Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Hebrews 12:7-29
I’ve been hobbling around in a walking boot on my right foot for a month now. And let me tell you what, I’m tired of it. I want to throw it straight in the trash. It feels like it’s hindering me and making me weak, when actually it’s there to help 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
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?
Because that’s how we can keep going, that’s how we can endure, that’s how we can continue to run the race without giving in to weariness and faint from lack of strength. Remember those saints. Remember Jesus. Cast off sin and selfishness and pride and cling to your faith.
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. Target, I want to take you to some less popular verses found at the end of this chapter, to the stories of other faithful men and women whose stories aren’t so famous as Abraham and Joseph. I want you to read about some 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, 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 of decades of barrenness, Moses’s years growing up apart from his mother and all the 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 are 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.
Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Hebrews 9:11-28
For the last year I have been teaching four online English classes using The Beginners Bible. This week 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.
So, that might be one reason why I’ve been thinking so much about heaven while reading the last few chapters of Hebrews.
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
Heaven is a Wonderful Place
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.
Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Hebrews 8:1-9:10
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 so many details about how exactly these things are to be done and constructed?”
Well, the answer is found here in Hebrews 8:5 – These things were a copy, a shadow of the heavenly ones.
I often don’t 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.
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. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.
Read through the Bible in 2 years: Hebrews 5:11-6:20
But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.
Hebrews 5:14 ESV
I sure enjoyed the steak my husband grilled for dinner tonight, 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 24-year-old son.
My youngest son is 15 years old. He’s 6’1″ and almost 200 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 practicing discernment or are we “following our hearts”?
Are we training our children to be discerning, knowing the Lord and hiding His Word in their hearts?
Let’s pray.
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 that they would know your word and 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.
Read through the Bible in 2 years: Hebrews 4:14-5:10
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 often like to study the original Greek or Hebrew words, but today I decided to study the English word “appointed.” I think this word jumped out at me this morning because it’s also in my life verse, 1 Timothy 1:12-14. Paul said,
“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
One easy way to research a word in the Bible is to open up the Blue Letter Bibleapp (Available for Android and Apple) or website and simply search the Bible for the word you’re interested in.
Unfortunately, if I typed in the whole word “appointed,” then I’d only get the exact word “appointed,” and I’d miss “appoint,” “appoints,” “appointing” and so on. So, instead, I typed this: “appoint*”.
The asterisk at the end means that the word can end with other letters, so the search will return words that begin with “appoint” but have different word endings, such as appoints, appointing, appointed, and appointment.
My results included 196 verses in the ESV translation, so here’s just a smattering of the results.
“And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth, for she said, “God has appointed for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.”” (Genesis 4:25 ESV)
“Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.”” (Genesis 18:14 ESV)
“And you [Moses] shall appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall guard their priesthood. But if any outsider comes near, he shall be put to death.”” (Numbers 3:10 ESV)
“But he [The Lord God] is unchangeable, and who can turn him back? What he desires, that he does. For he will complete what he appoints for me, and many such things are in his mind.” (Job 23:13-14 ESV)
“Before I [The Lord God] formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5 ESV)
” And the LORD appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.” (Jonah 1:17 ESV)
“Now the LORD God appointed a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort. So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the plant. But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant, so that it withered. When the sun rose, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint. And he asked that he might die and said, “It is better for me to die than to live.”” (Jonah 4:6-8 ESV)
“And he [Jesus] appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach” (Mark 3:14 ESV)
“And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child [Jesus] is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed” (Luke 2:34 ESV)
“After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go.” (Luke 10:1 ESV)
“You did not choose me [Jesus], but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.” (John 15:16 ESV)
“And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.” (Acts 13:48 ESV)
“The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”” (Acts 17:30-31 ESV)
“And I [Saul-Paul] said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.'” (Acts 22:10 ESV)
“But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you,” (Acts 26:16 ESV)
“Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.” (Romans 13:2 ESV)
“And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues.” (1 Corinthians 12:28 ESV)
“This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you–” (Titus 1:5 ESV)
From this list, I noticed that people can be appointed to a specific job or responsibility by God or another person, but only God can appoint events. For example, God can appoint a whale to swallow Jonah or a plant to grow over him, but no man can do this.
I also noticed that often it was God who was the one who appointed a person to a specific job or responsibility. For example, it was God who appointed Jeremiah to be a prophet and Paul to be His servant and witness.
In today’s passage in Hebrews, the high priest had to be appointed by men and by God. The high priest could not take this honor for himself. Likewise, even Jesus Christ Himself was appointed by His Father to be made the eternal high priest. Even He did not exalt Himself. Even Jesus was submissive and humble before God the Father.
Think of all the things we are trying to take for ourselves and make for ourselves. We want to be our own boss. We want to “make things happen.” We want to be the “master of my fate” and “captain of my soul” like William Ernest Henley’s poem, “Invictus” says.
Instead, I pray that we would just be thankful for Jehovah God, the ruler over our lives, the One who controls our fates and pilots our ships. I am so incredibly grateful that I am not the captain of my own soul for I know that I would lead myself astray like the foolish sheep that I am. How about you?
Let’s pray.
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)
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Hebrews 4:12-13 ESV
At my physical this year my doctor told me that it was time for me to get 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 have my bottom examined by strangers. But, it was the right thing to do, so that what was hidden inside me could be exposed and inspected, and whatever stuff needed to be removed could be uncovered.
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, and not for my harm
Sisters, 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 and who holds your life and eternity in His Almighty hands is the very God who breathed out the words of Genesis, Exodus, and Leviticus, and 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 seas and lands to appear, and birds to fly across the sky, then we should trust that God’s 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 should 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 know it’s going to hurt afterwards.
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.
Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, [Jesus] himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.
Hebrews 2:14-15 ESV
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. It was all up to me. I determined my own “destiny” so I better work hard and be good if I wanted to get ahead in love.
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 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 came to believe that God ruled over my life … and my death … and my life after death.
In the last week, two members of our local congregation passed away. One beginning his ninth decade of life and one beginning his second. I am so thankful 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.
Christ our Hope in Life and Death by Keith and Kristyn Getty
“You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end.”
Hebrews 1:10-12 ESV
Heavenly Father, What a comfort it is to know that You are the unchanging God! Even things that seem unchanging – the sandy coastline, the rocky mountains, the sun, moon and stars – even these things change and wear out. But You, oh God, You remain the same. You never have to get better because You are already completely perfect. You will never wear out or grow old or get weary. I’m looking forward to eternity with You. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.
Teach What is Good 
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