Before you begin today’s reading and reflection, take a few minutes to create or find a “sacred space”. If you’re in your room, make yourself a small space with as few distractions as possible. Put aside any books, music, magazines; turn off your phone; get away from your email/facebook; turn off your music; etc.

Now, pull out your Bible, and as you take some deep breaths, pray this short prayer: “Lord, help me be still and listen to your voice now and throughout this day and the next. Amen.”

(You can choose to read the whole chapter, or just the passage that is shown)

 

¹³ For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, ¹⁴ saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.”¹⁵ And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise. ¹⁶ For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. ¹⁷ So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, ¹⁸ so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. ¹⁹ We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, ²⁰ where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

 

Reflection

1. Chapter at a Glance: To reach maturity, Christians must build on the foundation of God’s salvation and leave the elementary teachings and press on to maturity. When we are rooted in faith, we will produce the fruit that accompanies salvation.  The author concluded this warning with a word of hope to his readers – We are rested on the unbreakable promises God has made to us in Jesus Christ.
2. God took an elaborate way to reassure Abraham of His faithfulness in fulfilling His promises to him (v13, ref Gen. 22:15-18).  He is doing so to us as well. God, who doesn’t lie, has not only promised to bless us.  God sealed His promise with an oath, which is executed in the blood of His one and only Son. God wouldn’t lie in the first place. But God would never ever consider violating an oath that He made at such unimaginable cost.
3. Why did God take such pains to confirm His promise? Because He knew how vulnerable we are to fear and doubt. He knew how weak our faith becomes at times. And so, not because He needed to, but as an anchor for the hope we have in Christ, God promised, and He swore His oath – to reassure us.
4. What a gracious God we have. And how little cause we have to doubt Him. In Jesus we have “a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul”.
5. How does Jesus fulfill your deepest aspirations and help you to go on to maturity in your faith journey?

 

Prayer & Journaling:

If you have a prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.

 

Proverbs for Today 26:5-8

⁵ Answer a fool according to his folly,
    lest he be wise in his own eyes.
⁶ Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool
    cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.
⁷ Like a lame man’s legs, which hang useless,
    is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
⁸ Like one who binds the stone in the sling
    is one who gives honor to a fool.