DEVOTION
TO HEBREWS
DO NOT REFUSE
Heb 12:18-29
18 You have not come to a
mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom
and storm; 19 to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those
who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, 20 because they
could not bear what was commanded: "If even an animal touches the
mountain, it must be stoned." 21
The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, "I am trembling with
fear." 22 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the
city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in
joyful assembly, 23 to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in
heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous
men made perfect, 24 to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the
sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. 25 See to it
that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused
him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him
who warns us from heaven? 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he
has promised, "Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the
heavens." 27 The words "once
more" indicate the removing of what can be shaken — that is, created
things — so that what cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, since we are
receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship
God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our "God is a consuming
fire."
NIV
Although we went right to the ‘therefore’
and knowing that we should live in the ‘therefore’ there are a few other
nuggets of truth that we could ponder. We first noticed this idea of not fusing him who speaks. In fact,
we are told again to see to it that we do not refuse him who speaks. This
phrase, “See to it” in Greek carries the meaning of take heed, associated with
the negative “not”. This is almost the same as making every effort, take heed that
we do not refuse him who speaks. Here we come to the place where we have to
acknowledge God speaks to us. The question is, if it is not clear enough, how does
God speak to us? We do have his written
words that we could say that is one way God speaks to us. We do have many
commands, although we do not live under the law he gave or spoke to Moses. We
live under a New Covenant, however still within that covenant, Jesus spoke many
commands we should pay close attention to. Still, all that Jesus spoke to us is
wrapped up in the two greatest. Love God with our whole being and love each other
the same way. If we do that and just that all other areas of our lives with
fall right in place. But does God speak any other way? We know we have the Holy
Spirit dwelling within us, and he must speak to our hearts and minds. The question
is whether we hear him. Have we become so busy with life, trying to achieve our
goals, even if they are Christian goals that we cannot take time to listen to
the Spirit? Are we trying, spending all our time, working diligently to be that
“Good Christian” making every effort to accomplish enough “Good works” that we
are not quiet enough in our spirit to hear the voice of the Spirit? Then, God
may well speak directly to us in our ears, speaking in an audible voice, making
sure we know his will for us in that exact moment for a precise reason so we
will respond according to his plan for our lives. Whatever way God chooses to speak
to us, we are to see to it that we do not refuse.
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