sight that he said, “I am terrified and trembling.”[j]
22 No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering. 23 You have come to the assembly of God’s firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God himself, who is the judge over all things. You have come to the spirits of the righteous ones in heaven who have now been made perfect. 24 You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel.
25 Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking. For if the people of Israel did not escape when they refused to listen to Moses, the earthly messenger, we will certainly not escape if we reject the One who speaks to us from heaven! 26 When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now he makes another promise: “Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also.”[k] 27 This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things will remain.
28 Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. 29 For our God is a devouring fire.
Footnotes:
h. Hebrews 12:18 Greek to something that can be touched.
i. Hebrews 12:20 Exod 19:13.
j. Hebrews 12:21 Deut 9:19.
k. Hebrews 12:26 Hag 2:6.
2 comments:
I don't know about you guys, but I sorta feel like I let meslef lose site of what is really important way to much.
28 Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. 29 For our God is a devouring fire.
Father I am not even sure what to say. I lift up DG and his family. Watch over little Ethan.
In Christ,
cas
14 Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.
This is what I've been working on this week among other things. It's very easy for me to get very frustrated with my colleagues, cause in a group setting, their actions really do affect me. But I'm trying not to be frustrated, but more importantly not be judgemental. That should be simple, but its not- its really hard for me.
Father, thank you for sending your son, so that I am spared your judgement. In response, let me not be judgemental of those whom add a bit of character to my day. You've placed them all in my way for a reason. Help me to teach and share your word, rather than inhibit spreading your word.
In Jesus' name
Amen
crb
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