Hebrews 1:4 says that Jesus, who because of His position and work, has “become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they”, and the rest of the chapter contrasts Him with them.  God’s angels are “ministering spirits sent forth to minister” to His people, verse 14, but Jesus is God’s only begotten Son, a distinction never given to angels, and by reason of this position, He alone could bring into fruition God’s plan for the ages which includes the redemption of fallen mankind, verses 2- 3. He laid aside His equality with God “taking the form of a bond-servant…became obedient to…the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name…” Philippians 2:5-11. We are given another picture of His position and work in Revelation 5 where we are introduced to a “scroll…sealed with seven seals…And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth (neither man, angel, or spirit) was able to open the scroll or to look at it” except “the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David…a Lamb as though it had been slain…”. Much has been written and spoken about the seven seal judgments that were on the scroll, which is very important but what else is significant about the scroll?  While the Bible does not specifically say it, I believe it contained God’s plan of the ages, the plan which included redemption for all mankind, Jew and Gentile alike, all that would “Believe on the lord Jesus Christ…will be saved” Acts 16:31. No one could fulfill that plan except Jesus, the Lion and the Lamb; when John looks to see the Lion who “prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals” he sees “a Lamb as though it had been slain…” Revelation 5:5-6, it was “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” John 1:29. Having now fulfilled God’s plan of redemption He is revealed as the Lion who alone can open the scroll and loose the seals of judgment on the unbelieving world! No wonder God has set Him in the position “that is so much better than the angels” “and given Him the name which is above every name” Philippians 2:9. He is “the King of kings and Lord of lords” 1 Timothy 1:15. Yes, and better than the angels!

Better than angels

By Rose Hill

Angels are near when God’s word we read,

When we are in trouble they can help with speed.

But Jesus our Lord is better by far,

Than many of God’s angels really are.

Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version copyright …1982 by Thomas Nelson Co. used by permission.

Part one

Being part of the human race no matter where we stand in life our tendency is to always want something better. We were created in God’s likeness, and for perfection; even though there was nothing better than what He created us to be and to have, we desired what we thought was something better and chose to ignore the command and warning given by God our creator, and to follow a foreign entity by which instead of attaining something better we were thrust into a downward spiral from where we still cry out for something better, which is now restoration, but we try to satisfy it with fleshly lusts like pleasure, possessions Etc.! Even though we failed to heed and obey Him, God has not abandoned us; He desires for us to attain those better things even more than we desire them! The Bible is filled with promises, provisions, and instructions whereby that desire can be met. The problem is that we want to climb back up by ourselves through self-reform, self-help, and self-achievement, but all we can do does not really satisfy that inner longing, we can’t do it ourselves. The only way is to return to the place from which we fell, that is to Him! The sons of Korah had it right in Psalm 45:10 as they sang “a day in Your courts is better than a thousand”, (we could justifiably say a day in Your presence is better than a thousand anywhere else”). David said it all in Psalm 16:11 when he said “You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Are you ready to step into His better things today? Better things attained only through God’s own Son, Jesus!  In the coming weeks we plan to pursue some of the better things the Bible talks about, we hope you will join us on this journey.

Better Things

By Rose Hill

We pursue this journey of better things,

And experience the joy His presence brings.

We study His word and it we obey

We are learning to walk the better way.

Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version copyright …1982 by Thomas Nelson Co. used by permission.

Hebrews 13:15 is our final stop on our “let us” tour through Hebrews, “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God…” Webster says sacrifice is “a giving up, destroying, Etc. of one thing for the sake of another of higher value.” A true sacrifice is costly; in 2 Samuel 24:24 we have the example of David when he is about to make offerings to the Lord for his sin of numbering Israel against God’s word, when Araunah offered to give him not only the sight but also the implements David refused, saying “No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price; nor will I offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God with that which costs me nothing.” A sacrifice may take on different forms at different times or for different people; it may be giving up a pleasurable activity choosing rather to assemble with the congregation to worship; it may be giving up a personal want in order to help someone else in the name of the Lord Jesus, Etc. To God it is the denying of ourselves for the sake of His glory and kingdom. Here it is specifically pointed to “the fruit of our lips”. The Psalmists prayer in 19:14 is “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart (the source of our words, see Luke 6:45) be acceptable (or delightful) in Your sight, O Lord…” Instead of using our lips to exalt ourselves, our achievements, our accomplishments, our possessions, we use them to offer praise and to glorify Him; instead of using our tongue to criticize, complain, and exploit the faults of others we will use it to speak of His goodness; instead of using our mouth to magnify difficulties we should use it to give Him thanks (see Philippians 4:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:18). Yes in a sacrifice of praise we deliberately choose to bring forth words of praise to God even when our flesh pulls the other way! Let us live by offering “the sacrifice of praise to God…giving thanks to His name.”

Pleasing, praising words

By Rose Hill

Let us not use our mouth to complain,

But instead use it to magnify Your name.

Our words must be pleasing in Your sight,

A sacrifice of praise is always right.

Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version copyright …1982 by Thomas Nelson Co. used by permission.

“Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach” Hebrews 13:13. Therefore connects us with what has been said previously, verse 12 calling our attention to Leviticus 16 where in verse 27 we learn that the bodies of the sin offering whose blood was used in making atonement in the holy place on the day of atonement was burned outside the camp, this offering being a prophetic picture of Jesus our perfect sin offering, crucified at Golgotha which we understand was outside the city of Jerusalem at that time. Thus the call to go forth to Him outside the camp, away from the Temple rituals and traditional religious practices “which can never take away sins…” which His sacrifice does Hebrews 10:11-18, nether can they give life; they could only point to Him who alone could say “I am…the life” John 14:6, and “I have come that they may have life…” John 10:11. So we are called to leave all religious practices and traditions and come out to Him! Not only are we called to separation from religious forms and traditions, but also from our old ways, “Come out from among them, And be separate…” 2 Corinthians 6:17, which may at times include old friends, not that we become enemies or no longer associate in any way, but because we no longer practice the old things or go to the places of disreputable activity some may disassociate form us, or will mock and jeer; the Bible says “If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you…” 1 Peter 4:14, remember that coming out to Him includes “bearing His reproach.” With Abraham of old we are looking forward to “the city which has foundations, (it is secure and everlasting) whose builder and maker is God” Hebrews 11:10, looking to our heavenly reward with Christ “who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” Hebrews 12:2.

Coming to Jesus

By Rose Hill

We walk away from the old way of sin,

Willing to bear a reproach with Him.

When with our whole heart we believe,

Then great joy we will receive.

Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version copyright …1982 by Thomas Nelson Co. Used by permission.

“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear” Hebrews 12:28. We have the hope of a future kingdom, and the first fruits of it right now through the Holy Spirit! This verse coming to us following closely with the theme of 4:1, the writer has been recalling the giving of the law at Mount Sinai where the people saw the awesome revelation of God’s glory and power, yet through doubt and rebellion they failed to enter the rest of Canaan, suffering severe punishment instead. Hence the caution flag and the warning to any whose faith is growing weak and who may be contemplating turning away from Christ; receiving grace let us “serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” The ESV reads “Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe”. If it were not possible to turn away from Christ after walking with Him for a while and then miss out on this treasured kingdom it would be unnecessary for the Scripture to issue such warnings, but the fact that it is a repeated warning is indicative of its extreme importance! Remember the very next verse in Hebrews 12, verse 29, says “For our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:12 says, “Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees.” Ingesting the Word of God is such a mighty force to do this very thing as Job 4:4 so aptly points out, “Your words have upheld him who was stumbling, And you have strengthened the feeble knees;” this seems to be speaking of Job, but without question it is applicable to God who upholds and strengthens And what does Revelation 3:2 say? “Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die…” (cf. 1 Samuel 30:6).  Oh, having received God’s grace and the promise of His kingdom, let us always be purposed to serve Him “acceptably with reverence and godly fear”.

Walking with God

By Rose Hill

We must serve God with Godly fear,

And walk in His ways year after year.

By getting strength from His word and in it live,

We are getting the kingdom that He wants to give.

Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version copyright …1982 by Thomas Nelson Co. used by permission

Now having laid aside those things that would impede our Christian race, Hebrews 12:1 continues, “let us run with endurance the race that is set before us”; this is constancy, it is keeping our eyes on the goal, it is not being distracted by surroundings or circumstances, it is standing our ground under the stress and pressures that confront us during race. In Ecclesiastes 9:11 Solomon saw that “The race is not to the swift…” from a spiritual perspective it is not how vigorously we begin the race but how we endure and cross the finish line that will determine our eternal reward! The Christian race is not a sprint, it is not a hundred yard dash, rather it is a lifelong marathon in which the goal line will only be reached when we enter heavens portals where Jesus “the author and finisher of our faith”, Hebrews 12:2, has already entered and awaits to confer our reward upon us! Unlike an earthly athletic contest in which only “…one receives the prize…” 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, in this race every one that crosses the finish line in faithfulness will receive “the crown of life” Revelation 2:10, that will be administered by Jesus Himself! I do not see a second place entry for those who fall a little bit short; Jesus words are”…he who endures to the end shall be saved”, Mark 13:13; Matthew 24:13, that is to hold your ground in the conflict, the Scripture says “Fight the good fight of faith…” 1 Timothy 6:12, it is preserving under the pressure of adversity and holding out under the stress of the race. In Philippians 3:13-14 the Apostle wrote “…forgetting those things which are behind…I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” This must be the commitment of everyone who enters this race; to win; we must “run with endurance…”

Run, and run to win

By Rose Hill

Let us run and run and never give in,

To the things that take our eyes off Him.

For a crown of life the Lord will give,

To those who for Him their lifetime live.

Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version copyright …1982 by Thomas Nelson Co. used by permission.

Coming on the heels of the listing of the great heroes of faith Hebrews 12:1 says “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses…” not necessarily as spectators watching us from heaven, but more likely the witness of their lives having set for us the example of their overcoming victorious success marking a path for us to follow. Drawing from athletic competition in which runners would remove all unnecessary weights, whether clothing, body mass, Etc. in order to compete successfully as they strive for the prize; the Christian life is compared to that runner, the Scripture saying, “Run in such a way that you may obtain it” (the prize), 1 Corinthians 9:24. And so Hebrews continues “…let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnare us…” “Every weight, and the sin” could be viewed as one because every sin is a weight; however every weight is not necessarily a sin in itself, but perfectly good and legitimate things like money, possessions, leisure, Etc. can be weights in our race when allowed to hinder our relationship and service to God! Jesus said “If anyone desires to follow Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me” Luke 9:23. Then there is the issue of the out and out sin, things like stealing, drunkenness, drug addiction, adultery and other forms of immorality, murder, witchcraft, covenant breaking, and the like, which we are certainly commanded to put off, Ephesians 4:22. But what about those little sins, “The little foxes that spoil the vines” Song of Solomon 2:15; remember “our vines have tender grapes”; the work of the Holy Spirit within us is very sensitive! Those sins that look “little” in comparison, those ill feelings that you have been harboring, those outbursts of anger that you try to tell yourself is justified, being deceitful, cheating, that “little” lie, Etc. are very destructive. Let us lay aside and cast off every hindrance focusing on the prize at the end of the race!

Little foxes

By Rose Hill

Those little things that hinder you,

From doing what God said to do.

They must be put out of sight,

So you are free to do what’s right!

Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version copyright …1982 by Thomas Nelson Co. used by permission.

“…let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works” Hebrews 10:24. As Christians we are to live and do those things that glorify God, and we are also responsible to encourage and incite one another to do the same! God has so ordained that we need one another; as Christians we are a family that functions like a body in which every member has its role (see 1 Corinthians 12:14-27) and is incomplete without the others! We should be cultivators of love and good works and are told to “pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another” Romans 14:19. To edify is architectural language, meaning we are to build one another up, yes, we become house builders in the kingdom of God as we “edify one another” 1 Thessalonians 5:11. The Bible says “As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend” Proverbs 27:17; the countenance has to do with the face and is used in a great variety of applications, in our application here we become like sharpening tools to each other! This happens through inner activity as we encourage each other. Malachi 3:16 KJV says “Then they that feared the Lord spake often to one another: and the Lord hearkened (listened or paid attention), and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him…” Hebrews 10:25 seems to continue the thought of verse 24 as it instructs us, “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” Throughout Scripture “the Day” and “the Day of the Lord” is referring to the end times, and I believe here it is speaking of the Return of Jesus. These instructions seem to be especially important in the light of His imminent return as is being evidenced by those Biblical signs that are so evident all around us every day. Remember “let us consider (fully observe) one another (not to find faults, but) in order to stir up (incite to) love and good works”.

Encourage your brother

By Rose Hill

God wants us to encourage one another,

Producing good works in our sister and brother.

Working at building His kingdom here,

For the coming of the Lord is drawing near.

Unless otherwise stated Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version copyright …1982 by Thomas Nelson Co. used by permission.

Hebrews 10:23 says “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” You will probably recall that we also talked about holding fast our confession in 4:14; there we talked about our confession of faith in our great High priest, the Lord Jesus Christ, and what the word of God declares we are through Him. Here we are talking about confessing our hope. What is our hope? Our hope is in Him, and certainly it is highlighted by the consummation of our salvation at His coming again; Jesus Himself is “our hope” 1 Timothy 1:1; He promised to return for us in these words, “I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” John 14:3. And 1 John 3:2 tells us that we are God’s children now but then we shall receive the consummation of being transformed into His image, “for we shall see Him as He is.” Then Romans 13:11 reminds us that “now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.” The signs He told us to be aware of leading up to His return are now converging before our eyes, no longer just one here, one there, but shouting “from the housetops” “behold, I am coming quickly…” Revelation 22:12. We are “looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” imminently, Titus 2:13, having the “hope of eternal life which God who cannot lie promised before time began” Titus 1:2; a hope of long duration, a hope of happiness and great blessing. Peter in his first epistle, 1:3, calls it “a living hope”; it is established on a living person and His life giving word! Unlike the world’s hope in which we wish for something but are not sure it will happen, this Christian hope, this Biblical hope, is a hope of confidence, pleasurable anticipation and expectation, it is a hope that “does not disappoint” Romans 5:5, it will surely come to pass. “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering”.

Coming again

By Rose Hill

Our hope is in His coming again;

We are looking for great blessings then.

So we confess and do believe,

That someday His promise we will receive.

The troubles of this life will be gone,

And He will make right every Wrong.

Scripture quotations are from the New King James version copyright …1982 by Thomas Nelson Co. used by permission.