Category: Faith

Which Tent are You Serving? – Hebrews 13 – 2025 Day 167

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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 135; Hebrews 13

We have an altar from which those who worship at the tabernacle do not have a right to eat. For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the most holy place by the high priest as a sin offering are burned outside the camp. Therefore, Jesus also suffered outside the gate, so that he might sanctify the people by his own blood. Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing his disgrace. For we do not have an enduring city here; instead, we seek the one to come.

Hebrews 13:10-14 CSB

Let’s not rush past these verses without asking ourselves some transformational questions?

  • Am I living for this earthly body, this corruptible, temporary tent, or am I living for that eternal tabernacle in the heavens where Jesus is already seated at the right hand of God?
  • Am I willing to go to Him outside the camp and bear the same disgrace that He bore in my place, or am I ashamed of the gospel and unwilling to endure the disdain that the world has for the Name of Christ?
  • Am I seeking the praise of man, the accolades of this earthly city, or am I seeking the words, “Well done, my good and faithful servant,” that my Father will one day welcome me with when I pass from the temporary to the eternal?

Ask yourself,
“Is what I’m living for
worth Christ dying for?”

Let’s pray.

Heavenly Father, in our hearts we know the right answers to these questions, but so often we lack the strength to do what we know that we ought. Please strengthen our weak knees and make straight the paths that You want us to walk. We do love You, Lord, but so often it is not with our whole heart, mind, soul, and strength. We are at best half-hearted followers. Oh, but Father, we want to give You our whole hearts. Please, do it in us. Pierce our hearts with the truth of Your word and help us to see our sin, so that we can be faithful to cast it off and put on Christ. We love you, Lord. It is in the matchless name of Jesus Christ, our Savior that we pray. Amen.

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I Love You, Lord – Kathryn Scott

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The Lord’s Discipline – Hebrews 12 – 2025 Day 166

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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 134; Hebrews 12

After hobbling around in a walking boot for six weeks, I was so tired of it. I wanted to throw it straight in the trash. I felt like it was hindering me and making me weak, when actually it was helping me heal properly.

It’s like the Lord’s discipline. The Lord is a good Father, a perfect Father. He wants for our good. He wants to teach us and train us. He wants to “raise us up right,” and that means that He is diligently working to conform us into the image of His Son.

For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.

Hebrews 12:11-13 ESV

I don’t want to be left lame. I don’t want to be left weak. I don’t want to have to walk the crooked path. No. I don’t. I need the Lord’s discipline – and so do you.

Let’s pray.

Heavenly Father, Thank You for making me Your daughter. It’s so good to be Your daughter. Thank You that You are not punishing me as Your enemy, but disciplining me as Your daughter. You want for my good. You want to make me straight and strong, and You want to teach me to walk on the straight paths. Help me to give thanks in all circumstances and to trust that the path You have me on is Your will for me in Christ Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of my faith and the Savior of my soul. For it is in His holy name that I pray. Amen

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Holy, Holy, Holy (We Bow Before Thee) – Shane and Shane

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How can I Endure? – Hebrews 11-12 – 2025 Day 165

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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 133; Hebrews 11:32-12:28

I hope you read Hebrews 11 immediately before reading Hebrews 12, because of that critical first word of Hebrews 12, “Therefore.”

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

Hebrews 12:1-3 ESV
  • Why do we remember all those men and women of faith who went before us, men and women who didn’t ever receive what they were promised, what they were hoping for?
  • Why do we cast off sin and all those other not-so-helpful things that are holding us back in this race?
  • Why do we consider Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, the One who endured such hostility?

So that we can keep going, running the race without fainting from weariness or lack of strength. Remember those saints. Remember Jesus. Cast off sin and selfishness and pride and cling to your faith.

Heavenly Father, Thank You for giving us the example of the suffering saints and the suffering savior. Help us to suffer well. Help us to endure when race of life feels long and hard and lonely. Make us a reflection of Christ, remembering our children, our neighbors, our fellow church members are watching us. For Your glory and honor we pray, Amen.

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I am a Christian – Hudson Harmony Band

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Life is Hard. God is Good. – Hebrews 11 – 2025 Day 164

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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 131-132; Hebrews 11

I love, love, love Hebrews 11. I love it from the first verse to the last verse. I could spend a month just studying this one chapter of the Bible. How can I choose just one verse to focus on?

  • Do I choose the definition of faith – that faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen – that we find in verse 1?
  • Or how about that the universe was created by the word of God, that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible, like we read in verse 3?
  • But what about verse 6, that without faith it is important to please God, for whoever would draw near to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him?
  • Or maybe I should choose one of the stories of faithful men and women, like Noah or Moses or Rahab?

No, I’m not going to choose any of those. Rather, I want to take you to some of the less popular verses which are found at the end of this chapter, the stories of faithful men and women whose stories aren’t so famous as Abraham and Joseph. I want you to really consider the men and women who aren’t featured in our children’s Sunday school lessons.

Let’s begin reading at verse 32.

And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection.

Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

Hebrews 11:32-40

Sisters, Brothers, life isn’t always easy, but God is always good. Trust Him.

Heavenly Father, Thank You for all of these examples of faithful men and women who have gone before us. Thank You for the wonderful stories of miracles like Abraham and Sarah having a baby in their old age, and Moses parting the Red Sea. Help us to remember that even in those joyous stories there is great pain – Sarah’s pain enduring decades of barrenness, Moses’s years growing up apart from his mother along with forty years in the wilderness. And, Lord, there’s also all those stories of men and women who were mocked, tortured, and killed, who never received in this life the rewards and promises they hoped for. Oh, but Father, today they are in Your glorious presence. Today they see You face to face. And someday we will, too, if we do not lose heart. Give us strength to hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, because You, O Lord, are faithful to keep Your promises. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

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Faith to Believe – Shane and Shane

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Looking Forward to Heaven – Hebrews 9 – 2025 Day 162

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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 129; Hebrews 9

For several years, I have been teaching English classes online using The Beginners Bible. I remember one year when I taught the last class, reading the last story, the story of John’s vision of heaven. One of my students wondered if heaven would be boring, if we’d all just be sitting around on clouds singing and playing harps. We had a great discussion about how glorious and good heaven will be. I promised him that he wouldn’t be bored, and I sent his mom a link to another wonderful book, perfect for parents and kids alike, Heaven for Kids by Randy Alcorn.

More recently, I spent 18 weeks leading the youth through a study of the book of Revelation with our local Community Bible Study group. As part of that study, we memorized Revelation 21:1-8 about the glories of the new heaven and the new earth.

So, those things returned to my mind, when I read Hebrews 9.

For Christ has entered,
not into holy places made with hands,
which are copies of the true things,
but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.

Hebrews 9:24 ESV

Jesus is there now, at the right hand of the Father, interceding for us, and that fact alone is enough to make me long to go – which then reminded me of this quote from John Piper

“The critical question for our generation—and for every generation— is this: If you could have heaven, with no sickness, and with all the friends you ever had on earth, and all the food you ever liked, and all the leisure activities you ever enjoyed, and all the natural beauties you ever saw, all the physical pleasures you ever tasted, and no human conflict or any natural disasters, could you be satisfied with heaven, if Christ were not there?”

John Piper

Our Father in Heaven, what an honor it is to pray to You, to know that You hear our prayers while we are here on earth, and what an even greater honor to know that Jesus is interceding on our behalf. We look forward to seeing You face to face, to sitting at Your feet and at least beholding Your glory. We pray that You will draw our loved ones to Your side, that we can worship You side-by-side with those we love. In the Name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

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Heaven is a Wonderful Place – Psalty

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He Maketh No Mistake – Hebrews 8 – 2025 Day 161

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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 128; Hebrews 8

Before reading Hebrews, I read the books of Exodus and Leviticus. While reading about the detailed construction of the tabernacle and the establishment of the gifts, sacrifices, and offerings, I often thought, “Why are we given so many details about how exactly these things are to be conducted and constructed?” Well, the answer is found here in Hebrews 8:5 – These things were a copy, a shadow of the heavenly ones.

I may not understand why God does what He does,
but I can trust that He has a purpose
and a plan for whatever He brings to pass.

When our baby Tommy passed away at 16 weeks after attempting in-utero surgery, a friend gave me this poem. I hope it blesses you, as it did me.

He Maketh No Mistake
by A. M. Overton

My Father’s way may twist and turn,
My heart may throb and ache,
But in my soul I’m glad I know,
He maketh no mistake.

My cherished plans may go astray,
My hopes may fade away,
But still I’ll trust my Lord to lead
For He doth know the way.

Though night be dark and it may seem
That day will never break;
I’ll pin my faith, my all in Him,
He maketh no mistake.

There’s so much now I cannot see,
My eyesight’s far too dim;
But come what may, I’ll simply trust
And leave it all to Him.

For by and by the mist will lift
And plain it all He’ll make,
Through all the way, though dark to me,
He made not one mistake.

Heavenly Father, Help us to trust You when we don’t understand. Help us to trust You when everything seems strange and not how we would have planned. Help us to trust You when the night is long and the days are weary. We believe that You are good, and You maketh no mistake. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

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He Maketh No Mistake – Crown College Choir
Blest the Man that Fears Jehovah (Psalm 128) – Christ Church

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Solid Food is for the Mature – Hebrews 5-6 – 2025 Day 159

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Read through the Bible in 2 years: Psalm 126; Hebrews 5-6

But solid food is for the mature ​— ​for those whose senses have been trained to distinguish between good and evil.

Hebrews 5:14 CSB

I sure enjoy a freshly grilled steak, but there’s no way I would feed it to my one-year-old granddaughter. I remember when that precious little girl was first learning to suck rice cereal off a spoon. Then, she graduated to yogurt and oatmeal. Now she can eat just about anything, but steak? She’s still not ready for it, but it won’t be long if her Pop has anything to say about it.

It takes more than simply time to develop maturity. I’ve met plenty of 50-year-old men that don’t have the maturity of my 26-year-old son. My youngest son is 17 years old. He’s 6’1″ and almost 170 lbs. Fully grown? Maybe. Fully mature? Nope, definitely not. Though he may be ten giant leaps in front of many of his peers, he still has so much to learn. Maturity takes wisdom and learning. Maturity takes testing and trial and error.

Like this passage says, the mature have trained their powers of discernment by constant practice, distinguishing good from evil. How are we doing, sisters? Are we training our children (and ourselves) to be discerning, knowing the Lord and hiding His Word in our hearts? Are we listening to the wisdom of the world or the Word? Are we following our hearts or our Master?

Heavenly Father, we want to be mature. We want to be discerning. We want to love what you love and hate what you hate. We pray for our children to know and love your Word, that they would hide it faithfully in their hearts, and we pray that we would be diligent in teaching and training them. Help us to be godly examples for the next generation, being sober-minded and making the most of every day that we are given. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.

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Hallelujah, What a Savior! – Hymns of Grace

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Appointed – Hebrews 5 – 2025 Day 158

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Read through the Bible in 2 years: Psalm 125; Hebrews 5

For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. … And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was. So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”

Hebrews 5:1, 4-5 ESV

I love doing little word studies, how about you? If so, then today’s your lucky day. 😃 If not, then I hope today’s study will win you over! 😂

I usually like to study the original Greek or Hebrew words, but today I decided to study the English word “appointed.” A – point. Point. Point. Point. It makes me think of when I was in elementary school and my classmates would select two captains to pick teams for a game like kickball or Red Rover. One after another they’d point at John, then Shaun, Jenny, Katie, Mike, Kevin, Chrissy and on it went until finally my name was called. Last. 🤷 What can you do? I’m no good at kickball. But, anyway …. back to “appointed.”

If you’d like to read more about my word study on “appointed,” please check my 2023 version of today’s post.

I think this word jumped out at me because it’s in my life verse, 1 Timothy 1:12-14. The persecutor-of-Christians-turned-apostle-Paul wrote,

“I thank him who has given me strength,
Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful,
appointing me to his service,
though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor,
and insolent opponent.
But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.”

1 Timothy 1:12-14 ESV

Jesus had appointed Paul to serve Him, even though he’d once been a blasphemer, persecutor, and opponent of the gospel. And Jesus has appointed me to His service. The King of kings chose me to be on His team. He called my name. What an honor and privilege. This is way, way better than kickball!

In Hebrews 5, we see that a high priest could not take this honor for himself, he had to be appointed. Likewise, Jesus Christ Himself was appointed by His Father to be made the eternal high priest. He did not exalt Himself. He was submissive and humble before God the Father.

And the living word pierced my heart, reminding me of all the times I’m trying to appoint myself for something, when I’m trying to be my own captain, as well as everyone else’s, rather than allowing the Lord to direct my steps. I’m so thankful that Jehovah God rules my life, that He controls my fate and pilots my ship. I am so incredibly grateful that I am not the captain of my own destiny for I know that I would lead myself astray like the foolish sheep that I am.

Oh, Heavenly Father, thank You for the comfort it is to know that You are on Your throne. When things in our world and in our lives seem out of control, You are still very much in control. Your Word says that it has been appointed for man to die once and after that comes judgment. I pray that You would draw each person reading these words into Your kingdom. Open their eyes, Lord, and turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in Your Son, Jesus Christ. It is in the name of Jesus that we can pray boldly and with confidence. Amen. (Scripture references: Hebrews 9:27, Acts 26:18)

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Praise His Name (Psalm 148) – Sovereign Grace Music

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The Sharp Scalpel of the Word – Hebrews 4 – 2025 Day 157

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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 124; Hebrews 4

For the word of God is living and active
and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, 
of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 
And there is no creature hidden from His sight, 
but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.

Hebrews 4:12-13 NASB95

I remember when I had my “jubilee year” physical, and my doctor told me that it was time for my first colonoscopy. Friends, I didn’t want to do it. I didn’t want to be on a liquid diet and tethered to the toilet for 24 hours. I didn’t want to be put under anesthesia, and I most certainly didn’t want to have my bottom examined by strangers. But, it was the right thing to do, because those unseen things inside me needed to be exposed and inspected, so that whatever impurities needed to be removed could be clearly seen.

So, I did it, even though I didn’t want to. And now, looking back, I’m glad I did. Even though it was painful, it was for my good, not for my harm

Friends, do you believe that the Bible you are holding in your hands is the very Word of God, that the God who spoke the world into existence, the One who holds your life and eternity in His Almighty hands, is the very God who breathed out the words of Genesis, Exodus, and Leviticus, as well as Matthew, John, and Hebrews? Do you believe that God’s written Word is as powerful as His spoken Word?

If you do indeed believe that, then take a moment to ponder how that should affect your life.

If God’s spoken word can cause lands and seas to appear, and birds to fly across the sky, then surely His written word can cause the dead to be born again. If God’s spoken word can cause soldiers to fall to the ground (John 18:6), then we ought to trust that God’s written word can convict even the hardest heart and bring them to repentance. If God’s spoken word can change the world, then we should trust that God’s written word can change your heart and life.

Sometimes we’re afraid to go to the doctor because we don’t want to hear the bad news.

Sometimes we refuse to be put under the knife, because we don’t want to go through the inevitable pain that will follow.

Oh, but friends, just like I’d tell you to go to the dermatologist for that suspicious spot on your nose, I’m telling you to get your nose into the Word. You need it. I need it. We need the double-edged sword of the Word.

Like a scalpel in the hands of an expert surgeon, God’s Word can root out the cancerous diseases of pride and selfishness and sin. God’s Word has pierced my heart time after time. Each time it hurts, but each time it’s good.

Let’s pray.

Heavenly Father, Thank You for giving us Your Word. It is indeed living and active. It is life-giving and powerful. It reveals truth to me and it pierces my soul. I pray for my sisters who are afraid, who don’t want to read it, who know that they need heart surgery, but are running away in fear. Please remind them of Your goodness and mercy, that You are the perfect physician and judge who wants for their good and not for their harm. Help us to hunger for You and to find You in Your written Word. May we not perish for lack of knowledge while Your Word sits unopened on the shelf. In the name of Jesus, the Living Word we pray, Amen.

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Your Words are Wonderful (Psalm 119) – Sovereign Grace Music

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Freedom from Lifelong Slavery – Hebrews 2 – 2025 Day 155

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Read through the Bible in 2 years: Psalm 122; Hebrews 2

“Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood,
He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.”

Hebrews 2:14-15 LSB

Growing up without God shaped how I saw life. I didn’t believe in any kind of higher power who was working behind the scenes. My life was all up to me. I was the potter, holding my own world in my hands. I believed I was the master of my own fate, the captain of my own soul, the determiner of my own destiny, so I better work hard and be good if I wanted to get ahead in life.

Not believing in God, also shaped how I saw death. My life was overshadowed by my fear of death. My last day on earth would be my last day. There was no afterlife, so I better be oh so careful how I lived.

When I became a follower of Jesus Christ in April of 1994, my views of life and death began to change. I became convinced that Almighty God ruled over my life, my death, and my life after death.

In the summer of 2023, two members of my small, local church body passed away in the same week. One was beginning his ninth decade of life, and one was beginning his second.

None of us know when our lives on earth will draw to a close. How thankful I am for the hope of life on earth with Christ, and the hope of eternal life in Heaven with Him as well. Do you have that hope or are you still in slavery to fear of death?

Heavenly Father, Thank You for the hope and peace that are mine because Jesus died in my place. I know that Jesus conquered death, and so will I. You are my hope in life and in death. Praise Your Name.

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Christ our Hope in Life and Death – Keith and Kristyn Getty, and Michael W. Smith

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