Notice on a slight format change:

Except for July 2012, these are mostly a collection of current devotional notes.

July 2012 is a re-write of old quiet times. My second child was born Nov 11, 1987 with multiple birth defects. I've been re-reading my QT notes from that time in my life, and have included them here. They cover the time before the birth and the few years immediately after the birth. They are tagged "historical." I added new insights and labeled them: ((TODAY, dd mmm yy)).

Tuesday, June 16, 2026

QT 6/16/2026 Hebrews 4:12–16, Comfort is the enemy of spiritual rest

Hebrews 4:12–16 (ESV) —

12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

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. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 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.

 

NOTE: Verses 14-16 get to the heart of the problem. They were not holding fast to their confession. They were weak and were having a difficult time standing in their community with the outbreak against Christianity and the uprising against Rome. They were not in the word regularly, if at all. They were not fellowshipping (Heb 10:24-25). And they were losing their confidence. Soon the city would be surrounded. Jesus had warned believers about what to do when the city is surrounded -- they were to flee to the mountains. The Romans would retreat the first time and the Christians did leave (according to Josephus). The Romans returned a year later and again surrounded the city, burning it to the ground and killing 1+ million Jews. The references to burning in the book of Hebrews are not hell but physical death by the Romans.

 

When we begin to value comfort more than service to God, we are on the same road as these Christian Hebrews. We begin to miss attending church. We are not in God's word daily. We don't pray. We are embarrassed to witness. We are no different from these Christian Hebrews.

 

PONDER:

  1. What is more important to me, comfort or the message of the gospel going forth?

 

PRAYER: Father, rescue the church from its pursuit of comfort. We are not any better than the recipients of the letter when we live just like them. Open our eyes to our false hopes and desires. May we seek your will and your kingdom.

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