Day 300 – Hebrews – Introduction
“The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.” Hebrews 1:3 NLT
Mature individuals with integrity seek the best investment of their time, talents, and resources. In every area, to settle for less would be wasteful, foolish, and irresponsible. Yet there is a natural pull to move toward what is convenient and comfortable, which is not necessarily what is best.
In biblical times, Judaism was not second-rate or easy. Divinely designed, it expressed true worship and devotion to God. The commandments, the rituals, and the prophets described God’s promises and revealed the way to forgiveness and salvation. But then Jesus Christ came, fulfilling the Law and Prophets, conquering sin, shattering all barriers to God, freely providing eternal life.
This message was difficult for the Jews to accept. Although they had sought the Messiah for centuries, they were entrenched in thinking and worshiping in traditional forms. Following Jesus seemed to repudiate their marvellous heritage and Scriptures. With caution and questions, they listened to the Gospel, but many rejected it and sought to eliminate the “heresy”. Those who did accept Jesus as the Messiah often found themselves slipping back into familiar routines, trying to live a hybrid faith.
The book of Hebrews is a masterful document written to Jews who were evaluating Jesus or struggling with this new faith. The message of Hebrews is that Jesus is better (the way), Christianity is true (the truth), and Christ is supreme and completely sufficient for our salvation (the life).
Prayer: Father, though we do not know who the author of the book of Hebrews is, we believe that it is Holy Spirit-inspired scripture to guide us through the times when we struggle to have faith. Thank You for the inspiration and truths, and that we can be assured that Jesus Christ is our true salvation. Amen.
