“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us” (Hebrews 12:1 NLT).

November 14, 2019

CAN MY DADDY SEE ME NOW? Who is this “huge crowd of witnesses?” They are those who have already run life’s race “by faith” as Hebrews 11 has listed. They have already crossed life’s finished line and have now joined other believers, who the author of Hebrews here visualizes either metaphorically or literally, as now

“He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward” (Hebrews 11:26 NLT).

November 13, 2019

THAT FAITH WHICH CHOOSES ETERNITY WITH CHRIST OVER TEMPORAL THINGS The book of Hebrews teaches that it was “by faith” that Moses chose to be identified with God’s people rather than remain as the adopted son of Pharoah’s daughter. Moses was further commended for his faith in that he considered it better to suffer for

“Son of man, with one blow I will take away your dearest treasure. Yet you must not show any sorrow at her death. Do not weep; let there be no tears” (Ezekiel 24:16 NLT).

November 12, 2019

DO YOU LOVE THE LORD MORE THAN THESE? The Lord gave the prophet Ezekiel, whom He often referred to as the “Son of man,” a prophecy concerning the coming death of his wife. He further instructed him not to mourn for his wife because he was to be a sign to those who would see

“Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise” (Hebrews 10:23 NLT).

November 11, 2019

HOLDING TIGHTLY WITH UNWAVERING HOPE Christian hope is confident hope. For Christian hope is based on the promises of God. Since this hope is anchored to God’s promises we can be assured that our hope will not be disappointed. So rather than hanging on to the temporal things we can see, let us hold tightly

“I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn’t have to destroy the land, but I found no one” (Ezekiel 22:30 NLT).

November 10, 2019

WILL THE LORD FIND SOMEONE TO STAND IN THE GAP? The Lord told the prophet Ezekiel that He had looked for someone to “stand in the gap” of the wall surrounding Israel, but found no one. The physical walls surrounding Jerusalem were still standing at this time, but the spiritual walls were already breached. It

“I gave them over to worthless decrees and regulations that would not lead to life” (Ezekiel 20:25 NLT).

November 9, 2019

WHEN GOD GIVES A PEOPLE OVER TO WORTHLESS LAWS Many have struggled with the meaning of this verse. Some have wondered whether God was saying that He had given some bad laws to His people. Yet, the Bible says that God’s law is “perfect” (Psalms 19:7). Others have suggested that God was referring to the

“By these regulations the Holy Spirit revealed that the entrance to the Most Holy Place was not freely open as long as the Tabernacle and the system it represented were still in use” (Hebrews 9:8 NLT).

November 8, 2019

A NEW AND LIVING WAY IS NOW OPEN TO GOD The two rooms of the Tabernacle were symbolic of the spiritual separation existing between God and man. Only priests could enter the first room called the Holy Place. And only the High Priest could enter the second room called the Most Holy Place, and then

“But now Jesus, our High Priest, has been given a ministry that is far superior to the old priesthood, for he is the one who mediates for us a far better covenant with God, based on better promises” (Hebrews 8:6 NLT).

November 7, 2019

CHRIST OUR GREAT HIGH PRIEST AND MEDIATOR The old covenant was a foreshadowing of the new one, which has now come into view through Jesus. The old covenant was a “copy” of the real one in heaven that was revealed to Moses. It acted as a tutor, teaching and pointing to its fulfillment in Christ.

“Who can list the glorious miracles of the Lord? Who can ever praise him enough?” (Psalm 106:2 NLT).

November 6, 2019

WHO CAN EVER PRAISE THE LORD ENOUGH? The Psalmist’s questions beg the answer, “No one.” How can we number the glorious actions of our God? He is omnipotent and eternal. Who knows what He has done, is doing, or will do? A list of these miracles would needs be infinite too. And how can we

“Son of man, these leaders have set up idols in their hearts. They have embraced things that will make them fall into sin. Why should I listen to their requests?” (Ezekiel 14:3 NLT).

November 5, 2019

IDOLATRY OF THE HEART HINDERS PRAYER There is a type of idol that is unseen, but is just as surely built and worshiped in the human heart. This idol of the heart comes between us and God. Those elevated to leadership must recognize their particular vulnerability to this type of idolatry. These idols are not