November 5

Happy Tuesday! I woke up this morning and my hand was so asleep, I couldn’t move it. It was ridiculous. I must have laid on top of it for hours or something. Do you ever sleep through the scriptures as you read or even as you listen? I know that happens to me and I’ll have to go back and slowly read it again. This passage from Hebrews is one of those places that if you blink, you’ll miss the fullness of it. 


This book has such a wonderful message from God. It is introduced right from the opening paragraph. In the third verse, we are told that the Son “provided purification for sins” and He has redeemed sinners. There is much more on this in the letter, but here the point is made that God the Son, shares in our humanity. Jesus was made “a little lower than the angels... so that he might taste death for everyone.”  


The reason the author of our salvation needed to be made “perfect through suffering” may be difficult to wrap our brains around but what we can know without a doubt, it was absolutely necessary. Chapter two spells out three reasons he was made man. The first is that He might destroy Satan, “him who holds the power of death”. Second, that He might make atonement for the sins of the people. Third, that He might help those who are tempted because He Himself suffered when He was tempted. 


Here is the gospel is condensed in these brief phrases. Each amazing theme could (and does) fill pages if we want words to fully describe them, but sometimes, we should instead be quiet and let those words sink deep into us as we meditate on them—not “sleep” as we rush by them. I don’t memorize very well any more, but saying these words out loud makes me determined to know them by heart. 


“Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—...For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭2:14, 17-18 NIV


Father in Heaven, we thank you for the Son being made perfect through suffering. What an amazing life you showed to us. And what a perfect plan so that we can turn to you regardless of how difficult things may be. You are the only one to whom we can run in the face of tribulations. And you alone promise that you will act, even in those times when we may not feel you working. When we are faced with a seemingly impenetrable wall, we can know a breakthrough is coming because we believe your promise. We praise your name and we worship you God for you are worthy! Amen and amen. 


Love you dear one,

Pam


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