Feb 6 Keep your ears on and the signal strong. Hebrews 2:1-3
Memory Verse: “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life”. John 6:68
Gospel Story: Luke 6:52-69 … “You have the words that give eternal life”
Read: Hebrews 2:1-3
1So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it. 2 For the message God delivered through angels has always stood firm, and every violation of the law and every act of disobedience was punished. 3 So what makes us think we can escape if we ignore this great salvation that was first announced by the Lord Jesus himself and then delivered to us by those who heard him speak?
You gotta read: John 12:47 Romans 2:4 Psalm 139
Reflection:
Our Gospel story highlights something so profound. There were followers of Jesus who while he still walked the earth, they chose not to follow him for life. This fact alone is what gets Jesus asking his twelve this pointed question, “Are you also going to leave?” My guy Peter responds wonderfully with what Holy Spirit has burned into many of our hearts. No matter the cost, the pain, or even our inability to fully understand Jesus’ words and his ways, we likewise must echo Peter in saying, “Lord to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life.”
The author is Hebrews is in some way too trying to get us to make sure we “keep our ears on and the signal strong”. “We must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it.”
Paul dealing with the same issue reveals the same sense of urgency in Galatians 1:6. Here him say,
I am shocked that you are turning away so soon from God, who called you to himself through the loving mercy of Christ. You are following a different way that pretends to be the Good News.
What if our author is contrasting the punishment inherent in the first covenant with Eternal Life in the new covenant. What makes us “think we can escape if we ignore this great salvation”. Can you really run away from the the Love of God revealed in Christ?
Bottom line, I pray we all may “think” clearly like Peter. Let’s “keep our ears on, and the signal strong”. Remember what Paul tried to get the Galatians to remember.
Let me ask you this one question, did you receive the Holy spirit by obeying the law of Moses? Of Course not! You received the Holy Spirit because you believed the message about Christ. How foolish can you be? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort? Have you experience so much for nothing? I ask you again, does God give you the Holy Spirit and work miracles in your life because you obey the law? Of course not!!! It is because you believe the message you heard about Christ. Galatians 3:2-5
In the words of Peter, “Lord to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life!” …. amen.