TO; A Big Word

 

I’m Duane Matz and welcome to Today’s Living Word.

 

I am concerned about the number of people who have been baptized, and gone through confirmation classes and then walk away from the faith. The Book of Hebrews is very instructive for us here as it deals with the converted Jews who were walking away from the faith to avoid persecution.

 

May today’s reading be helpful to those who have walked or are considering it!

 

 Heb 12:22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, 23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.

 

Having just talked about the mountain that couldn’t be touched (Mt Sinai) due to the holiness of God, (the Law) now the writer of Hebrews brings us to the touchable mountain of grace…Mt Zion

 

As a baptized believer let’s look at those things that faith and baptism has brought us TO. To is an important word here and I want you to see these things that faith in Jesus Christ has brought you TO!

 

You have been brought TO Mt Zion – the mountain of grace

You have been brought TO the city of God, the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of peace

You have been brought TO an innumerable company of angels – who are God’s ministers TO you!

You have been brought TO the general assembly, the church, assimilated into the Body of Christ.  

You have been brought safely TO God the judge of all

You have been brought TO the spirits of just men made perfect, this is the very real joining together of the heavenly throng

You have been brought TO Jesus the mediator of peace between you and God

Finally, you have been brought  TO the blood of sprinkling that is superior to the blood of Abel.

One blood (the blood of Jesus which you have been brought TO) covers all sins, (grace) the other (Abel’s blood ) calls out for vengeance. (the Law)

 

With all these things that you have been brought TO, by grace through God’s gift of faith,  why would you settle for returning to the untouchable, fearful,, dreadful, fire breathing  Mt Sinai.

 

If you have walked away from the faith, or even those times when you are tempted to walk away, may these verses bring you TO your senses, and help you keep your eyes on the prize that awaits you.

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word