Today's Reading:
Esther 8:1-10:3
Hebrews 1:1-14
Psalm 119:161-168
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Focus Verses: Hebrews 1:1-4
1 In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but
in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed
heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. 3 The
Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his
being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided
purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in
heaven. 4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.
Insight:
Hebrews
begins with a glorious description of the Son of God. He is the
prophetic voice of God. He is "the radiance of God's glory." He is the
"exact representation of God's being." He is the one who is "sustaining
all things by his powerful word." He is the one who provides
"purification for sins." He is seated "at the right hand of the Majesty
in heaven" and is "superior to the angels."
The deity
and supremacy of Jesus the Christ are not the wishful ideas and
inventions of Christians three or four centuries down the line. No, the earliest Christians
were totally convinced that Jesus was the divine Son of God. The book
of Hebrews was written in the last half of the first century (probably
around 80 A.D.).
Response and Action:
I
will look to Jesus to understand the truth of God. Jesus is the
embodiment of God's divine radiance. My faith is in Jesus. He is the one
who is able to make purification for my sin. He is the one who is able
to sustain me.
I
believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ; the only begotten of the Father; God
from God, Light from Light, True God from True God; begotten, not made;
through Him all things were made. For us and for our salvation, he came
down from heaven. By the power of the Holy Spirit, he became incarnate
from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake, he was crucified
under Pontius Pilate. He suffered death, and was buried. On the third
day he rose again, in accordance with the Scripture. He ascended into
heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come
again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his Kingdom will
have no end. Amen.
Spiritual Formation Verses: Matthew 16:13-17
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” 14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven."
Resources:
Jesus According to Scripture: Restoring the Portrait from the Gospels
by Darrell L. Bock
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