Set Apart for Service to God (Heb. 2:11)

SPIRITUAL DIARY

 

                                                            Date:  12-30-2002

 

My Worship Time                  Focus:  Set apart for service to God

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                         Reference:  Hebrews 2:11

 

1. Message of the verse:  “For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,” (NKJV)  “So know Jesus and the ones He makes holy have the same Father.  That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them His brothers and sisters.”  * Greek His brothers.  (NLT)

The way that the verse is translated in the NLT gives it’s meaning so it can easily be understood.  The word “sanctified” that is used in the NKJV means to be set apart by God for His use or His service.  When a person is saved by the grace of God he is set apart by God for service, he also becomes an adopted son of God and therefore is the brother of Jesus Christ.  Sanctification also means that we are being transformed in our lives to be like Jesus Christ.  (See Romans 8:29) 

           

2.  Spiritual Meaning for my life today:  This concept of sanctification is not a       new one to me as I have been learning about more and more with my walk with the Lord.  As Pastor Jacobs has been preaching on the book of Romans he has made it clear that chapters six through eight are all about the sanctification process.  It is the goal of God and the desire of my heart to be conformed to the image of Christ my Savior and Lord.

 

The Word of God has challenged me this morning.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  To trust the Lord with all of my heart and not to lean on my understanding as far as how to live my life.  To lean on Him and to trust Him more and more each day of my life, so that I will be more like Christ each day.

 

Memory verses for the week:  Colossians 4:5

 

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.

 

 

 

Perfect Through Suffering (Heb. 2:10)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 12-28-02

 

My Worship Time                                          Focus:  Perfect through suffering

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                         Reference:  Hebrews 2:10

 

            1.  Message of the verse:  “¶ For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.”  (NKJV)  “And it was only right that God—who made everything and for whom everything was made—should bring his many children into glory.  Through the suffering of Jesus, God made him a perfect leader, one fit to bring them into their salvation.”  (NLT)

            There are a couple of words that are translated from the Greek in this passage that need to be explained.  The word translated “captain” in the NKJV is a word that means pioneer or leader, so Jesus was the pioneer, leader, the One who lead the way.  The word “perfect” can also be translated complete, effective, or adequate.  I do not think it can be said that Jesus Christ had any imperfections, thus He was perfect because He is God in the flesh, but Dr. MaCarthur has something to say about this subject in his study Bible, “In His divine nature, Christ was already perfect.  However, His human nature was perfected through obedience, including suffering in order that He might be an understanding High-Priest, an example for believers, and establish the perfect righteousness to be imputed to believers.”  The Bible says that Jesus Christ was the second Adam and this along with the circumstances of His birth lead me to believe that He had a body like that of the first Adam which is described in Genesis.  Adam was a much more intelligent person than his offspring are because of the fact that he was not marred by sin when he was created.  Jesus Christ was born of a virgin, fathered by the Holy Spirit, thus the sin nature was not passed on because there was no human father, which is how the sin nature is passed on.  The first prophesy about Christ in Genesis 3:15 states that He would be the “seed of the woman.”  “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel."  So as I look at this verse from Hebrews that I am studying today I can understand that even though Christ has a perfect body that would never have died if He had not caused it to could still be made complete by His sufferings for my salvation.

            2.   Spiritual meaning for my life today:  As I look into more detail the perfect plan that God had for my salvation it makes me think of how perfect that God is and how He had all of the details worked out so that I can be His son through the cost of His Son as He died for me and became sin for me on the cross.  The details are marvelously perfect because the Planner is also perfect.  Halleluiah what a Saviour!

 

The Word of God was marvelously refreshing to me this morning.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  I want to live for my marvelous Saviour this day.  I know that “me” gets in the way a lot of the time, so I need to focus on Him today and for that matter every day.

 

Memory verses for the week:  Ehp. 2:10; Mark 12:30; Romans 12:5; Phil. 2:5; 1Peter 4:10

 

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

 

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.

 

…so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

 

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus…

 

Each one should use whatever gifts he has received to serve others…

 

 

Jesus is the Second Adam (Heb. 2:9)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 12-27-02

 

My Worship Time                  Focus:  Jesus is the second Adam

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                         Reference:  Hebrews 2:9

 

            1.  Message of the verse:  “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.”  (NKJV)  “What we do see is Jesus, who ‘for a little while was made lower than the angels,’ and now is ‘crowned with glory and honor’ because he suffered death for us.  Yes, by God’s grace, Jesus tasted death for everyone in all the world.”  (NLT) 

            The phrase “but what we do see is Jesus” ties in with verse eight which says “but we have not see all of this happen.”  We have not seen it happen but we do see Jesus and because of Him becoming a man, (the second Adam) He has restored to man the position in which Adam fell from when he sinned.  As verse eight says we do not see this yet but we will be a part of it when we rule with Christ in His kingdom on earth for 1000 years.  The rest of the verse goes on to speak about Jesus for a little while was made a little lower than the angels, but now is crowned with glory and honor because He suffered death for all of those who will believe in Him.

 

            2.  Spiritual meaning for my life today:  How do I look at Jesus is a question I need to ask myself.  The note in my Life Application Bible says it this way, “It is difficult for us to identify with Christ’s servant attitude, perhaps we need to evaluate our own motives.  Are we more interested in power of participation, domination or service, getting or giving?”

 

The Word of God was convicting to me today.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  To trust the Lord to keep me close to Him today, and to help me deal with anger as I have read about in Gary Chatman’s book.

 

Memory verses for the week:  Romans 12:5; Philippians 2:5; 1Peter 4:10

 

…so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

 

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus…

 

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others…  

 

Mankind is LOwer than Angels at this Time (Heb. 2:8)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 12-25-02

 

My Worship Time                  Focus: Mankind lower than angels

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                         Reference:  Hebrews 2:8

 

            1.  Message of the verse:  “’You have put all things in subjection under his feet.’ For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him.”  (NKJV)  ‘“You gave him authority over all things.’ Now when it says ‘all things’ it means nothing is left out.  But we have not yet seen all of this happen.”  (NLT)

            Whenever I had read this passage I thought that the writer was speaking of Christ, but now it seems to make more sense to me that he is writing about mankind, and probably before the fall.  Because of the fall mankind is not capable of fulfilling the administration of the earth which God had ordained for him to do. 

 

2.  Spiritual Meaning for my life today:  Because of sin that entered the human race at the fall I do not realize how much it affects all aspects of my life.  If it were not for the grace of God through Jesus Christ then I would not even realize how much of a problem that sin is in my life.

 

The Word of God was both convicting and refreshing to me today.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  By faith I want to trust the Lord to see me through the events of this day, because of the trouble that I do have many times with IBS.

 

Memory Verses for the week:  Romans 12:5; Philippians 2:5; 1Peter 4:10

 

…so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

 

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus…

 

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others…

 

 

Jesus Made Lower than Angels (Heb. 2:6-7)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 12-24-02

 

My Worship Time                  Focus:  Jesus Made Lower than the Angels

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                         Reference:  Hebrews 2:6 &7

 

            1.  Message of the verse:  “But one testified in a certain place, saying: "What is man that You are mindful of him, Or the son of man that You take care of him?  You have made him a little lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, And set him over the works of Your hands. (NKJV)  “For somewhere the Scriptures says, ‘What is man that you should think of him, and the son of man that you should care for him?’  For a little while you made him lower than the angels, and you crowned him with glory and honor.’” (NLT) 

            The writer asks the question in this verse why God ever bother with man.  He then quotes from Psalm 8:4-6 but does not identify where the quotation comes from, he even make it vague as to where the quote comes from as if it did not matter to much.  The theme of this section is still that Christ is superior to angels.  Verse says that man was made a little lower than angels and was crowned with glory and honor and then he was given responsibility to care for creation that God had made.  This verse is not speaking of Jesus Christ, but man.

 

            2.  Spiritual meaning for my life today:  To answer the question what is man that the writer brought up in this section gives meaning to my life for not only today but each and every day.  Man is so important to God that He became one to die on a cruel cross to take care of the sin problem for man and bring him back in fellowship with Himself.  God demonstrated His love for us through the cross of Jesus Christ.

 

The Word of God was refreshing to me today.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  I want to say that Sandy is going through a rough time, and as usual it spills over on to those around her, including me.  I did not understand that she is beginning to either go to far up or slipping down because of any number of things.  She is upset over Tracy’s divorce and over some things concerning Callie.  She also has some hard times around the fall of the year because of the gloomy days which lack sunshine.  I have a very difficult time dealing with these mood swings as the cause me to fear, fear what I am not quite sure, but fear something.  I want to step out on faith that the Lord will give both of us the grace to get through this difficult time and that we will both be better off and also bring glory to the Lord thought this experience.

 

Memory verses for the week:  Romans 12:5; Philippians 2:5; 1Peter 4:10

 …so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus…

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others…

The Future World Will Not be controled by Angels (Heb. 2:5)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 12-23-02

 

My Worship Time                  Focus:  Future world not controlled by angels

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                         Reference:  Hebrews 2:5

 

            1.  Message of the verse:  “¶ For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels.”  (NKJV)  “And furthermore, the future world we are talking about will not be controlled by angels.”

     There is some disagreement about this section that I am moving into in this chapter which goes from verse five to verse eighteen.  John Macarthur titles this section “The Son Made Lower than Angels,” while Warren Wiersbe titles this section “Explanation:  why Jesus Christ is not inferior because of His humanity.”  After reading the first part of Warren Wiersbe’s book on this section I must say that I agree with him that even though Jesus Christ was in the flesh He was superior to angels.  As far as verse five goes the “world to come” must be speaking not only of the Millennial kingdom that Christ will rule over, but also in eternity too.

 

            2.  Spiritual Meaning for my life today:  Even thought this world that I live in today is subject to angels, including the evil angels which are controlled by Satan, the Lord Jesus is on His throne and He is the One who is in full control of this world, all things must filter through His hands before they are done.  Because of this truth I can have confidence that, as the Scripture says in Romans 8:28, “God causes all things to work together for good for those who love Him to those who are called according to His purpose.

 

The Word of God was refreshing to me today. 

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  I trust the Lord to work IBS together for good in my life today.

 

Memory verse for the week:  1 Peter 4:10

 

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others…

More on the Confirmation of the New Covenant (Heb. 2:4)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 12-20-02

 

My Worship Time                        Focus:  More on the confirmation of the New Covenant

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                         Reference:  Hebrews 2:4

 

            1.  Message of the verse:  “God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?”  (NKJV)  “and God verified the message by signs and wonders and various miracles and by giving gifts of the Holy Spirit whenever He chose to do so.”  (NLT)

             The writer continues to write about the confirmation of the New Covenant, and speaks in this verse that it was confirmed by 1) sings and wonders.  This speaks of the miracles that were preformed by the Lord Jesus Christ while on the earth and later by the apostles and some early members of the Church.  2) “Gifts of the Holy Spirit,” I believe that this could refer to the gifts that the Holy Spirit gives to believers such as the ones mentioned in 1Corinthians, Romans, Ephesians, and 1Timothy.  This is the first mention of the Holy Spirit in the book of Hebrews.

           

            2.  Spiritual meaning for my life today:  At the end of the verse the words “according to His own will” are written and refer to the Holy Spirit work in giving gifts to members of the Church family.  I believe that the Holy Spirit has also chosen a work for me to do and also a gift to use for the good of the body of Christ.  I am willing to do what ever He has planned for me to do for the cause of Christ, for He will not only give me the work to do but also the desire and ability to do it.

 

The Word of God has challenged me as I read and studied it today.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  This verse has challenged me to be available to the Holy Spirit to do the work that He has chosen for me to do.

 

Memory verses for the week:  Eph. 2:10; Mark 12:30; Romans 12:5; Phil. 2:5

 

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

 

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.

 

…so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the other.

 

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus…

 

 

Admonition: Heed the Word and Don't Drift PT-2 (Heb. 2:3)

Spiritual diary for 12-19-02

 

My Worship Time                  Focus:  Admonition:  Heed the Word and Don’t Drift PT-2

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  Hebrews 2:3

 

            1.  Message of the verse:  “how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,”  (NKJV)  “What makes us think that we can escape if we are indifferent to this great salvation that was announced by the Lord Jesus Himself?  It was passed on to us by those who heard Him speak,”  (NLT)

            All of these first four verses tie into each other and they do continue the theme that the writer had in the first chapter, that which of Christ being superior to angels.  As stated in verse two the angels were used by God to bring forth the Law in the OT.   "who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it."  (Acts 7:53)  “What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator.”  (Gal. 3:19)  Now the Son of God who is superior to the angels mediated the New Covenant message of salvation.  The message and the messenger are superior to that of the OT Law.  The greater the privilege the greater the punishment for disobedience or neglect.  The last part of the verse refers to those who were alive and say the things that Jesus did and are now passing it on to the next generation so that they can know the truths of it.

 

            2.  Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I certainly believe that as a believer in the age of the New Covenant that I have a greater responsibility than those of the Old Covenant because I have more information on what has happened to the Lord Jesus Christ while He was upon the earth, and how He suffered and died for the sins of mankind to give eternal life to them.  I know that this is the most important message of all of the earth and that I should do a better job of telling others about this wonderful message.  I guess one of the reasons that I do not do this is because I care more about myself and my agenda than the agenda that the Lord has for me to do.

 

The Word of God brought conviction to me today.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  I want to be ready to explain to anyone that the Lord brings into my life today the hope that lies within me.

Memory verses for the week:  Eph.2: 10; Mark 12:30; Romans 12:5; Phil. 2:5

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.

…so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus…

 

 

Heed the Word and Don't Drift (Heb. 2:2)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 12-18-02

 

My Worship Time                              Focus:  Heed the Word and Don't Drift

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                         Reference:  Hebrews 2:2

 

1.      Message of the verse:  “2 For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward,”  (NKJV)  “The message God delivered through angels has always proved true, and the people were punished for every violation of the law and every act of disobedience.”  (NLT)  Verse one of this chapter spoke of drifting away from the truths of the gospel.  Now the writer continues this theme in this verse by speaking about the fact that the message of the OT was given by the help of angels and if it were disobeyed then God would bring forth His discipline to those who disobeyed it.  The words from the NKJV in verse two; transgression and disobedience speak of sins of commission and omission.  Both sins are willful, serious, and require just judgment.

 

2.      Spiritual meaning for my life today:  Just as the writer of the wonderful book of Hebrews describes in this chapter, I too need to take very seriously the warnings that he speaks about.  It is easy to drift away from doing the things that are described for me to do in the Bible and it is easy to have the wrong ideas about who God is and what He requires of His children.

 

The Word of God was convicting to me today.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  I want to trust the Lord to show me the things that I am doing that are not pleasing to Him and I want to work out my own salvation with fear and trembling.

 

Memory verses for the week:  Ephesians 2:10; Mark 12:30; Romans 12:5; and Phil. 2:5

 

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good words, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

 

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.

 

…so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

 

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus…

First Warning from Hebrews (Heb. 2:1)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 12-16-02

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  First warning

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  Hebrews 2:1

 

            Message of the verse:  “1 ¶ Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.”  (NKJV)  “So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it.”   (NLT) 

            There are some things that I wish to point out from this verse.  First, the writer uses the word “we” which shows that he is speaking to believers and not unbelievers.  Second, “the things we have heard” I believe he is speaking about the important things that he has written about in the first chapter because he starts out with the word, “therefore.”  Third when he says, “lest we drift away,” he uses terms that were used about ships.  If a believers starts to drift away from his faith he is probably neglecting the reading of the Word of God, or neglecting his prayer life, or is neglecting gathering with those of like faith at the Church.  Drifting away from the truths of Scripture is a very dangerous thing for any believer to do.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  The commentary on this verse and the three that follow by Dr. Warren Wiersbe tell of the importance of doing devotions each and every day so that I can learn from God’s Word to help me grow spiritually.  If I would quit eating for a long period of time then I would become sick and possibility die, and the same is true with neglecting the Bread of Life.

 

The Word of God challenged me today.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  It is always a step of faith to continue to do my devotions each day.  I am challenged by the book on anger that I am reading, and pray that the Lord will use this in a big way in my life as I continue to read it.

 

Memory verses for the week:  Ephesians 2:10; Mark 12:30; Romans 12:5; Philippians 2:5

 

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared for us in advance to do.

 

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.

 

…so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

 

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus…

 

 

 

Jesus Christ is Superior to Angels (Heb. 1:13-14)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 12-14-02

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  Christ is superior to angels

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  Hebrews 1:13,14

 

            Message of the verse:  “13 But to which of the angels has He ever said: ‘Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool"’? 14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?   (NKJV)  “And God never said to an angel, as He did to His Son, ‘Sit in honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under Your feet.’” “ But angels are only servants.  They are spirits sent from God to care for those who will receive salvation.” (NLT)

            The writer quotes from Psalm 110:1 to again show that the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, is better than the angels.  I think that as I look at this first chapter of Hebrews and see that most of the quotes about the Lordship of are from the Psalms that were written by David.  David was certainly a type of the Lord Jesus and many of His writings were about the Messiah. 

            In these last two verses that are written here the writer goes back to the point that he has been making in all of this chapter and that is that the Messiah is, was, and always be God, and that He is superior to angels and always has been since He is the creator of all things, including angels.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  In the 14^th verse the writer speaks of angels who minister to those who will receive salvation and this is probably one of the verses where the idea of a guarding angel comes from.  To think that God has not only provided salvation for me but that He continues to care for me by sending His angels to minister to me when needed.  I would imagine that when I get to heaven and see all of the times that angels have ministered to me while upon this earth that I will fall on my face and worship the Lord for His goodness to me.

 

The Word of God was refreshing to me today.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  I want to trust the Lord to see me through going to see Sharlotte singing at her church this evening.  Kim and Tim are to go with us and this will have a tendency to bring on IBS for me. 

 

Memory verses for the week:  Ephesians 2:10; Mark 12:30; & Romans 12:5

 

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

 

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.

 

…so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

 

           

 

Christ is the Same Forever (Heb. 1:11-12)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 12-13-02

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  Christ is the same forever

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                         Reference:  Hebrews 1:11-12

 

            Message of the verse:  ‘”11 They will perish, but You remain; And they will all grow old like a garment;

12 Like a cloak You will fold them up, And they will be changed. But You are the same, and Your years will not fail.’”  (NKJV)  ‘”Even they will perish, but You will remain forever.  They will wear out like old clothing.  You will roll them up like an old coat.  They will fade away like old clothing.  But You will never grow old.’”  (NLV)

            Malachi 3:6 says, “I am the LORD, and I do not change.  That is why you descendants of Jacob are not already completely destroyed.”  It is the character of the Lord God which does not change and that is His love, mercy, grace, and justice.  The Lord had made a covenant with the nation of Israel that their nation would last forever and even though He at times became angry with them and at times disciplined them He did not change His mind about the covenant He made with them.  The earth will be destroyed completely at some time in the future, but the Lord Jesus Christ will never change, He will always be superior to all created things, even angels.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I am so thankful that the Lord never changes for there are many things on this old earth that do change.  By realizing this fact I know that the Lord will always love me and that He will always do what is best for me even though at time I will not completely understand what He is doing.

 

The Word of God brought understanding to my heart this morning.

 

My Steps of Faith For Today:  Because the Lord never changes I can be sure that I will be able to trust Him to work out for me the problems I face each day due to IBS.  I believe that He will work this out for my good and His glory and I am thankful for that truth that can never change.

 

Memory verses for the week:  Ephesians 2:10; Mark 12:30; Romans 12:5

 

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

 

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.

 

…so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.