Tuesday 7-5-2016 Home in Modesto
Scripture Reading: Hosea 2 – 5
Hebrews 2
S=Scripture O=Observation
A=Application P=Prayer SOAP for the soul.
S. Heb 2:1-4 Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the
things we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through
angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a
just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at
the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who
heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various
miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will? NKJV
O. The early Church
first met together with the Jews in the synagogues and the Temple in
Jerusalem. But with the stoning of Stephen and the rise of Saul (Paul)
the persecutor, a line was being defined between traditional Jewish followers
of God via the old law... and the Christians, who trusted in Jesus Christ for
their salvation. Now they were thrown out of the synagogues and
persecuted. They fled for their lives and planted new churches everywhere.
Most of the epistles, written by the apostles, were directed to mixed
congregations of Jews and gentiles. But this book is directed to the
Jewish Christians who were suffering under strong persecution. Their
Jewish friends were calling them back to serve under the law and forget this
new religion.
A. How shall I escape
if I neglect so great a salvation? It was spoken by the Lord Jesus Himself, confirmed by
those who heard Him, with signs
and wonders, miracles, plus the
gifts of the Holy Spirit? It does not say, “if I reject
so great a salvation.” I can say, “Oh yes, I am a Christian.” Yet
we can get so wrapped up in a life-style of nice family activities that we
unconsciously leave church and Christ on the outside. Our danger is not
that we reject Christ. It is that we neglect Him,
forgetting our lifeline of active participation in a Christian body of
believers. (See Heb. 10:23-25 below*)
P. Lord, where is my
greatest danger? It is not that I turn my back upon You in
rejection. It is certainly in becoming so involved in other, even healthy
activities that I set You aside. My religion, becomes just that...
another religion. But Lord, may I never fail to be consumed by my burning
love for You. May that love drive me to Your Word, then to my knees and
to my place of worship together with fellow Christians. Oh, so many, once
fervent believers, have succumbed to the sin of neglect. Draw them back,
I pray, with cords of love. Amen.
Ralph
*Let us hold fast the
confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And
let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not
forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of
some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day
approaching. (Heb 10:23-25) NKJV
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