Focus

Stop and thank God for being present with you today. Ask for God’s guidance as you hear God’s voice through scripture and the writer.

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Read

Hebrews 2:1-9

Therefore we must pay greater attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it. For if the message declared through angels was valid, and every transgression or disobedience received a just penalty, how can we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? It was declared at first through the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard him, while God added his testimony by signs and wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, distributed according to his will.

Now God did not subject the coming world, about which we are speaking, to angels. But someone has testified somewhere,
“What are human beings that you are mindful of them,
or mortals, that you care for them?

You have made them for a little while lower than the angels;
you have crowned them with glory and honor,
subjecting all things under their feet.”

Now in subjecting all things to them, God left nothing outside their control. As it is, we do not yet see everything in subjection to them, but we do see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

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Reflect

The biblical term used in this reading implies a seemingly careless, gradual and almost imperceptible slide into unbelieving thinking and acting. While such a development may seem unremarkable on the surface, it may actually be particularly deadly over time. In the setting of our reading, persecution against Christians is being actively pursued, and thus representing a great threat leading some believers to renounce their faith in order to save their lives! While we may never face such an extreme antagonism, we can rest assured that challenges and adversities may come our way and rock our boat violently from time to time.

How does our writer encourage and educate us? Pay great attention to what we have heard! Bear down on learning and applying the teaching of the Word. Receive the daily indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Expect and prepare for adversity in order to mitigate its impact. Remember our Lord Who suffered death for our salvation and redemption.

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Pray

Dear God, protect us from evil, but when it comes give us the faith to trust you. Thank you God for being our rock. Amen

Go with God!