The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
"Consider Him"
The epistle to the Hebrews opens with perhaps the most concise and definitive declaration of the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ found in the Bible.
"God, who at sundry times and in diverse manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds, who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high, being made so much better than the angels, as He hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
For unto which of the angels said He at any time, Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten Thee? And again, I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to Me a Son? And again, when He bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, He saith, And let all the angels of God worship Him. And of the angels He saith, Who maketh His angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire. But unto the Son He saith, Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of Thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows. And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of Thine hands. They shall perish; but Thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment, and as a vesture shalt Thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but Thou art the same, and Thy years shall not fail" (Hebrews 1:1-12).
The reason for Hebrew's opening affirmation of the Lord Jesus can be found in the twelfth chapter of the epistle:
"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds" (Hebrews 12:1-3).
Hebrews was written to and about first century Jewish believers who were tempted to return to the law of Moses, the temptation that faced all Jewish Christians of that time - "the sin which doth so easily beset us." No less than the Apostle Paul testifies in Romans 7 to such a time in his Christian life. Thus, the writer of Hebrews hits the ground running as the epistle opens, seeking to glorify and reveal the Lord Jesus by the empowering emphasis that restores "wearied and faint" believers by His grace and truth - "Consider Him."
This is written as a simple reminder to our hearts and minds, namely, that spiritual lethargy always results when our enemies distract us from the Lord Jesus. Such tiredness abates when we seek Christ through the Word of God, the Spirit of God, and the church of God. Partaking the "fresh oil" of our Savior's Person and work raises us up when fallen, and empowers our journey as we walk with our Lord (Psalm 92:10). Consider Him. In the pages of Scripture, through the Holy Spirit's illumination, the testimony of fellow believers, and God's personal working in our hearts along the pathways of life, let us consider Him. Strength for the journey will be found in such holy light as we set our gaze on the only One who can maintain our devotion, determination, and diligence.
"And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for Thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. For he wist not what to say, for they were sore afraid. And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear Him. And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man anymore, save Jesus only with themselves."
(Mark 9:5-8)
Weekly Memory Verse
"Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering, for He is faithful that promised."
(Hebrews 10:23)
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