The Mystery of Salvation

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Opening Prayer

Great Lord God, Your clocks keep perfect time. Help me to keep the right pace in following Your will.

Read Hebrews 2:10-18

^[10] In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. ^[11] Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. ^[12] He says, “I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters; in the assembly I will sing your praises.” ^[13] And again, “I will put my trust in him.” And again he says, “Here am I, and the children God has given me.” ^[14] Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death-that is, the devil- ^[15] and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. ^[16] For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. ^[17] For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. ^[18] Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

Meditate

“There, right in the dark fist of your worst fear, is the door to abundant life” (Barbara Brown Taylor). Suffering and struggle can lead to times of great spiritual growth!

Think Further

Today’s reading takes us to the heart of our salvation. Read it again slowly. The idea in v. 10 is very similar to what I have long believed to be the most extraordinary statement in Scripture: “It was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer” (Isa. 53:10). With Peter we want to cry out “Never, Lord! … This shall never happen to you!” (Matt. 16:22), only revealing that we do not have our minds set on the things of God. We do not realize the depth of the plight that we are in and the depth of God’s love for us, that he chose to go to this length in order to bring us to glory. It was fitting–think about it–that Jesus should complete (“make … perfect”) his life the way that he did (10).

But he did, and those of us who have put our faith in him, he calls brothers and sisters. There is nothing that can separate us from his presence and his love (Rom. 8:35-39). Even death itself has been disarmed. During his earthly ministry, the demons yielded to Jesus’ power. Now the devil himself is conquered (14,15). We read of men and women through the ages who amazed those who threatened them and wonder how it was possible for them to stand firm with such courage. Peter himself was a changed man in the book of Acts. Hebrews will present us with a pageant of such leaders in ch. 11. How is this possible? “In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God … should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering” (10). It was not angels, but us that God chose to save.

Don’t miss v. 18, a very down-to-earth corollary, a promise that has been precious to generations of Christians.

Apply

You will be tempted somehow, sometime during this day. Memorize v. 18 and be ready to apply it then.

Closing prayer

Heavenly Father, I need to trust You more than I trust my fears. In all things, may I co-operate with You for Your glory.

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