Hebrews 2:1-4 Voices

 Hebrews 2 "That is why we ought to pay even closer attention to the voice that has been speaking so that we will never drift away from it. 2 For if the words of instruction and inspiration brought by heaven’s messengers were valid, and if we live in a universe where sin and disobedience receive their just rewards, 3 then how will we escape destruction if we ignore this great salvation? We heard it first from our Lord Jesus, then from those who passed on His teaching. 4 God also testifies to this truth by signs and wonders and miracles and the gifts of the Holy Spirit lighting on those He chooses."

"Our salvation is not only great, it is true. Of course it could not be great unless it were true." 
"The historical, moral, and spiritual reality of God's great salvation has been displayed." ( Being witnessed and testified to us through God himself, His Son, the gifts of His Spirit and His apostles) "Any lack of conviction on our part—any neglect of this great salvation—is owing not to them but to us. We are the ones who need to change. Our minds are careless or defiled (clinging to false ideas and desires) or too proud to receive the message that we need salvation." John Piper
-and I might add: "...or too wounded to see straight."

Voices 
Entangled in our hearts
Twisted truths, distortions, lies
Where Satan's taken liberties
wreaking havoc in disguise.
He prowls around, about us
Finding "doors" that stand ajar.
Then whispers words of doubt and fear,
Condemning us His voice is clear.
We listen with believing ears,
and search through blinding tears.

More steadfast than the hounding of our evil enemy
is the voice of our soul's lover
pursuing...endlessly.
He beckons us, the Voice of Love 
That's firm and calm and sure
Saying, "Child, trust in me.
I alone will help you see
all that you were made to be
The Truth will set you free."

"The Truth Will Set You Free" JC '15 revision

So many voices vie for our hearing. So many "witnesses" blur our vision. 
The Bible says in James 1:5 "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives generously to all and without reproach and it will be given to him."
If the truth is what you're after, ASK! He can handle it.

Hebrews: 1:5-14

We Grow Accustomed to the Dark

"We grow accustomed to the dark
when light is put away...

Then fit our vision to the dark
And meet the road-erect..."
Emily Dickinson

It is winter. Darkness overtakes us slowly. From June through December we lose light ; we lose day- little by little. Some of us acclimate more easily than others.
The Letter to the Hebrews was written a very long time ago...but we get the analogy.
When "Light is put away", our vision shifts without alarm.
The Hebrews were becoming too used to the increasing darkness of a culture that was turning off the Gospel. Fumbling and grabbing at other things... Jewish brothers were beginning to add to what could not be improved,
Christ.
...kind of reminds me of the pop-ups on my computer; flashing the latest campaigns, discoveries and depravities - discourses included with a click.
Hebrews 1:5-14, Let's turn the light back on.
The author makes it clear that tradition or hot philosophies or the trendsetting of the day had no place in a Christ follower's allegiance.
Christ
AND...?
NO!
We will never have more understanding, more health, more joy, more hope, more purpose than is available to us through a reconciled relationship with our God; and we cannot possibly add more to Christ's life and sacrifice for us 
to make that possible.
Jesus, wholly unique in His Deity.
Wholly superior as eternal creator.
Wholly loved and chosen by His Father to be 
THE message bearer, 
THE savior, 
THE King.

Anchored: A Letter to the Hebrews

Hebrews 1:1-4

"1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs."

Much time has passed since God began continually and creatively communicating who He is. The Hebrew prophets heard from him and shared what they learned with the fathers of the Jewish people. But in this period of history, we benefit directly from learning about Him through His Son. The Heavenly Father predetermined that His Son was the chosen One to assume the position of ultimate authority, rightful possessor of all that the Father is and all that he has.For it was through Christ His Son that the world came into being. His Son is the complete reality of the Father. He shines out from invisible perfection, a perfect visual of God. And God, the great author of the human story, 
so placed His trademark on humanity. 
He pressed into man exactly who He is. 
You see Him in Christ. 
Then, Christ marked humanity as his own. 
Oh how desperately we needed to have Him reclaim what we were meant for! How we need Him to take our distorted view of Him and bring God back into focus! How we need Him to take our contorted minds and hearts and restore them to His glory. 
He has! He does!
Jesus was wrung out for us. Ridding God's creation of contamination, after He accomplished all that needed to be done, He claimed His rightful place beside His Father. He took His seat as the extension of God's strength ever reaching, ever drawing His people. He remains the ever present help as men continue to learn and live in what He has secured. 
Superior in the Heavens, superior over all- Jesus the Christ; the Son of God.
By Him
Through Him

For Him

this is now our reality! 

By Him 
Through Him

For Him

this is now our weighty, immovable hook

that sinks into the flesh of Deity

and ties us firmly to our destiny with Him.

Acts 4:12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Anchored: A Letter to the Hebrews

If it weren't for blogging, I'd be scratching in my journal and keeping it between me and God. I cannot claim a right to be read but I offer thoughts anyway. Blogging has become a fun platform for theological discussions with my husband. We've been diving into thoughts on Hebrews; our church's new series so, beginning tomorrow, I'll be swimming in Chapter 1.
Please feel free to offer your thoughts and questions in the response section.
Dive in with me!