Hebrews 2:1-5 - Signs and Wonders - Miracles and Gifts

I can shock myself at my inability to learn simple lessons.  They say just showing up is 90% of success.  Well, I’m confident inattentiveness, waffling, and ambivalence are keys to failure.

In this passage, we hear yet again a warning to “listen very carefully” to God’s message or we run a real risk of total failure - drifting away from God (2:1).  With responsibility comes consequences.  Just ask any sentry, goaltender, place-kicker, or pilot.  You have a job to do - if you don’t do it well the results are clear.  So, let’s do it well.

It’s the same as we develop and grow as Christians.  We have to make a decision to grow.  I've been reading about growthmindset lately and I think God is finally getting through to me.

        It will not come as a shocker to any dad hooked on porn, a mom who has dabbled in an office romance, or the pastor who’s craftily swindled money from the church.  Christians can’t just casually listen to God’s message of salvation.  We must not ignore it put it off or pretend that we will follow God when we have no intention of doing so.  How did that work out for the guerilla leaders in Jeremiah 42 who promised God one thing and did another as they stumbled off to disaster in Egypt?

        Let’s own our responsibility to listen carefully to God today.  Let’s trust God and step away from whatever obstacle is keeping us from holiness.  I trust that as we do so God will show us His signs and wonders both here and in eternity.

The great message of salvation was first announced by the Lord Jesus himself (1:3).  It was then delivered to people by faithful believers who heard Jesus speak.  And that is how it is passed on today.  Once you and I have received and accepted God’s great message then, like a UPS driver, we need to get the message delivered to others.

God’s word is active, alive, and life-changing.  God has not stopped working.  He’s not dead.  Just like in the Book of Acts God’s church is forcefully advancing today.  As it will continue to do until Jesus returns.  God confirms His salvation message by giving signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit.  There is no ceiling on God’s creativity and how He proves himself to His people.

I’m thankful for my family.  God gave me a good loving wife.  I’m so thankful for my wife’s care for our family.  And for her strong faith in God.  She is a miracle and as God has grown and developed her into a wise and mature woman of God I see more and more God’s providence in our lives.  I pray for God’s blessing on my wife, kids, and grandkids.  And I pray the same for anyone reading this and their families.  May I be the leader worthy of my calling as a Christian dad.  And God willing may my kids grow into Christian leaders who serve God faithfully.

        This is a sobering passage and I don’t pretend to understand its full meaning, but I trust it.  It says that God’s people will control the new earth, the “future world” (2:5).  God will give His people authority over all things in eternity.  Wow.  Well, the passage starts by saying we are to listen carefully, so that’s what I’ll strive to do today.

        Holy Spirit please increase our faith in the truth of Jesus Christ, in His love and mercy and grace and goodness.  Thank you.  Amen.

Colt, our two-year-old grandson.  He broke his arm last week, but that hasn't slowed him down.