Oct 31 Obadiah 1 Hebrews 2 Proverbs 26:13-22

Heb 2:1

We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.

Be on your guard! When you don’t keep watch, weeds grow in the garden. Place close and careful attention to the word of God. When you read the word, when someone preaches the word, when you explore and study the word – place close attention to it.  It’s there for your benefit. It’s there to help keep you close to Jesus. It’s there to stop yo from drifting.

Nobody drifts on purpose… and in many cases you don’t even notice it. But if you pay close attention to the word it anchors you.

If you had a very expensive car and you parked it in a street known for car crime and went into a house… you’d keep an eye on it. Of course you would. Your life is far more valuable. Pay careful attention.

Heb 2:17-18

For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

God Himself became fully human! Yet he never stopped being God. Isn’t that amazing? Isn’t that totally hard to get your head around? 100% God and 100% man.

If it’s hard to understand, that’s ok. It’s only ever happened once, so we’ve got nothing to compare that with.

He willingly chose to be human. Why? So He could suffer and be tempted. So that when we suffer and are tempted we can pray to someone who know exactly how that feels! We don’t pray to a distant and indifferent God, but one who knows the difficulty you are going through.

But also so He could live a life of total faithfulness to God – that He and He alone would be able to atone for our sin. Where we failed – He succeeded. And because He succeeded – defat and sin are beaten.

Prov 26:20-21

For lack of wood the fire goes out,

and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.

As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire,

so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.

In many situations… when arguing and quarrelling arise, do you know the best thing we can do? It’s shut up.

If an argument gets out of hand take away the fuel. Don’t let your anger rise, don’t let your voice rise. Where there is no whisper, quarrelling ceases.

Wisdom is knowing when to just shut up and leave it to God.