DAY 4

January 13, 2022

• READ HEBREWS 3:1-6

  “Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God's house. For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.) Now Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, but Christ is faithful over God's house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.”

**We’re breaking here to read the old testament reference of Exodus 17:1-7. To catch you up, God has rescued the Israelites from the Egyptians, does tons of miracles, gives them clean water and food out of the sky, leads them with a cloud and with fire, and just had them move on to a place called Rephidim. As you read these 7 verses, notice the attitude that the Israelites had.

READ Exodus 17:1-7:

“All the congregation of the people of Israel moved on from the wilderness of Sin by stages, according to the commandment of the Lord, and camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. Therefore the people quarreled with Moses and said, ‘Give us water to drink.’ And Moses said to them, ‘Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?’ But the people thirsted there for water, and the people grumbled against Moses and said, ‘Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?’ So Moses cried to the Lord, ‘What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.’ And the Lord said to Moses, ‘Pass on before the people, taking with you some of the elders of Israel, and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink.’ And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. And he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the quarreling of the people of Israel, and because they tested the Lord by saying, ‘Is the Lord among us or not?’”

**What is the Israelites’ attitude toward God? What question do they ask to test God? When the author refers to “the rebellion” in this next passage (back to Hebrews) he is referring to the rebellion at Manasseh that we just read.

READ HEBREWS 3:7-18:

• Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says,

  “Today, if you hear his voice,
  do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion,
      on the day of testing in the wilderness,
  where your fathers put me to the test
      and saw my works for forty years.
  Therefore I was provoked with that generation,
  and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart;
      they have not known my ways.’
  As I swore in my wrath,
      ‘They shall not enter my rest.’”

  Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. As it is said,

  “Today, if you hear his voice,
  do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”

  For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.

QUESTIONS TO REFLECT AND WRITE ON:

• It’s clear that our hearts are super important to God. As the author references the story of how the Israelites exhibited unbelief, he is basically saying, “If you don’t recognize how good and perfect this salvation is—this Jesus who took on humanness is—you will have the same heart/attitude of unbelief that the Israelites had. Don’t be like the Israelites! Don’t harden your hearts. Don’t be so distrusting of God, like He’s up to something just to make your life hard. Don’t have an attitude that asks manipulatively, ‘are you for us or not?!’ This is the attitude of hardness of heart.” Do some self-evaluation. What is the attitude of your heart toward God currently? Do you trust God?

• What's the value in using a house metaphor?

• Notice every time the word “heart” is used in this passage, what is said about the heart?

PRAY

• Ask God to help you trust Him. Ask Him to help you see Him as He is, to see how GOOD and PERFECT this salvation is that He offers to His creation that He loves. Ask Him to help you with any unbelief you may have. (Just FYI, an attitude of hardness of heart and unbelief is different than humbly acknowledging and wading through and asking about doubts you may be struggling with!)

DAY 5

January 14, 2022

• READ HEBREWS 4:1-13:

  Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said,

  “As I swore in my wrath,
  ‘They shall not enter my rest,’”

  although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” And again in this passage he said,

  “They shall not enter my rest.”

  Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, again he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted,

  “Today, if you hear his voice,
  do not harden your hearts.”

  For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on. So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.

  Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

• WATCH THIS BIBLE PROJECT VIDEO ON THE SABBATH
  

QUESTIONS TO REFLECT AND WRITE ON:

• It’s so important to understand the rebellion at Manasseh, as we read about yesterday, because God mentions it several times! This belief that thinking God is not for us is so dangerous. Sabbath is such beautiful evidence of God’s goodness and His desire for OUR good. What are some things you learned about 1. what Sabbath is, 2. why it exists, and 3. it’s significance in God’s eternal plan?

• What does it mean to STRIVE to enter rest? (Hint, you can use blueletterbible.com to look up the definition of this word!)

• Mark Buchanan, in His book The Rest of God says, “In some ways, the whole point of the Exodus was Sabbath. Let my people go, became God’s rallying cry, that they might worship me. At the heart of liberty—of being let go—is worship. But at the heart of worship is rest—a stopping from all work, all worry, all scheming, all fleeing—to stand amazed and thankful before God and his work. There can be no real worship without true rest.” Have you ever considered this correlation between Sabbath rest and worship?

• Did you know that the well-known passage about the word of God being living and active is in the context of entering God’s rest and disobediently not? Does this add any layers of meaning to that verse for you at all?

PRAY

• Pray that God would help you to enter His rest and sabbath-to see it as a rhythm that reflects His character. Ask Him to help you sit back and have a true heart of worship, standing amazed and thankful and marveling before Him for HIS work He’s done.

DAY 6

January 15, 2022

• READ HEBREWS 4:14-5:10

  Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

  For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people. And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.

  So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him,

  “You are my Son,
      today I have begotten you”;

  as he says also in another place,

  “You are a priest forever,
      after the order of Melchizedek.”

  In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

QUESTIONS TO REFLECT AND WRITE ON:

• In Ch 4 of Hebrews we learn that Christ has solidarity with his people as the high priest, and the way he enacts this office is what we learn in Ch 5 of Hebrews. In verse 2 we read that Christ deals gently with the wayward and ignorant. And what elicits Jesus' tenderness is not the severity of the sin but whether or not the sinner comes to him. Jesus can’t cast off a poor sinner anymore than a parent can cast off a nursing baby for its crying. When was a time that Jesus dealt with you gently?

• In Ch 4 of the book Alive gave out a few months ago - Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortland - we receive an exhortation from verses 14 & 16 to have fidelity to sound doctrine and to have confidence in our communion with God. In the middle of these two verses we have verse 15 which shows us Christ's solidarity. These admonitions are made possible through Christ as our high priest. Ortland finishes his chapter saying "if you are in Christ, you have a Friend who, in your sorrow, will never lob down a pep talk from heaven. He cannot bear to hold himself at a distance. Nothing can hold him back. His heart is too bound up with yours." How have you felt God sees you? Clean/Unclean? Shamed/Honored? Innocent/Guilty? Fearful/Powerful?

• This verse: “In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence” so beautifully reveals so much about our great High Priest’s heart and humanity. The word used here for loud cries in the original language means that He was violently weeping, like loud screaming or shrieking. Can you see the picture here?? This is our great Priest, Jesus, who cares deeply about His suffering and corrupt creation and desires to make all things new and redeem the earth. The word used for supplications (hik-et-ay-ree’ah) means an “olive branch.” This word is only used this ONE time in the Bible. In ancient times, an olive branch was often used as a token for seeking peace, as suppliants approached the one whose aid they would implore holding an olive branch to signify that they came as suppliants, approaching for a favor. Our Savior prayed such heart-felt petitions, arising out of a deep personal need, and essentially held out an olive branch to the One whose aid He implored on our behalf. How can we not trust this Savior or be in awe of His love for us?! (This is paraphrased from the blog post, “Christ’s Example-a word study on Hebrews 5:7”) Take some time to meditate on this verse and to picture this verse. Compare this view of God to the view the Israelites had of God. (Remember their testing question to God, “Are you for us??”) Write down anything you sense the Holy Spirit revealing to you about who Jesus is.
  

  PRAY

• Ask Jesus to receive you with the gentleness he promised. Ask Jesus to show you how he identifies with your life. Hagar named God “The One who sees me;” ask God how He sees you. Praise Jesus for being your suppliant.

DAY 7

January 16, 2022

• READ HEBREWS 5:11-6:12

  About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

  Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits. For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.

  Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation. For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

QUESTIONS TO REFLECT AND WRITE ON:

• What is one of the marks of maturity, according to what the author says in the first paragraph? How does that compare to what you have thought about what it means to be “spiritually mature?”

• God is calling us to grow in spiritual maturity. The infinite nature of God means that we will always have room to grow in our knowledge and love of Christ. Think about those areas you need to develop in your spiritual maturity. Where can you grow? Have you read the whole Bible? Do you have someone or have you had someone disciple you?

• What’s the purpose in growing in spiritual maturity?

PRAY

• Ask God to show you where you need growth in your life, and where He wants to bring more fruit in your life.

DAY 8

January 17, 2022

• READ HEBREWS 6:13-20:

For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise. For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

• READ PORTIONS OF THIS ARTICLE ON THE CURTAIN BEING TORN:

  The veil’s primary function was to separate the holy place from the holy of holies.

  Exception for entering the holy of holies was made only in the context of the Day of Atonement . . . when the high priest would take the offering behind the veil as a sin or purification offering . . . On the Day of Atonement, Aaron was to use the blood of the sin offering to purify and consecrate the altar . . . Yet the man entering must be the high priest and may not enter “whenever he chooses,” says the Lord, “for I will appear in the cloud over the atonement cover.”

  Looking upon the holy things, even by a high priest and even for a moment, incurred death . . . Thus it seems the veil served as a physical and visual barrier, protecting the priest from the lethal presence of the enthroned Lord and reinforcing the separation between God and humankind.

  It is imperative to remember that the holiness of God remains unchanged from all eternity — even after the veil is torn. What has changed, then, is that the atoning death of Jesus on the cross has provided the appropriate wrath-bearing sacrifice, one which the bulls and goats of the old covenant could not provide (Hebrews 10:4).

  The author of Hebrews expounds on this very clearly: “we have confidence to enter the holy places” (Hebrews 10:19), and this is accomplished by the blood of Jesus. This is the “new and living way” (Hebrews 10:20) that Christ opened for us through the veil, which, the author says, is through his flesh. This means that the breaking of Jesus’s body at the crucifixion is the unprecedented means by which believers have access to the presence of God. This, coupled with the priesthood of Christ (Hebrews 10:21), forms the basis of the author’s exhortation to believers: draw near to God (Hebrews 10:22), hold unwaveringly to our confession of faith (Hebrews 10:23), stir one another up to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24), and continually meet together to encourage one another in the faith (Hebrews 10:25).

• WATCH THIS BIBLE PROJECT VIDEO ON JESUS, OUR HIGH PRIEST.

QUESTIONS TO REFLECT AND WRITE ON:

• What does the curtain/veil teach us about God’s holiness? Some people see God’s holiness as a negative thing, as a threat. Why is it a good and beautiful and comforting thing that God is and always will be holy?

• How is it that we can now have boldness and confidence to approach this HOLY God, without shame?

• How is this hope that the author talks about a steadfast anchor for our souls?

PRAY

• Pray that God would reveal to you the beauty of His holiness. Ask God to give you boldness to approach Him, with gratefulness for Jesus giving His life to tear the veil.

GO EVEN DEEPER:

Here’s a random fun fact for you: did you know that the color of the veil in the temple required twelve thousand murex snails to yield only 1.4 grams of pure dye?? The color was known for its association with both divinity and royalty.

The veil also had pictures of cherubim on it. In biblical tradition, cherubim served a guardian role from their first appearance in canonical texts, where they guarded “the way to the tree of life.” Elsewhere, the cherubim are present at man’s meeting with God. (Taken from a Desiring God article)

DAY 9

January 18, 2022

• READ HEBREWS 7:1-22:

  For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.

  See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils! And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, though these also are descended from Abraham. But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives. One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.

  Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.

  This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. For it is witnessed of him,

  “You are a priest forever,
      after the order of Melchizedek.”

  For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.

  And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him:

  “The Lord has sworn
      and will not change his mind,
  ‘You are a priest forever.’”

  This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.

• WATCH THIS BIBLE PROJECT VIDEO that introduces us to the story of Abraham and Melchizedek and how their story fits into the larger one of the Royal Priesthood.

QUESTION TO REFLECT AND WRITE ON:

• Why is God’s specific promise to Abraham so significant for us today?

• So often in history, God does things that don’t always make complete sense to the people at the time, but WE can make sense of so many of these things because they are meant to foreshadow Jesus. They only saw a small picture, we can see a fuller picture. The Psalm 110 reference points us to the prophesy that the Forever Priest, Jesus, would come after the order of Melchizedek, and the author of Hebrews is telling us how the OT yet again is talking about Jesus.

• What makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant?

  PRAY

• Pray that you don't look at your salvation as a heavenly insurance policy but as an active relationship with God.

DAY 10

January 19, 2022

• READ HEBREWS 7:22-28

  This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.

  The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

  For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.

• We just wanted, at this point, for you to take note that the words “better,” “more,” and “greater” appear a combined total of 25 times in the book of Hebrews! (according to the ESV Study Bible Notes) Be making notes about how Jesus is better, more, greater….He is the guarantor of a BETTER covenant!

QUESTIONS TO REFLECT AND WRITE ON:

• One of the under-acclaimed parts of the Gospel is that Jesus is interceding for us continually. While he atoned for our sins and made us right for Judgement day, he is also available for us today, in January of 2022. Jesus isn't just someone who did something a long time ago and is just waiting for us. And he is not simply someone who is building a house for us in heaven for us to occupy later on. He is available for us now. Jesus' intercession applies what the atonement accomplished. What areas of your life would you like Christ to intercede for you?

• That verse, “He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him” has some powerful and beautiful implications. Those who draw near to God through Jesus, He is able to save COMPLETELY, perfectly, utterly. What does it look like to draw near to God? What does that mean? How do you draw near to God?

• “The word of the oath” may seem a bit confusing, but it isn’t really! The author is explaining why Jesus couldn’t serve as priest under the Aaronic/Levitic priesthood but had to be after the order of Melchizedek instead. He points out that Aaronic priests were always temporary because of death. Contrastingly, God swore an oath that Jesus would be a priest forever. We read yesterday: “For it is declared: ‘You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.’ The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God. And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him: ‘The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: 'You are a priest forever.’” So the "word of the oath" was the utterance by God to ensure a better provision for God's people - that they would have a continuing priesthood forever who could save to the uttermost. (this is a paraphrased explanation we borrowed) Why do you think an oath is significant in this case? What does it add to this story?

PRAY

• Ask Jesus what He is interceding for. Spend some time drawing near to God.

DAY 11

January 20, 2022

• Before reading our passage in Hebrews today, WATCH THIS BIBLE PROJECT VIDEO ON MOSES & AARON
  

• READ HEBREWS 8:

  Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man. For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; thus it is necessary for this priest also to have something to offer. Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer gifts according to the law. They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.” But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second.

  For he finds fault with them when he says:

  “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord,
      when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel
      and with the house of Judah,
  not like the covenant that I made with their fathers
      on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt.
  For they did not continue in my covenant,
      and so I showed no concern for them, declares the Lord.
  For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel
      after those days, declares the Lord:
  I will put my laws into their minds,
      and write them on their hearts,
  and I will be their God,
      and they shall be my people.
  And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor
      and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’
  for they shall all know me,
      from the least of them to the greatest.
  For I will be merciful toward their iniquities,
      and I will remember their sins no more.”

  In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

QUESTIONS TO REFLECT AND WRITE ON:

• It’s not that the first covenant was wrong, but instead it was weak and ineffective since it couldn’t bring people to perfection. As you saw at the very beginning when God established this pattern of sacrifice and priesthood, Aaron and his sons quickly failed. This pattern was a lesser copy and shadow of the heavenly pattern shown to Moses, that Jesus would eventually fulfill Himself. In what way can you see what Moses did as a foreshadowing of what Jesus did?

• How many things so far have been discussed in Hebrews that are like shadows, a taste, of the real thing? (for example, the sabbath is one of them! Just a shadow, a taste of eternal rest in His presence.)

• Read the "new covenant" a couple times. There is SO much here that reveals God's heart. What does this reveal to us about who God is and what His heart is like? Does anything specifically stand out to you in the wording God uses?

• How is the new covenant different from the old covenant?

PRAY

• Tell God you want to KNOW Him, to have his laws in your mind and written on your heart, to be HIS and Him to be YOURS.

DAY 12

January 21, 2022

• READ HEBREWS 9:1-10:

  Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly place of holiness. For a tent was prepared, the first section, in which were the lampstand and the table and the bread of the Presence. It is called the Holy Place. Behind the second curtain was a second section called the Most Holy Place, having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron's staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant. Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

  These preparations having thus been made, the priests go regularly into the first section, performing their ritual duties, but into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people. By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing (which is symbolic for the present age). According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.

• ACCORDING TO THE ESV STUDY BIBLE NOTES:

  This present age most likely in this context stands for “the old covenant era . . . The present age is described as a time of impure consciences and of separation from access to God. Through Christ’s work, this present age is passing away and the new time of reformation, which has already been inaugurated, will later be fully consummated,” at the end of the ages. “While the veil and the Holy Place were still standing, the rest of God’s people could not directly draw near to God’s throne of mercy (the Most Holy Place), since the way was not yet opened.” “Mosaic sacrifices did not affect the conscience, but Christ’s sacrifice purifies the innermost being.” The present age was a time where people could not draw near to God’s throne of mercy and their consciences were not affected by the sacrifices made. But “this present age” is passing away as Christ’s sacrifice does more than affect our consciences, it purifies our innermost being! It allows us to draw near in the MOST Holy Place. And one day, at the end of the ages, He will finish His work that is active now, and we will have NEW bodies that can stand being in His full presence for eternity. All this sacrificial system, temple, present age, stuff can be confusing, but how are you keeping up with all of this? It really is SO beautiful. Understanding this helps us understand the foundation of our faith and deeper levels of what Jesus actually accomplished, and why it was necessary for Him to step in.

• We want to HIGHLY recommend you Listen/watch this Youtube video, just the first 38 minutes, of Francis Chan talking about the sacredness of communion. If you don’t have time today, consider watching it at any point during these 21 days of prayer and fasting!

QUESTIONS TO REFLECT AND WRITE ON:

• Either write an explanation down or tell someone you know today in your own words about the old covenant and sacrificial system, what was wrong with it, and why. Then explain the new covenant and sacrificial system, what it accomplishes and how it is BETTER.

• Y’all, people often DIED from going into the Most Holy Place in God’s presence. Can you imagine the fear and reverence the priests had in going before the Lord? And yet today, it is a NORM that we can now go before God with confidence because of what Jesus has done, tearing the veil in sacrificing His flesh. Do you have a sense of reverence and healthy fear of the Lord when you go before Him? Or do you treat Him with indifference? Why do you think this is?

PRAY

• Ask God to give you a reverence for Him.

DAY 13

January 22, 2022

• READ HEBREWS 9:11-28:

  But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

  Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive. Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood. For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you.” And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tent and all the vessels used in worship. Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

  Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

QUESTIONS TO REFLECT AND WRITE ON:

• Do you ever think about Christ’s second coming? Do you “eagerly wait” for Him? Why would we eagerly wait for Christ to come again? What’s the difference between Christ’s first coming and His second coming?

• What had to happen for God’s people to receive the promised inheritance, and what metaphor is used to explain this?

• Make sure you write down any questions you may have during this study so that we can all discuss together our thoughts on Friday evenings when we gather together!

PRAY

• Ask God to give you an eager desire for Him to come back, and ask Him what that would look like.

DAY 14

January 23, 2022

• READ HEBREWS 10:1-18:

  For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

  Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said,

  “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired,
      but a body have you prepared for me;
  in burnt offerings and sin offerings
      you have taken no pleasure.
  Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God,
      as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’”

  When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second. And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

  And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

  And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying,

  “This is the covenant that I will make with them
      after those days, declares the Lord:
  I will put my laws on their hearts,
      and write them on their minds,”

  then he adds,

  “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”

  Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.

QUESTIONS TO WRITE AND REFLECT ON:

• How many differences between the first covenant and the second covenant can you find in this passage? List them out-how are they different, what do they accomplish/not accomplish?

• What a freakishly INTENSE and meaningful statement at the end here: “Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.” Can you imagine? After thousands of years of thousands of sacrifices, living in this way from generation to generation, to hear the statement: “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more. Where there is forgiveness of these, there is not longer any offering for sin.” It’s earth-shattering for first-time hearers. It gives Jesus’ “It is finished” statement so much more weight. One sacrifice, forgiveness for EVER. Take some time to imagine how radical this news must have been for the Hebrew people in that day to hear. Does the gospel being “good news” take on a deeper meaning now, of just how radically good news this was at the time?

PRAY

• Just take some time to savor Jesus for what He did.

DAY 15

January 24, 2022

• READ HEBREWS 10:19-39:

  Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

  For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

  But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. For,

  “Yet a little while,
      and the coming one will come and will not delay;
  but my righteous one shall live by faith,
      and if he shrinks back,
  my soul has no pleasure in him.”

  But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.

• WE CAN NOW SEE

  how the author of Hebrews is moving on from His message of Jesus is better, Jesus is better, Jesus is better, to an exhortation of-NOW that you understand just how much better Jesus is, how much better what He has done, how much better this NEW covenant is that Jesus brought, HOLD FAST TO HIM. Hold fast to your faith because it is grounded in the most superior revelation. Be unwavering in your commitment to Jesus. He IS all these good things, so let’s live like He is all those good things. Let’s follow Him with our lives. Let’s be His children, let’s be His church, let’s act as His body, His hands and feet TOGETHER. Because we know this, we can endure whatever comes at us together.

QUESTIONS TO REFLECT AND WRITE ON:

• That word "true" in verse 22 means, from Blue Letter Bible, "that which has not only the name and resemblance, but the real nature corresponding to the name, in every respect corresponding to the idea signified by the name, real, true genuine; Opposite to what is fictitious, counterfeit, imaginary, simulated or pretended; Opposite to what is imperfect defective, frail, uncertain."
  After reading about the first covenant being like a shadow/preview of the real good thing, how does this definition of the word "true" help your understanding of verse 22 when it tells us that we can go right into the presence of God with this type of heart, fully trusting him

• Have you ever thought about your sin against God as "trampling" Jesus under your feet?

• There is so much in here we can see that points out that living out our faith involves community. Make a list of the things the author exhorts the readers to do together.

• It’s interesting that the author mentions that some have a “habit” of neglecting to meet together. Do you have any habits that hinder you from fellowship with other followers of Jesus? Do you need to create some habits that help you consistently fellowship and encourage the body of Christ?

PRAY

• Verse 25 entreats the readers not to neglect meeting together as some were in the habit of doing, and to encourage one another. Ask God to put someone from our church family on your heart today, and ask Him how you can encourage that person. What is God's heart for that person? Then reach out and share it with/encourage that person!
  
  The description of sin in this passage is not meant to terrify us into feeling uncertain and nervous about our salvation. The author literally says not to throw away your confidence, that it has a great reward! Instead, we should read this and strengthen our faith and endurance. Pray that the Holy Spirit would strengthen your faith, confidence, and give you endurance!

DAY 16

January 25, 2022

• READ HEBREWS 11:1-16:

  Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

  By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

  By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.

  These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

QUESTIONS TO REFLECT AND WRITE ON:

• The opening to this chapter gives us one definition of faith-the assurance of things hoped for. What do you see throughout the Scriptures God telling His people (or the apostles telling Jesus-followers) to hope for? How does this inform us about what our faith should look like, and not look like?

• From the ESV Study Bible notes: "By defining faith as 'assurance' and 'conviction,' the author indicates that biblical faith is not a vague hope grounded in imaginary, wishful thinking. Instead, faith is a settled confidence that something in the future--something that is not yet seen but has been promised by God--will actually come to pass because God will bring it about. Thus biblical faith is not blind trust in the face of contrary evidence, not an unknowable 'leap in the dark'; rather, biblical faith is a confident trust in the eternal God who is all-powerful, infinitely wise, eternally trustworthy--the God who has revealed himself in his word and in the person of Jesus Christ, whose promises have proven true from generation to generation, and who will 'never leave nor forsake' his own. Such faith in the unseen realities of God is emphasized throughout chapter 11 and has provided confidence and assurance to all who receive Christ as their Lord and Savior."
  Looking back over the history in the Scriptures, in church history, and even our own generations, at how God's promises have proven true from generation to generation can strengthen our faith--our confident trust in God. Take some time to look for evidence of God's faithfulness throughout history, both in your life, the lives of people you know, and the history of the world, and list them out!

PRAY

• Praise God for His faithfulness. Ask Him to strengthen your faith, to help you hope for the things that He wants you to hope for.

DAY 17

January 26, 2022

• READ HEBREWS 11:17-40:

  By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff. By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones.

  By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king's edict. By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.

  By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.

  And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

  And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

QUESTIONS TO REFLECT AND WRITE ON:

• What do all these references to people in the Old Testament tell us about what faith looks like and accomplishes?

• The author is threading together the larger story of the Bible here, all these stories of faith are pointing to Jesus’ coming as promised, the story of the redemption of the world. God has been writing this story from then and still now. In what ways would you say your faith has been threaded into God’s bigger story of redemption? Remember that the examples above are not all insanely incredible deeds, it mentions a dad saying a blessing over his kids, keeping the Passover, giving a “friendly welcome to” (hiding) spies. The emphasis is on the heart behind all this, they did these small and big deeds, believing these things were part of a promise being fulfilled, in obedience to the Lord, confident in their hope that God would use it for His purposes.

• What does it look like for you to have great faith throughout every day of your life, in all the small and big things you do each day? What does it look like to do those things without faith?

• What does verse 39 and 40 tell us about the correlation between having faith and seeing the fruit of it in our lifetime? If we don't see promises fulfilled in our lifetime, does that mean God is not pleased with us?

PRAY

• Talk to God about your faith.

DAY 18

January 27, 2022

• READ HEBREWS 12:1-17:

  Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

  Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?

  “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
      nor be weary when reproved by him.
  For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
      and chastises every son whom he receives.”

  It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

  Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.

• AS A CLARIFICATION: The ESV Study Bible notes state: “The author is not saying that Esau longed to repent but God refused to forgive him, for it can be seen from Peter’s denials and subsequent forgiveness that those who repent are always forgiven. though he sought it with tears. ‘It’ probably refers to the blessing rather than repentance. Esau still wanted the blessing.”

QUESTIONS TO REFLECT AND WRITE ON:

• Here’s another “Therefore.” What do you think the author is referring to in the previous chapter as he now tells us to run the race before us with endurance?

• Who is the great cloud of witnesses that Jesus-followers are surrounded by?

• In the first verse, the author exhorts, “let us also lay aside every weight, and sin” - why do you think the author uses both “sin” and “weight”? What does this mean?

• What does the author say to his readers is the reason they shouldn’t be fainthearted or weary?

• How do you feel about the idea of God disciplining those He loves?

• Why is it so important to the author to remind his readers over and over that they are God’s children, what difference does that make?

• If you could summarize what the author is saying in this passage in one sentence, what would it say?

PRAY

• Ask God to reveal to you what His discipline looks like in your life. Ask Him to reveal to you a deeper understanding of what Jesus endured so that we don’t have to grow weary in our struggle against sin.

DAY 19

January 28, 2022

• READ HEBREWS 12:18-29:

  For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.” But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

  See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.

• Whew, is anyone else’s brain doing summersaults?! Let’s dig a bit to understand this. The author is comparing, again, the old covenant with the new covenant. Moses was terrified in his experience on Mount Sinai, when God was looking to destroy Israel after they worshipped the golden calf. Moses was on Mount Sinai, but Jesus-followers “have come to Mount Zion” an even BIGGER DEAL, a “heavenly” place.

  Yes, there was reason to fear God’s presence in the times of the weaker, old covenant…and yes, we can now have confidence to approach God’s presence with this efficient and eternal covenant…but we should not then somehow take this less seriously since there’s less “danger.” We should take it MORE seriously because it’s SO MUCH GREATER than the first covenant. There was a message from the angels and prophets, NOW the message is from THE CREATOR from Heaven. His first coming WAS to extend extravagant mercy. Abel’s blood cried out for for vengeance (Genesis 4:10-11) but Jesus’ blood cries out for forgiveness. We are the “assembly of the firstborn,” just like a firstborn is the one who traditionally inherits the blessing, all those who are in Christ are the assembly of the firstborn ready to inherit His promise. Because of this superior message from Heaven of a superior new covenant, there must be a GREAT response of faith. Such a great salvation should lead us to reverent worshipful hearts in awe of Him, not weak and shaky faith.

QUESTIONS TO REFLECT AND WRITE ON:

• What does it look like to worship God with reverence? Do that this week! Let’s practice this when we gather together to worship on Sunday.

• What does the author mean by “a Kingdom that cannot be shaken”?

• What does the author mean by refusing and rejecting? Why must we stand firm?

  PRAY

• Ask God to give you a humble and grateful heart toward Him that will help you practice worshipping Him reverently.

DAY 20

January 29, 2022

• READ HEBREWS 13:

  Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say,

  “The Lord is my helper;
      I will not fear;
  what can man do to me?”

  Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

  Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

  Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things. I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order that I may be restored to you the sooner.

  Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

  I appeal to you, brothers, bear with my word of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly. You should know that our brother Timothy has been released, with whom I shall see you if he comes soon. Greet all your leaders and all the saints. Those who come from Italy send you greetings. Grace be with all of you.

• JUST TO HELP IT SINK IN, here’s a summary of the author’s last exhortations as he is closing his letter. He exhorts them to continue in brotherly love, be hospitable, remember those who are being persecuted as if you were as well, honor the covenant of marriage-don’t be unfaithful in your marriage, do not love money, practice contentment knowing that Jesus is your helper, remember your leaders and imitate their faith. Jesus is unchanging, don’t be led astray by different and “new” teachings. Don’t try to offer your own sacrifices again-Jesus did that already! Instead, bring a sacrifice of PRAISE to Jesus for what He did and who He is. Acknowledge His Name, do good, share what you have. Make your leaders’ job a joyful job, by obeying and submitting to them.

QUESTIONS TO REFLECT AND WRITE ON:

• “Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.” When was the last time you did this? What does it look like for us to do this as a Church?

• Of that long list, what is easiest for you to live out? What is hardest? Why?

• What does it look like for you to “continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge His name” in your life?

• The author says to remember, be mindful of, your leaders. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Do you keep your spiritual leaders in mind and consider their way of life as an example for your own? He also says to obey and submit to them, reminding his readers that their leaders are keeping watch over their souls as those who will have to give an account. Have you ever thought about the weight of responsibility that your spiritual leaders feel? Have you ever thought about how your words and actions affect them, as they feel a heavy responsibility of having to give an account for you? Do you make it hard on them? What can your part be to “let them do this with joy?” What does it look like for you to “obey” and “submit” to them? What keeps you from obeying and submitting to them? What would God say about those reasons?

PRAY

• Click this link to view the 2021 World Watch List, where you will see which countries in the world experience most persecution. Let God put one of the countries on your heart, and pray for the Jesus-followers there.

• Pray about the areas that you listed that are hardest for you to live out, that God would do a work in your heart.

DAY 21

January 30, 2022

QUESTIONS TO REFLECT AND WRITE ON:

• What did you learn from Hebrews? What did you learn about Jesus?

• What is one next step of obedience for you?

• What work did God do in you these three weeks?

• Is there anything you want to create or build after journeying through Hebrews?

• Did God reveal anything specific to you through fasting, or just while you were fasting these past 21 days?

• Share some of your reflections with someone from your church family today!

PRAY

• Ask Jesus to let His Word live in your heart. Ask Him to open it to what He wants to say to you in this coming week. Ask God to remind you of these lessons and gifts when you need them. Thank Him for his power and strength during the hard moments of fasting. Ask Him to help you live out what you’ve learned so far and to continue to delve deeper and deeper into learning MORE about JESUS and how infinitely good He is. Ask God to keep your heart soft toward Him and exalt Himself to the highest place in your affections, since He. is. truly. SUPERIOR.