Everyday Grace: Reflections from Scripture

SUNDAY, 6 OCTOBER 2024

TEXT: Hebrews 2:1-18

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

2. For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment,

3. how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him.

4. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

5. It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking.

6. But there is a place where someone has testified: “What is mankind that you are mindful of them, a son of man that you are for him?

7. You made them a little lower than the angels; you crowned them with glory and honor

8. and put everything under their feet.” In putting everything under them, God left nothing that is not subject to them. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them.

9. But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

10. In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered.

11. Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.

12. He says, “I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters; in the assembly I will sing your praises.”

13. And again, “I will put my trust in him.” And again he says, “Here am I, and the children God has given me.”

14. Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death – that is, the devil -

15. and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.

16. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants.

17. 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.

18. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

(New International Version Holy Bible)

TOPIC: A CALL TO PAY ATTENTION

Experienced professionals are respected because they have tested both the good and the bad challenges related to their fields.

Believers are going through a faith experience that is not new. The salvation we have was announced to us by the Lord and confirmed to us by those who heard Him.

God went a step further by using signs, wonders, miracles and spiritual gifts to testify to that.

In Psalm 8;4-6, David affirmed that man, who is created a little lower than the angels, has been crowned with glory and honour.

In this, God shared in our humanity to destroy him who holds the power of death (the devil). The fear of this power of death is what subjects man to the slavery of the fear of death.

Jesus, who has gone ahead of the Church, is qualified to make atonement for sins because He has journeyed passed death without fault. As such, He is able to help us do same.

QUESTION: Why must I not fear death?

PRAYER: Father, You cautioned me to pay attention to what You accomplished for me on the cross. Strengthen my faith not to fear death which You conquered long ago, in Jesus name. Amen.