Monday, September 29, 2014

"Lettuce" in Hebrews?

My first serious study of the Book of Hebrews was at the feet of Dr. Neil Lightfoot a professor at Abilene Christian University.  His lectures were always stimulating to say the least.  I looked forward to every class! 

I remember him adding a touch of humor to a lecture one day.  He asked, “Can anyone name the most popular vegetable in the book of Hebrews?”  We knew there was a catch.  He waited patiently and then, with a sheepish smile, said, “It’s lettuce.”  And, then he took us on a journey through several texts in the book that had two simple but very powerful words:  “let us”.  He said, “This vegetable is never served by itself.  It is always accompanied by other nourishing things.”  His point was well taken!  

As we started our exploration of the “let us” texts we discovered something new in each one.  More importantly, we discovered that  “let us” is always calling us to “do something”. 

Want some great meditation texts for the upcoming week?  Read through these powerful texts and let the Holy Spirit guide your heart.  Insights for faith and living are sprinkled across each one! 

4:1 – Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it.

4:11 – Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.

4:14 – Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession

4:16 – Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

6:1 – Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God.

10:21 – Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

10:23 – Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.

10:24 – And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,

12:1 – Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us…

12:28 – Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe

Father, thank you for these special reminders about how to live out our faith in the One who is the same today, yesterday, yes and forever.  Amen.

Randy Daugherty
Stephenville, Texas

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