August 10, 2021 — A Study on the Book of Hebrews

“Pursue peace with everyone, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble, and through it many become defiled. See to it that no one becomes like Esau, an immoral and godless person, who sold his birthright for a single meal. You know that later, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, even though he sought the blessing with tears. You have not come to something that can be touched, a blazing fire, and darkness, and gloom, and a tempest, and the sound of a trumpet, and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that not another word be spoken to them. (For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned to death.”Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.”) But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.” Hebrews 12:14-24

“See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God.” Of course! Without grace, none of us can live peacefully together, and none of us can be holy. Without grace, we can’t be a peaceful, holy influence on others either. That made me feel better. Living in peace and holiness are important and necessary—and what a comfort it is to know that God’s grace empowers us to live that way for him. And when we fail, that same grace will forgive, accept, and encourage us to “make every effort” again. It always comes down to grace.” (todaydevotional.com, Dale Vander Veen, “Peace and Holiness and Grace”)

“But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering…” The author of Hebrews is drawing a distinction between earthly kingdoms and the kingdom of G-d. While earthly kingdoms have a beginning and end, the kingdom of G-d is completely different. The reign of the Lord is eternal. It cannot be taken over by outside powers. At every moment G-d remains in full control over it. Whatever we see around us is not going to last forever. G-d’s heavenly kingdom is forever.

In Jesus Christ we become the citizens of this most powerful kingdom ever. Regardless of our external circumstances, the Lord always reigns, and his loving reign extends to ­every corner of the visible world and every part of our lives. His kingdom reflects G-d’s eternal nature and unlimited power.

That is why we are called to worship him “with ­reverence and awe” and to “Pursue peace with everyone, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.”

Pastor Dave