Jesus Christ is always the Same (Heb. 13:8-9)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 07-30-03

 

                                                                                                                       

 

My Worship Time                                          Focus:  Jesus Christ is always the same

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                         Reference:  Hebrews 13:8- 9

 

            Message of the verse:  “8 Jesus Christ, the same yesterday and today and forever.  9 Do not be carried away by various and strange doctrine; for it is good that the heart be confirmed by grace, not by foods, in which those walking in them were not profited.”  (Green’s LIT)  “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  So do not be attracted by strange new ideas.  Your spiritual strength comes from God’s special favor, not from ceremonial rules about food, which don’t help those who follow them.”  (NLT)

            As stated in yesterday’s “Spiritual Diary,” Dr. Wiersbe stated that it is possible that those spiritual leaders spoken about in verse seven had been martyred for their faith in Jesus Christ, and this could explain the reason the writer said what he said in verse eight.  As believers we are to heed to what our spiritual leaders teach us as long as it is from the Scriptures, and we are to follow their examples too, but the source of strength of a believer comes from the Lord Jesus Christ who is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  Also because of this truth believers are not to be carried away by some strange new idea, or they are not to think that by eating certain kinds of food that they will become more spiritual.  In the OT Law there were dietary laws for Israel, but they were only a shadow of Jesus Christ who has now come and made them into a reality.  The Scriptures speak of foods in the NT on several occasions, and in the book of Acts Peter found out first hand from the Holy Spirit that food was not an issue to being holy any more. 

 

            Spiritual meaning form my life today:  This passage is meaningful to me because of Pastor Jacobs leaving and our church searching for a new senior Pastor.  It does put things a bit more into perspective as to Who I am to put my total trust in. 

 

The Word of God was very in tuned to what is going on in the life of our Church; it was up to date and very helpful to me as I read it this morning.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  I do want to trust the Lord that His perfect will is going to be worked out in the choosing of our next Pastor at Grace Baptist Church, Westlake.