Category: Hebrews - Jethro TOOLS

Faith and Worship

5/18/2025

Hebrews 11:4
A simple search of a dictionary or on line sources will often define worship by its elements or activities. For example worship is prayer or it is led by a worship leader. These and other elements simply describe parts of worship. So how are we as people to respond to God? How should we respond to all that God has done for us? In the first chapters of Romans, Paul addresses what God has done for sinful humanity to provide salvation through Jesus Christ. Then, in Romans 12 Paul shifts His approach by addressing the believers response. Because of all that has previously been said Paul urges his audience to give themselves fully to God as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1). This is an act of worship that impacts and directs all of life. Paul uses the wording of living sacrifice to describe the ongoing daily practice of giving ourselves in obedient service to God through a life that is changed (Romans 12:2). This is what is good and acceptable to God. Worship is not a single event one day a week where we go to church to experience a worship service. Worship is a changed life that is directed by faith each and everyday. That is Paul’s message in Romans 12 and that was the practice of Abel in Genesis 4. Able, in faith, offered a better sacrifice than his brother Cain (Hebrews 11:4). He lived his life by faith believing that God was worthy of all his work. Therefore, everything that he did was done in worship and honor of God. All his work with his flocks was done in faith, in preparation for the day of sacrifice. Everything was done to present God with his very best as worship. Able’s offering was accepted by God because of his faith in God and desire for a righteous life. His faith changed his life, his work, his service and his worship. May the same faith be found in us.

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Supremacy of Faith

5/11/2025

Hebrews 11:1-3
Have you ever been on a trust walk? The idea is simple. One person covers their eyes with a blindfold and the other person leads them in, around and under obstacles of varying degrees of difficulty. The question that is asked the blindfolded individual is, “Do you trust me?” A wise person will select a faithful and reliable person before attempting this activity. The deeper question is, why is faith difficult? For starters we want to know what is know what is ahead before making a commitment. In a way we lift the blindfold, take a quick look, formulate a plan, then drop the blindfold and follow. In John 20:24-25 we see Thomas doubting the reports that Jesus is alive. He basically says, “I need to see Jesus and touch him or I will not believe.” The following verses record Jesus appearing to the disciples again. This time He turns to Thomas challenging his unbelief (27). To see and believe is one thing, but to believing without seeing, that is completely different (29). Faith is difficult because we like to see what is ahead so we can plan appropriately. Hebrews 11:1 tells us that faith is “being convinced of what we do not see.” Like a blindfolded game participant we must have complete calmness that the one leading us will accurately provide directions. Yet, along with that calm assurance in the leader, we must be convinced that what they tell us is accurate. Just like the game, faith is to affect every area of our life. Faith changes the thinking in our head from doubts to belief. Faith challenges our heart to find Christ completely reliable, and that will change our action to willingly do what we are told. In a blindfolded game of trust many will freeze in fear. In life God calls us to confident assured faith in Him that does not lift the blindfold.

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The Disciple's Service

2/2/2025

Mark 10:42-45
Service with a smile. That phrase describes a business that is interested in making sure their customers are happy. They do the work to provide the customer with what they want and they do it with a pleasant attitude. Service is a great motto for company employees. If done well, it will draw in many more customers. The attitude along with the action makes all the difference. In Hebrews 12:1-2 the author uses the illustration of running a race to describe our life. There is a course of faith that we are called to run without distraction. That is done as we focus on the finish line and Jesus. He sacrificed and served all humanity through His death on the cross. His death brought us life, and He did it with joy. Christ served us, giving us what we needed most with joy. In Mark 10:45 Jesus states that he did not come to have others serve Him but to serve even to the point of giving his life to buy the release of many from the power of sin. His action of service was intentional, without wavering, and we are challenged to have the same humble attitude and serve (Philippians 2:5-8). Service is the action of doing, but also the proper attitude in doing. Yet we as people struggle with serving. We are very willing to rate a restaurant on the quality of their service, but don’t like it when we are asked to serve. We want others to serve us while we scream about our rights and need for respect. If anyone deserved to be served it was Jesus. Service for the disciple of Jesus takes on the hard task that brings the greatest benefit to others. We willingly humble ourselves in order for God’s message of salvation and the joy of knowing Him to flow through us. That is service with a smile. How is God calling you to serve and build His kingdom?

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Everything was going well … then God called

9/20/2020

Hebrews 11:30-31; Joshua 6
Everything was going smoothly as the rollercoaster rumbled up the track then all of a sudden everything changed. Everything was going well and all of a sudden God spoke and said, “Follow me.” What would you do? Everything was going well then God spoke and said, “go.” The work in the church and the community was productive and very exciting. This was true of Philip as he served God in Samaria until God told him to go and he went by faith believing that God’s purposes were his agenda. We read Philip’s story in Acts chapter 8 which sounds similar to Joshua and the people as they marched around the city of Jericho in Joshua chapter 6. The similarity is that they followed God even though it did not make sense. Serving and following God does not decrease the times of uncertainty but increases the opportunities to live a life of faith for God. This road of faith may look different for each of us, but it still requires the same faith in God alone. Your life may be going well, then God calls. He is pleased when we respond by faith to Him even though the uncertainties do not make sense and the impossibilities seem insurmountable. The road of faith may seem more like a rollercoaster… and when it does hang on because God is going to give you the ride of your life as you trust Him completely.

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Real Faith in Real Practice

9/13/2020

Hebrews 11:23-29
Bees are needed to pollenate flowers, trees and vegetables in the garden. The problem arises when they sting and leave a swollen lump. Now the bees that make honey are not the problem because they are more docile. The aggressive bees that attack are yellow jackets. Recently I was stung by one of these bees. It was an unprovoked attack. All I was doing was sitting outside and enjoying the evening. I am now highly motivated to do something with the bad bees. I know how too easily make an effective bee trap and I have all the ingredients to make a bee trap… but I do not have a bee trap. Why? The answer is simple. I have not put the knowledge and the ingredients together to work on the problem. In Hebrews 11:23-29 we see that Moses was noted for his faith. However, if you look back in his life you can see times when he acted on his own without depending on God (Exodus 2:11-15). Our action can never be called faith when God is not relied on completely. Moses learned that lesson and he became a great prophet and leader for God. Today we can say that we know all about faith and we may have all the pieces needed like my incomplete bee trap, but it is not faith until it is assembled and used. Remember that faith in God is not real faith until it is put into practice and God is depended on completely. Ask God to increase your faith in Him by increasing your vision of Him and His plans for your life.

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A Life of Faith is More Than a Game

9/6/2020

Hebrews 11
Games of trust are always a good learning activity for a team. They are also a good activity for social observation. I recall one such trust game where a board is placed between two chairs and a blindfolded participant is helped to step up on the elevated board. The participant and the board are then lifted off the chairs. Without letting the blindfolded participant know, the board is then lowered almost to the floor where they are told to jump off. The blindfolded person always expresses fear of the height and not being able to see even though they are being reassured that they will be fine. In many ways, that is often the response that we have to God. We can’t see what the future holds and it is all too easy to stay put rather than take the step of faith and follow God’s calling. In Hebrews 11:22 we see that Joseph was commended for his faith. His life was filled with plenty of times when he could have chosen not to follow God, yet he saw that God took what was meant as evil and turned it to good to accomplish His purpose (Genesis 50:20). I would challenge you to take an inventory of your life. Could God be calling you to follow Him in faith, so He can use your situation for His purposes?

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Strength of Faith

8/30/2020

Hebrews 11
The other day I listened to a chainsaw scream and watched as a landscape worker struggled to force the saw through the wood. The problem was that the chain was not sharpened correctly. In order not to bore you with the details there are two ways that a chainsaw needs sharpening. The first is the teeth must be razor sharp to cut. The second is to have the correct depth for cutting. An operator of an incorrectly sharpened chainsaw can force it through a cut but it will take longer and perhaps even break the saw. Likewise, faith that is done in our own strength is like trying to operate a chainsaw that is sharpened incorrectly or using a dull knife. It just does not cut. When we do not trust in the power and exactness of God we try to force the results of life in our own strength. Our lives and history are littered with examples of times when God was not trusted in faith. On the other hand, Hebrews 11 gives us a list of positive examples of faith. Let us, in faith, trust God and not our own strength.

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Time Out

6/8/2020

Hebrews 4:1-10
A time out is a strategic call in sporting games. This is a play where one of the players or the coach signals that they need stoppage of play. The teams stop play and go to the side of the field where they spend time talking with their coach. In a huddle they hear strategy, advice, direction, correction, and encouragement. The same is true for us as people. We need to set aside regular time to talk with our coach, God. As we stop playing the game of life for a little while we have a better chance to spend focused time listening. If we don’t take a time out we continue to play the game and we choose burn out and ineffectiveness over a time out. The author of Hebrews is writing as a coach. He calls a spiritual time out for the readers because they were missing the point that Jesus is better than anything else. He wants them to live a life of faith in Christ that is based on the supremacy of Christ and not conform to false beliefs without Christ.

For more see HEBREWS