Recieving the Life of Christ - a podcast by David K Payne

“The beginning of wisdom is the definition of terms.”
― Socrates

Hebrews 6:17-20 The Message

When God wanted to guarantee his promises, he gave his word, a rock-solid guarantee—God can’t break his word. And because his word cannot change, the promise is likewise unchangeable.

We who have run for our very lives to God have every reason to grab the promised hope with both hands and never let go. It’s an unbreakable spiritual lifeline, reaching past all appearances right to the very presence of God where Jesus, running on ahead of us, has taken up his permanent post as high priest for us, in the order of Melchizedek.

The focus of Hebrews is a meshing of the intricate details of the Old Testament to the person of Jesus Christ. The writer uses analogies and language to tie the traditions and promises of the religion of the Hebrews to the teachings and revelation of Jesus Christ. In Hebrews chapter six, the writer is encouraging the Hebrew believers in Christ to move on into maturity in the faith. Maturity in the Hebrew faith involves becoming more astute in the complexities of the law of Moses and the traditions of the Rabbis. Maturity as a believer in Christ is vastly different. Maturity in Christ requires moving to a simplicity that believes what Jesus has said He came to do.

To receive the life of Christ, the writer encourages the reader to stop arguing and getting caught in the basics of the Christian religion and believe the message of Jesus. The message is simple. God loves you! He sent his Son to pay the cost of sin and provide salvation, hope, healing, peace, joy, and more to those who would believe His words. The writer reminds the reader that God cannot lie and has promised righteousness through faith, not works, and life through receiving or taking God at His word.

You may ask what is meant by the life of Christ. Jesus lived a life of suffering and rejection so we can know peace and acceptance. Everything in the last devotion and more Jesus purchase for you and me with His life and death. We do not access Christ's life by debating and studying how to live better and be worthy of it. Instead, we possess this promised life by accepting his message as valid.

The hope that God cannot lie is an anchor for our souls. Our soul is the seat of our emotions, desires, and will. Every time you are discouraged, put to shame, and fighting feelings of unworthy and not good enough, remind yourselves of what Jesus did. We have the right to live in that reality by thinking of ourselves in this way. We think of ourselves as a whole, blessed, forgiven, accepted, and successful based on the fact God promised it so and cannot lie. We let this hope keep our emotions in check and lives on track. If we can believe it, it will become our reality.

For today's devotions, remind yourself of everything God did for you in Christ. Trust these are promises from God and rest in the truth God cannot lie. Put your hope in that and live your life. Get up when you fall down and forgive yourself when you sin. When you are facing need or sickness, or heartache believe God for wisdom to find your path to healing and provision, and "Just Be" at peace in these truths. 

David

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