1 Corinthians 10:1 Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, 2 all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. 5 But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.
Miracle upon miracle protected the children of Israel. God took care of all their physical needs. But many of them turned from Him to false idols. In their rejection of the land promised them and in their unbelief they were left to their own devices. In turning to the idol of the golden calf they placed themselves out of Gods’ protection. An idol can be anything we put in first place in our lives. God alone deserves that honor.
We are to love God above any person, Any place, Or any thing. He is first in our lives and everything else we give to Him to be used for His honor and glory.
Nothing happens without His permission. He will use the good, the bad or even the evil that abounds to teach us, to admonish us, to show us our sin and to allow us to repent and turn back to Him who created us.
1 Corinthians 10:11 11 Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 15 I speak as to wise men; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 17 For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread.
Daniel 2:34 You watched while a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces.
Jesus, the stone whom the builders rejected, came from God not man. He came first to those who were under the Law, the descendants of Abraham, to free them from the prison of the law. It was too small a gift that He came to save only the Jew. Jesus’ life would be offered up for all the sins of the world. In His second coming all those who reject God’s gift of salvation will be judged by their unbelief.
Romans 15:4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
Hebrews 1:1-4 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
Joy in the Lord is our strength and we can rest in the hope that only Jesus can give. Carla
The new age has dawned because of Jesus’ death and resurrection (Hebrews 1:3). The Son refers to Jesus. Jesus is superior to other divine agents. Thus, His credentials vastly supersede those of the prophets and the angels. The Son is heir of all things because all things belong to God, His Father. The Son accurately represents the very being of the Father. Faithlife Study Bible
Various ways refers to the different methods God used to communicate, including visitations, dreams, signs, parables, and events (Isaiah 28:10). By His Son may be rephrased as “in such a person as a Son.” The emphasis rests on the character of the revelation. It is a revelation of the Son, a revelation not so much in what He has said as in who He is and what He has done.
Jesus will inherit everything because He is the eternal Son of God Himself (Isaiah 9:6, 7; Micah 5:2). His inheritance is universal dominion. He will rule over everyone and everything (Romans 4:13; Revelation 11:15).
The Greek word for worlds can also mean “ages.” Thus worlds indicates the entire created universe, all space throughout all time. The Son is the Lord of all history. He has managed the universe throughout its history as Mediator under the Father.
The Son is the brightness of God’s glory, meaning the radiance that comes from God’s essential glory (John 1:14; 2 Corinthians 4:4, 6). The author of Hebrews is emphasizing that this is not a reflected brightness like the light of the moon. Instead this is an inherent brightness like a ray from the sun. Jesus’ glorious brightness comes from being essentially divine.
The phrase express image occurs only here in the New Testament and means “exact representation” or “exact character.” In Greek literature the word was used of stamping a coin from the die. The Son is the exact representation of God’s being because He is God Himself (Colossians 1:15). In fact, the Greek word translated person here means “nature” or “being.” As Jesus said, “He who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9).
Upholding means “bearing” or “carrying,” referring to movement and progress toward a final end. The Son not only created the universe by His powerful word but also maintains and directs its course. Purged means “cleansed” or “purified.”
The glory of redemption is far greater than the glory of creation. The Son of God came down not to dazzle us with His splendor but to purge our sins. Sat down suggests the formal act of assuming the office of High Priest and implies a contrast to the Levitical priest, who never finished his work and sat down (10:11–13).
The Son is better than the angels, or higher in rank, because He sits at the right hand of God (verse 3) and because of His eternal inheritance. The Son has obtained a greater name than the angels. This majestic picture builds up to the dramatic invitation in 4:16 for us to come boldly into the Son’s presence.
brightness (Gk. apaugasma) (1:3) Strong’s #541; express image (Gk. charaktēr) (1:3) Strong’s #5481: These two expressions occur only here in the NT. The Greek word for brightness expresses the brilliance emanating from a glorious source of light, such as the beams of the sun. Christ, as the effulgence of God’s glory, is the radiance of God, revealing God’s glory to humanity. The Greek word translated express image can mean the instrument used in engraving or stamping, but usually it means the image engraved or stamped. In this context, the word means that Christ is the exact representation of God’s nature. Since God’s essence, nature, and being are invisible, the Son reveals God to us, for He is an exact visible likeness of God. The NKJV Study Bible
Hebrews 2:2–3 For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,
Numbers 12:6 Then He said,“Hear now My words:If there is a prophet among you,I, the LORD, make Myself known to him in a vision;I speak to him in a dream.
Psalm 2:8
Ask of Me, and I will give You
The nations for Your inheritance,
And the ends of the earth for Your possession.
The Bible is filled with references to Jesus' name(s), titles and identity.
● He is Alpha and Omega (Revelation 22:13).
● He is our advocate (1 John 2:1).
● He is the beloved Son of God (Matthew 3:17).
● He is Faithful and True (Revelation 19:11).
● He is Immanuel, God with us (Isaiah 7:14).
● He is the Lamb of God (John 1:29).
● He is the risen Lord (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).
● He is the way, truth and life (John 14:6).
First5
But again, let us remember that fasting is not emptying just for sake of emptying.
Here’s the deal: When we empty (when we let go), we make space.
And that space, is a gift—a healing, cleansing, restorative gift.
We make space for paying attention.
We make space for the awareness of God’s presence.
We make space for apologies and course-corrections in our life.
We make space to be embraced by grace.
We make space for being at home with “this” self, which allows us to be fully engaged in “this” life.
We make space for gratitude which fuels generosity and empathy.
And when we let go of a too-narrow focus about fasting (only saying No), we make space for the transformative power of saying, “Yes”.
In other words, the power of being (and invitation to be) invested. Sabbath Moments
Acts 3:19-20 (ESV) "Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus ..."
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