We Can Be Holy – Part II

Scripture Reading: Hebrews 10:19-25

Key Verse: Hebrews 10:10

For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.

I hope you read today’s Scripture Reading. This passage describes the proper response to yesterday’s devotion.

Jesus did the hard work of redeeming us from our sins. So, what is our response to that completed work? What should we do when we realize God forgives our sins and sees us as a holy person? Look at this list of things that should come from us:

1. Hebrews 10:22: Let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting Him.

   In other words, when we pray, we should have full confidence that we can talk to God directly and He hears us!

2. Hebrews 10:23: Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise.

   Our job is to not allow anything nor anyone to distract us; to loosen our grip on the promise of our salvation.

3. Hebrews 10:24: Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.

   The New Testament makes it clear: we are to live out our faith in a community of believers (the church) and be an active member in it.

4. Hebrews 10:25: Let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do.”

   Are you part of the “some people” that neglect church attendance? We all need a community of believers around us.

Do not think of the above list of “let us” items as a way of earning our way into heaven. Rather, this list is a reminder of proper response to God’s gift of Salvation through Jesus Christ.

The Bible refers to us believers as “children of God”, never “adults of God”. Parents teach children how to respond to their instructions; they do not need to earn a spot in their family.

When we put our faith in Jesus and ask Him to forgive our sins, God forgives us and places us into our spiritual family. No matter how perfect we might obey the items in this “let us” list, we can never make ourselves worthy of all that Jesus did for us. However, we can learn to respond appropriately to His love and grace.

Toward the end of chapter 10, the Hebrew writer gives us one more reminder: “So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord” (Hebrews 10:35). I pray you heed this final warning and walk in peace with the Lord.

Father, help me to fight off any tricks of the evil one and enjoy your peace. In Jesus’s Name I pray, amen.