Clearing a Path

Hebrews 12:23-29

Today’s message from Hebrews talks about God performing a thorough housecleaning and getting rid of the “junk.”  The God of the Old Testament may come off harsher than the God of the New Testament, but they are one and the same.  I love my children, but sometimes I need to be a disciplinarian.  Just like God loves us at all times, sometimes He needs to lay down the law and “clean house” to make room for what’s essential.

Clearing out what’s not necessary can make our kingdom journey a lot easier.  How wonderful is it that the kingdom is unwavering?!  Like it says in verses 28-29:  Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire."

Imagine if God was not a consuming fire, burning what needs to be burned?  Our lives would be utter chaos.  Thank God, He is a fire that gets rid of what we don’t need.  Kids today say, “that’s fire!” which means “that’s awesome” and we do have an awesome God.

Father, during this time of Thanksgiving, we want to praise you for providing what we need and eliminating what we don’t.  Thank you for clearing our paths to the kingdom.  Like we often say during our time of confession on Sundays, Forgive us, renew us, and lead us so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.

Who Is Your Master?

READ: John 8:31-39

America is the land of the free. We believe what we want; we say what we want; we do what we want. We are all independent, bound to no master! Or so we think.

2 Peter 2:19 says that all people are slaves to whatever has mastered them. The truth is easy to see in the life of a drug addict or a youth madly in love. Everything must be given to obtain that which has captured the fascination of the mind and the passion of the heart. We just can’t control ourselves. We have to have it.

So what is your it? What has mastered you?

Wealth? Personal accomplishment? Love of spouse, child, or parent? Your reputation for holiness built upon the sins you hide? Escapism through alcohol, through television, through work that doesn’t even need to be done?

Are you a slave unto sin?

We all used to be. “At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures.” (Titus 3:3) 

Some of us still are. “We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” (Romans 7:14-15)

And some of us aren’t anymore. “You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.” (Romans 6:18)

Feel like you’re caught in between? Remember the words Jesus spoke in Matthew 6:24, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other.”

“Therefore, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” (Hebrews 12:1-2)