Daily Inspirations

   Good morning. Remember: if you let endurance have its perfect result, you will lack nothing. But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. So does that mean that that person did not let endurance have its perfect result? We are all the time praying, “give me wisdom, God“. But he must ask in faith without any doubting (when we pray for wisdom, do we sincerely believe that He will give it to us?), for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. Some Christians are so bad that they need spiritual Dramamine.  For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double minded man (it literally means two-souled), unstable in all his ways. What starts in your mind affects every part of your life. Father give us the wisdom every day that we need to live our lives according to Your word.

  Good morning. OK, you endured – so what? We endure a lot of things in our lives, griping and complaining. Let endurance (of various trials) have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. Both of the words translated perfect are from the same Greek word that was used to describe what Jesus said on the cross, “it is finished“. You can endure something, and be totally wiped out; or you can endure and become stronger than ever (“what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger“). We will see next time just what we could be lacking. Father help us to let endurance have its perfect result, so that we may be perfect, lacking nothing.

   Good morning. Today we begin the book of James, the Lord’s brother (while the author of the book does not claim to be Jesus‘ brother, it has been accepted by the church that he was). James, a bond servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the 12 tribes who are dispersed abroad (this reveals that he is writing to Jews, and this explains a lot of the terminology that he uses). Can you imagine your big brother that you’ve known all your life and now you find out he is the Son of God? And now a verse that really does not sound right: consider it all joy when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. Are you kidding me – joy? Notice what he did not say – be happy about it. The joy comes from knowing that you were counted worthy to have your faith tested. My Bible says the word translated trials and the one in a later verse translated temptations come from the same Greek root word. Both require faith to stand firm in the midst ...

   Good morning. The final verses that we will cover in the book of Hebrews, is my prayer for you: now the God of peace (that passes all understanding), who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant (the blood of animals established the first, temporary, covenant; the blood of the Lamb established the second, eternal, one), even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasant in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen!

  Good morning. And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. So if in the previous verse a sacrifice of praise to God means you praise Him even when things are bad, then sacrifice here means doing good and sharing when you are not able or don’t feel like it. No, just like with praise, it is the way we offer sacrifices to God now instead of with slain animals. Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. As we have said before there are groups of Christians who believe that there is a hierarchy to the leadership. There is some “apostle“ who is over a group of “apostles“ who are over your pastor who is over you. Each level can tell the level below them exactly what to do. They are not dictators. We go to them for advice and counsel. Father help us to continually offer sacrifices to You, not just with our lips, but also with our actions.

   Good morning. Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. Unfortunately, some people have interpreted this a certain way because of the ambiguity of the word sacrifice. They interpret it as meaning: despite how bad things are for me and how badly I feel, I should still praise God – I am sacrificing for Jesus. But that is not how the Jews in the early church would’ve interpreted the word sacrifice. The Jews offered up sacrifices to God for many different things; one of which was a thank offering. The author of Hebrews defines what he means by this: it is the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. Instead of offering up animals or other items through fire, we offer praise through our mouths. Now it does include the times when we don’t feel like it. We will see next time that the next verse, also using the word sacrifice, would also have to be interpreted the same way. Father, we offe...

   Good morning. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. We don’t have to worry about, “well, that’s the way Jesus operated when He was here on earth with His disciples; or the way He acted to help the early church; but today is different“. Just like Jesus is the same, so is God’s word – it never changes. A lot of people, including some Christians, want to say that however God operated and whatever He said thousands of years ago does not apply today – everything is different. Remember: “I am the Lord. I change not”. And because God and His word do not change: do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings (in this case about what foods one was allowed to eat under the law of Moses). Father thank You that we can trust that You never change. What You said and did yesterday is what You say and do today and tomorrow.

   Good morning. Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have, for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you.” That’s an interesting statement following the remark about the love of money. We should not be stockpiling money out of the fear that we will have to take care of ourselves without help from God. It’s too easy to put your confidence in your money and not in God. He is not going to leave us to our own devices. And now a good way to live our lives: remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith. As always, we don’t elevate people; we elevate the result of their way of life and their faith. We follow them, as they follow Christ. Father go with the reader and his/her family, helping them to have a character free from the love of money, imitating the faith of those who lead them.

   Good morning. All of the fireworks happening on Mount Sinai was nothing compared to what is coming. And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, “yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heaven“. That’s kind of unsettling. This denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Will you be one of those that remain? We know you will! Therefore since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire. If we lived our lives with this thought in mind, we would never disobey God. Father thank You that the reader and his/her family are among those that will remain!

   Good morning. For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and… (all of which were fearful to the children of Israel). The author of Hebrews is referring to Moses and the children of Israel coming to Mount Sinai (for the giving of the old covenant). But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and the myriads of angels, to the General assembly and church of the firstborn (The word is plural in Greek, so it is not talking about Jesus. The firstborn son got an extra portion of the inheritance) who are enrolled in heaven (The book of Revelation talks about those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life), and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect (possibly talking about those who were considered righteous under the old covenant), and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel (in the book of Genesis, his bl...

   Good morning. Pursue (imperative!) peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. Legally we are sanctified at rebirth; experientially it takes a lifetime. See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God. Operating in the grace of God is the highest plane. To operate in our own strength and power is to fall short of the grace of God. That no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled. Something causes bitterness, and it is not always obvious – many times it is hidden deep within the roots in the ground. That there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. Afterwards he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance though he sought for it with tears. I used to think that he was seeking for his own repentance (change of mind). I now realize that he was trying to change Isaac’s mind through tears, just like little children today. Father help us to set o...

   Good morning. Consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. This is what we read yesterday and emphasizes that the race is not a sprint, but rather a marathon. You don’t “endure“ a sprint. You have not yet resisted to the point of (the) shedding (of your) blood in your striving against sin. Even though Jesus’ blood was shed during the scourging and crucifixion, He still resisted yielding to sin in order to save Himself. “Those whom the Lord loves He disciplines“. It is for discipline that you endure. But if you are without discipline, then you are not sons. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. “This is going to hurt me more than it is going to hurt you“. Yeah, right! Father thank You that we are Your children, and You discipline us for own good.

   Good morning. The author of Hebrews then mentions many people in the old testament who had faith. All these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect. It’s easy to empathize with them that they believed against all odds, and yet never saw the culmination of their faith. And yet in one sense, we don’t either; we don’t see the ultimate outcome of our faith – ourselves going to heaven. Since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Father help us to endure to the end that way may be pleasing in Your...

   Good morning. By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to endure  ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward. If you have seen the movie, “the 10 Commandments“, it’s hard not to think of that movie as being what truly happened. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king (that’s not what the book of Exodus seems to say); for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen. By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood; also they passed through the Red Sea as though dry land. With every miracle, Moses gained more and more confidence that God was truly going to take them to the promised land. Father thank You that You have promised much for the reader and his/her family. Help them to remain confident in You that it truly will happen just as Y...

   Good morning. By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones. At that point in time, Joseph had been in Egypt 90 years, and the rest of his relatives 70 years. They were prospering and multiplying in numbers. They had no “need“ or desire to leave Egypt. Why would he even think about the children of Israel leaving Egypt - because God had said that they would after 400 years. By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents because they were not afraid of the king’s edict that all Jewish baby boys should be killed the moment they were born. Just like before, it does not “read” like they were not afraid. The Jews had gotten too comfortable living in Egypt, and were not even thinking about going back to the land of Canaan. Sadly, too much of the church is the same today. They have gotten too comfortable living in the world and do not even look forward to leaving it for heaven...

   Good morning. By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; it was he to whom it was said, “in Isaac your descendants shall be called”. How could he do that? Could we? This is the way that God said it was going to happen, and now He’s saying to throw it all away…! He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type. This was definitely impressive. No wonder Abraham was called the friend of God. He did the same thing that God would do thousands of years later with His Son. James says that by this act, Abraham was justified before God. That is not required today – Jesus obtained our justification for us; it is impossible for us to do it ourselves. Father help us to keep our faith like Abraham, even when it seems like it is impossible for what You promised to happen.

   Good morning. Because of all this faith… therefore there was born even of one man, and him as good as dead at that, as many descendants as the stars of heaven in number, and innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore. That’s a bunch, especially considering that Abraham had only one son, Isaac, and two grandchildren, Jacob and Esau. All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. (reminds one of the old gospel song, “this world is not my home, I’m just a passing through“) Could we keep our faith in God that He would do what He said He would, even until death? They desired a better country (than the one from which they went out), that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them. Father help us to not look back wistfully on the place from which we’ve come like the ch...

   Good morning. By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. Me, I’m going to say, “Hey God, would You put the GPS coordinates in my phone?” He lived as an alien in the land of promise with Isaac, and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise. They lived in tents and never had what we would call a permanent home. He was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. By faith even Sarah received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised. If you read the account in Genesis, Sarah laughed when the Lord told Abraham that she was going to have a baby boy. That does not sound like she considered God faithful; and yet the book of Hebrews calls her so. That is the way that God sees even us. Father help us to see ourselves as You see us - people of faith.

   Good morning. He mentions Abel offering to God a better sacrifice by faith; then Enoch being taken up because he was pleasing to God. And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. (if you seek Him, He will let you find Him) Next he writes: by faith, Noah being warned by God, and in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household. By this he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. In chapter 2 of Genesis, it says that God had not sent rain upon the earth at that time. It does not mention whether or not rain did come before the flood. Even if it had come, it had not come to the magnitude that it did during the flood. Noah believed God that he would need something as large as the ark to protect himself, his family, and the animals, even though he had never seen anything that would require something that huge. Father...

   Good morning. The author of Hebrews is now going to mention various things that happened in the old testament which seem incredulous. It requires faith for one to believe them. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible. This of course is a big controversy today. Christians believe that the creation of the universe happened just as the book of Genesis said it did. Non-believers that say that things just got together and all of a sudden there was a Big Bang, and now we have what we have. Supposedly science agrees with them. It takes a lot of faith to dismiss what the supposed science says and to believe what the book of Genesis says. Humans believe that things come from other things. Where did those “things“ come from? Hebrews says that God created everything out of things which are not seen. God said …, and it was. Who ya gonna believe – supposed science, or God? Father thank You...

   Good morning. My righteous one shall live by faith. But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul. So what do we mean by faith? Faith is the assurance (substance)  of things hoped for, the conviction (evidence) of things not seen. Remember – for why does one hope for what one sees? Hope has no substance, because it is in the future – what you are hoping for  does not exist right now. When there is a crime, there is evidence left behind. You do not see the actual event; you see the results of the event. Faith is the “evidence“ that the “crime” (what we were hoping for) has happened. For by it the men of old gained approval. Do you want approval – have faith. Father thank You that even though we cannot see with our physical eyes what we are hoping for, we know for certain that if You promised it, it is ours.

   Good morning. Remember when after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings, partly by being made a public spectacle through reproaches and tribulations, and partly by becoming sharers with those who were so treated. You accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and a lasting one. Could we do that? If we had to go through all of that because of our beliefs in God, would we do that, especially joyfully? You have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. There are missionaries and other believers in other countries that have lost everything, including their lives because of their beliefs. Are we willing to endure all of that? Father help us to keep our eyes on the prize and to not bend to the will of those who try to afflict us because of our beliefs in You.

   Good morning. If we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries. That’s pretty harsh. When we sin and don’t immediately get zapped, humans tend to think they got away with it and can keep doing it. Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? In other words, there is no such thing as “greasy grace“. The Bible has said “vengeance is Mine, I will repay; and the Lord will judge His people“. It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Father thank You that Your Grace is greater than Your judgment. Help us to obey ...

   Good morning. Since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and Living way through His flesh, and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience. We don’t have to come trembling into the presence of God fearing that He will destroy us. On the day of atonement, when the high priest went into the holy of holies, supposedly they tied a rope around his ankle so that if he had not performed the proper sacrifices for himself and God killed him, they could drag him out of the holy of holies. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us not forsake our assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encourage one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. Father help us to come before You with confidence, not fear. Help us to always remem...

   Good morning. The law could never make perfect those who draw near. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time onward until His enemies be made a footstool for His feet. The Father finished His work a long time ago and “rested“. And now Jesus has finished His work, and sat down. For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are “being“ sanctified. Legally we are sanctified at rebirth; experientially, it takes a lifetime to be sanctified. The author of Hebrews then repeats the verse that says that the new covenant is God putting His laws on our hearts and writing them on our minds and remembering our sins no more. Father thank You that Your laws are written on our minds and our hearts performing their works through Your Holy Spirit.

   Good morning. In the first covenant, Moses sprinkled all the objects and the people with blood. According to the law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. If the first covenant required the shedding of blood – the heavenly things themselves “needed to be sprinkled“ with better sacrifices than these. Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, but into heaven itself to appear in the presence of God for us; nor was it that He would offer Himself often. And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once (however the book of Revelation speaks of a second death) and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation (without reference to sin), to those who eagerly await Him. We have already received salvation “with reference to sin“; but we await the “salvation” of our bodies. Father help us to make ourselves pure as...

   Good morning. Therefore, Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. Where two sides disagree, you need a mediator (or go-between) to settle the dispute. The accuser of the brethren says that we did wrong and therefore deserve eternal destruction; the blood of Jesus says that we are forgiven. Where a covenant is, there must of necessity be the death of the one who made it. That’s because as long is that person is alive, he or she will make sure that the agreement is enforced, and there is no need of a covenant at that time. Father continue to guide the reader and his/her family in their decisions every day.

   Good morning. So we have the way of the old: but when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, nor of this creation; and not through the blood of animals but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. The redemption under the old, was temporary; the redemption under the new is eternal. If the blood of animals cleansed the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? The blood of animals was sprinkled on the flesh of the people; the blood of Christ is sprinkled on our consciences. Father thank You that we are cleansed by a better sacrifice through the blood of Christ.

   Good morning. The priests enter the outer tabernacle performing the divine worship, but into the second, only the high priest enters once a year (Day of atonement), not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance. The Holy Spirit is signifying this, that the way into the holy place (Jesus) has not yet been disclosed while the outer tabernacle is still standing, which is a symbol for the present time. Gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience, since they relate only to food, etc. for the body imposed until the time of reformation (through the new covenant). All of these things for centuries received the attention of the priests and the people, instead of God, which is the reason for them. The people and priests trusted in the form of worship and not in the One who gave them. Father help us to not keep our eyes on traditions we have been taught, but on You each day of our ...

   Good morning. Now even the first covenant had regulations of divine worship and the earthly sanctuary. The author then mentions the things inside the holy place. Behind the second veil there was a tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies, having a golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden jar holding the manna, and Aaron’s rod which budded, and the tables of the covenant; and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. A couple of things about the previous verses: first the altar of incense was not behind the second veil. That is clear from the book of Exodus. Was that an error? No serious Jew would’ve made that mistake. My Bible excuses it as the author showing the close relationship to the inner sanctuary and the ark. While that is possible, it may mean that the author was not a Jew. The second thing is that while all of those objects were inside the ark at one time; they were not t...

   Good morning. Why is it a better covenant enacted on better promises? If that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second. “Days are coming when I will effect a new covenant with the house of Israel and Judah. I will put My laws into their minds, and I will write them on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” This is from Jeremiah, so they have had the old covenant a good while; and yet there is still a long time till Jesus. Remember: God does not do something unless He first reveals it to His prophets. To the Jews, the old was good enough. The old was in the mind, not in the heart. When He said, “a new covenant“, He has made the first obsolete, but whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear. Sadly, it did not disappear with most of the Jews. Paul, along with other believers, fought long and hard with the Jews to help them see that there was a new covenant better than the old...