Best Friend Relationship (Hebrews 2:9-13)

 Relationships can be tricky things.  Sometimes people do things even to best friends that rock and shake it.  It would be like a massive earthquake that shook so intensely that sometimes break  the friendship and it crumbles devastatingly into rubble.

This could happen among family members, church members, workmates, and so forth.  Yet, there is one relationship that no matter how great the magnitude of the shaking, will never sever the connection.

"God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering,"

and in this way,

"...bring many sons [& daughters] to glory" (Hebrews 2:10).

Our salvation through Jesus brings us into an unshakeable relationship with Him.   We are given everlasting life (see John 3:16).  This is totally unbreakable and unshakeable.

As in any relationship, to make it healthy and to maintain it, trust needs to be built.  As Jesus is the faithful One we can always trust Him even when our world shatters.

There needs to be honesty and respect.  Jesus is not a liar but are we?  One thing I really hate is when someone lies to me or deceives me or doesn't tell the full truth.  If we respect another we will have honesty and integrity in the relationship.

God already knows our thoughts so we might as well be open with Him and tell all.  This is part of communication as well.  A two-way street to complete the communication circuit.  I talk to Him and He speaks to me through His Word and with the help of the Holy Spirit's guidance and convictions.

Acts of kindness and words like "I love You" and "I forgive you" spoken sincerely help keep a relationship sweet.  God already demonstrated how much He loves us by sending Jesus to redeem our souls.  We can love Him back because He first loved us (see 1 John 4:19).

No doubt you can add more to the  "keep the relationship sweet list".  The emphasis here is our relationship with Jesus.  Know that He holds us fast, strong, firm and unshakeable.  As Jesus is the Truth we can always trust Him.  He loves us 100%.  Will you love Him back and work at growing your relationship with Him?

Show your love and gratitude by trusting and obeying Him.  Jesus is not ashamed to have you as His child.  In fact, you are the apple of His eye (see Psalm 17:8) and Zechariah 2:8). Think on that.  He is the best friend to have.

Jesus, it is so nice to know you care about us and make us the apple of your eye.  You have given us an unshakeable relationship because you know our human failings, that we would break it if you had not made it immutable.  You are so kind and gracious and the best friend anyone could have.  Thank You.

                                                 ~ERC  December 2023~

Based on Hebrews 2:9-13.

Sing, My Best Friend is Jesus, along with the ClarkFamMusic.

Lord's Day Devotion - Fully Man (Hebrews 2:14-18)

"Since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their  humanity ... For this reason He had to be made like His brothers in every way ... yet was without sin" (Hebrews 2:14, 17 and 4:15).

Jesus became a human being just like us with one BIG difference - He was without sin.

To God be the glory that though Jesus is fully God, He is also fully man.  Praise the Lord!

A potential employee generally goes for an interview.  He wants to find out more about the job he may be doing and how much he'll be paid.  The potential employer wants to know if this is the best candidate for the job description.  The employer chooses the 'best one' for the job.

God sent Jesus to Earth because He was the 'best one' for a job.  The job was to be punished for the sins of humankind.  But Jesus had to come as a human being to accomplish this job.  God is a Spirit and invisible.  Jesus was fully human and visible.

How do we know He was fully man?  He got tired and slept in a boat; He got hungry when He fasted 40 days; He had a human mother.  He got tempted - yet without sin.  He got thirsty when on the cross.  He even felt pain and suffering.  Jesus felt all these things that showed He was fully human, except, I repeat, for the BIG difference - He never sinned.  This was because He was also fully God.

Only this perfect One could break the power of sin, death and Satan.  Praise Jesus who died for you.  Ponder on this, this Lord's Day ...

Jesus was fully human but never sinned so He could die for your and my sins.

Reach for the bread and wine of remembrance, partake and drink with gratitude and thanksgiving for all Jesus has done for you through His coming to Earth and His death and resurrection.  

Sing praise...

Father God, thank You for sending Jesus - the perfect One - as fully human, to die for my sins and the sins of the "whosoever will".  I thank You that Jesus has become my Savior and I'm able to build a relationship with Him that's unshakeable.  

In Jesus' name I give you my thanks and praise.

Amen.

                                                     ~ERC January 2024~

Based on Hebrews 2:14-18; Hebrews 4:15; Matthew 1:25; 16:21.

Sing, Surely This Must Be the Son of God, along with First Baptist Moultrie.

Fully Human (Hebrews 2:14-18)

 

We've learned that Jesus is God, that He is superior to all, even to angels; that He is always the same and will be there for us for ever and ever.  Have you also heard that Jesus is fully human?

The Holy Bible tells us,

"Since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity...For this reason He had to be made like His brothers in every way..." (Hebrews 2:14 & 17).

Jesus shared in our humanity and was made like us human beings in every way.  There was one big difference however,  He never, ever sinned.  He was,

"...tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin." (Hebrews 4:15).

Therefore, we can state that Jesus is fully human.  He showed us His human side often.  He got tired and slept in a boat, rocked fearsomely, I might add, by a storm.  He got humgry after fasting 40 days in the wilderness.  He had a human mother.  He got tempted as the verse above tells us.  He got thirsty when on the cross and even felt pain and suffering.

Throughout all His life on Earth, Jesus never sinned.  He was perfect and the perfect one to die and take the punishment for our sins.  He was the perfect one 

"to break the power of death and Satan" (see Hebrews 2:14).  

He could do all this because besides being fully human, He was also fully God.

Let's praise Jesus together.  He is the one who died for you!

Father God, thank You so much for sending Jesus as fully human, but who never sinned, to die for my sins.  I praise You for this forever gift of Savior and salvation.  Help me to now grow my relationship with Him that is unshakeable.  

In Jesus' precious name I ask, Amen.

                                               ~ERC  December 2023~

Based on Hebrews 2:14-18; Matthew 1:25 &16:21; Hebrews 4:15.

Sing, Christ Our Hope in Life and Death, along with Keith & Kristyn Getty, Matt Papa.

Warning (Hebrews 2:1-4)

 Along with the promises of God about His unshakeable kingdom and message of salvation through Jesus, come warnings.  Here's one of them...

"We must pay the most careful attention ... so that we do not drift away" (Hebrews 2:1).

It is possible to drift away from the Lord and all we know about Him.  Therefore, we need to be on high alert, and pay attention so we do not put distance between Him and ourselves.

Drifting away implies a slow, almost imperceptible slide away from someone.  In this case, drifting away from our relationship with the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

The how's and why's we drift away could be numerous.  There could be influence of the friends we keep; sports, disappointment with certain answers to our prayers or even because we feel God is not listening.  Or maybe there is some sin we are hanging on to but feel guilty about.  So we stop talking to Jesus who is Superior to one and all.  We stop reading God's word and going to church and other gatherings of believers.  Slowly, we drift away from Him.

Drifting away could be like getting into a row boat intending to paddle peacefully about for a while but because it is such a lovely warm day with a gentle breeze caressing your cheeks that you feel sleepy and lay back in the boat, and are rocked gently by the river's movement.  However, you fall asleep and drift farther and farther away downstream, but something suddenly jolts you awake to discover your predicamnet just as you are about to be released into the ocean.   You sit up and frantically try to row back upstream, all to no avail.  You panic and begin screaming for help.  Finally, someone in a motorboat discovers you and helps you get home.

"Paying the most careful attention" to not drifting away spiritually could entail making a commitment to not doing so in the first place, that no matter what, we would not let ourselves go.  We would commit to still reading, praying and going to services and Bible study and the like and to have fellowship with other brothers and sisters-in-Christ, regularly.  A commitment to seek the Lord and His kingdom first, would be of great help in keeping us alert to any potential slipping away that could occur.

It happens to the best of us so if we do drift away, know that all is not hopeless.  We can repent when we come to our senses like the prodigal son did (see Luke 15:11-32), about whatever caused us to drift in the first place.

We can shout out to the Lord, "Help!"  He hears our every cry, especially cries of repentance.  Get back to reading God's Word and obeying Him.  Talking to Him in prayer can help us get back into good and renewed relationship with Christ.  Go back to church.  Don't let years and years of indifference and drifting away happen.  Scream, "Help!" now.

Then when you feel peaceful calm and warmth in your soul, as if you are being hugged from the inside out, you are likely back from dirifting.  

However...pay the most careful attention to NOT drifting away.

You have been warned.

Father in Heaven, keep us cleaving to Your side through Jesus.  We do not want to drift away from You.  Help us to build relationship with You and be alert to anything or anyone that would mar it.  

We ask in Jesus' name, Amen.

                                                 ~ERC December 2023~

Based on Hebrews 2:1-4, especially vs 1.

Sing, O Lord, Close to Thee We Would Cleave, along with Metropolitan Tabernacle.

Book Review - Exploring AI - By Gaelen Hadlett - Publication Date: 1 January 2023

 If you like science, computers, robots, and educational things, this book is for you.  Explanations of how AI is used, some basic ways in who gathers the data, who programs it, and who uses the technology and for what purposes in aiding human beings are mapped out.  Great illustrations.  The "Use Your Brain" sections are brilliant and would definitely help a child have a hands-on experience of how AI works.  There is also a helpful glossary included.  In my opinion, this would be a great 'experience' for any scientifically-minded reader.

A 5-Star rating from me.

                                           ~Eunice C.,  Reviewer/Blogger~

                                                      September 2023

Disclaimer:  This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent by NetGalley and the publisher.

Read review on Goodreads.

Book Review - Fragile Designs - By Colleen Coble - Publication Date: 2 January 2024

 This is not my first time reading a Colleen Coble novel, so was very happy to have another of her works to read and review.  I've enjoyed this story very much and believe others who like the Russian angle in a saga will too.  Then of great interest, the Faberge eggs; antiquities; twins; murder; family ties and dysfunction - you name it - will likely have them eagerly turning the pages as well.  Carly and her wee babe add tender moments along with Lucas giving extra spice.   All come together to provide some good, clean mystery and suspense and an enjoyably satisfying read. 

I'll give this novel a 5-Star rating.

                                               ~Eunice C.,  Reviewer/Blogger~

                                                                  July 2023

Disclaimer:    "I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Read review on Goodreads.

Book Review - The Sunflowers Babushka Planted - By Beatrice Rendon - Publication Date: 1 January 2024

 

A very touching story about Tania who had to flee Ukraine and become a refugee along with her parents.  Sunflowers were their comfort.  I think its a good book for teaching other children about the hardships created by war.  Yet, also teaching how to persevere and make the most of a bad situation.  The lovely illustrations give great 'final touch'.

                                                     ~Eunice C.,  Reviewer/Blogger~

                                                                November 2023

Disclaimer:  This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent by NetGalley and the publisher.

Read review on Goodreads.