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December 8, Sunday
An audio recording of the following reading is available below.
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Holy Brothers — We believers in Jesus are “holy brothers” (v. 1), those who have been set aside for God’s purpose and are being made holy through sanctification. We are not holy by our own efforts, however, because it was God who has allowed us to “share in a heavenly calling” (v. 1). As “holy brothers,” the first thing we are asked to do is to “consider Jesus” (v. 1b). The focus of that consideration is on the faithfulness of Jesus, “who was faithful to him who appointed him” (v. 2) and who “is faithful over God’s house” (v. 6a). Moses was also a model of faithfulness. Twice, the writer of Hebrews said that Moses “was faithful in all God’s house” (vv. 2, 5). Faithfulness involves continually being who we were called to be and doing what we were assigned to do. The second thing we are asked to do is to “hold fast our confidence…” (v. 6). That also involves being faithful, i.e., maintaining our faith in Christ and the work He has done for us.
Truehearted, Wholehearted (Jesus Baptist Church, Guam) – YouTube
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December 9, Monday
An audio recording of the following reading is available below.
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The Spirit Testifies Truth — Eight times in this passage, the noun “testimony” or the verb “testify” is used. One might picture someone providing this formal testimony, or evidence, in court. There are three bearers of testimony here: John, who represents “the testimony of men” (v. 9a), the Father (“the testimony of God” — v. 9b), and the Holy Spirit (“the one who testifies” — v. 6). The object of the testimony is the coming of Jesus, who was miraculously declared to be the Son of God through the voice from heaven at His baptism (“the water”) and His death (“the blood”) and resurrection. The Holy Spirit is not only “the one who testifies” (v. 6a), but it also says of Him, “the Spirit is the truth” (v. 6b). He is believable because He is divine. The Holy Spirit was also involved in giving us the Word of God, so we can depend on it as truth.
Spirit of Faith, Come Down – YouTube
The text below seems to be closer to the original.
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December 10, Tuesday
An audio recording of the following reading is available below.
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The Voice of the Spirit — Here is another trinitarian statement: “… the word of God … the testimony of Jesus … in the Spirit” (vv. 9-10). John was “in the Spirit” when he received loud, divine instruction about writing and distributing messages to several chosen churches. Being “in the Spirit” is a bit hard to define. The expression appears 14 times in Scripture, sometimes for specifically chosen individuals who are divinely spoken to, transported to another place, or given a vision or a message to proclaim. Paul also used this phrase to indicate in a different sense that all Christians are “in the Spirit” because the Holy Spirit dwells in them (Rom. 8:9). In today’s passage, John was chosen to hear, write, and send a message to seven churches in Asia Minor. Most of them had slipped from the truth, stability, and obedience of their founding state into some kind of sinful thinking or activity. That happened after only about one generation, which emphasizes how important it is for us to stay true to God’s Word and to raise our children to follow the Lord wholeheartedly.
Every Time I Feel the Spirit – YouTube
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December 11, Wednesday
An audio recording of the following reading is available below.
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Eating of the Tree of Life — There are two divine speakers in this passage, but they have the same message. At the beginning, the message is said to be “The words of him who holds the seven stars…” (v. 1), which refers to Jesus. At the end, Jesus challenges Christians to “hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (v. 7). Although the church in Ephesus had maintained the truth they had believed, they had grown cold in their love for Christ and probably for each other. That is orthodoxy without sensitivity. It was judged to be a very serious condition, and twice in verse 5 they were told to repent. The Holy Spirit urges all believers to repent from those insensitive attitudes. The reward for turning back would come from which mankind was barred after the sin in the Garden of Eden, “the tree of life” (v. 7). That long-lasting restriction will be removed “in the paradise of God,” when the taste of eternal life we have received on earth will be perfected and eternally provided in heaven (see Rev. 22:2).
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December 12, Thursday
An audio recording of the following reading is available below.
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Not Hurt by the Second Death — Smyrna and Philadelphia are the only two of seven churches that were not rebuked by Jesus. Despite their goodness, Smyrna still suffered persecution and poverty (v. 9). That sounds unfair to human works-based thinking, but God doesn’t promise believers a trouble-free life. If Jesus had to suffer persecution, why shouldn’t we? Christ’s prediction for this church was that some of them were going to suffer even more through imprisonment and death (v. 10). As Jesus “died and came to life” (v. 8), so those Christians in Smyrna who were “faithful unto death” (v. 10a), would be given “the crown of life” (v. 10b). This is “what the Spirit says to the churches”: They will be safe from “the second death” (v. 11), i.e., of eternal destruction at the judgment.
Safe in the Arms of Jesus – YouTube
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December 13, Friday
An audio recording of the following reading is available below.
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Given a New Name — This statement about hearing “what the Spirit says to the churches” (v. 17) is made to each of the seven churches in these two chapters. It is a general statement included in a passage of the words of Jesus, but here, it seems to relate especially to what follows. Jesus promised two special gifts to everyone “who conquers” (v. 17), which is “hidden manna” and “a white stone, with a new name written” on it. Both are rather mysterious, but both are personal; one speaks of provision and the other of privilege. Many things that have been shown to us regarding our eternal future are clouded in mystery, much of it probably because it is beyond our present ability to understand. Secret manna and a secret stone. What will it be?
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December 14, Saturday
An audio recording of the following reading is available below.
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Serving the Saints — After a warning in the beginning of this chapter about people who fall away from the faith, the author of Hebrews is generally confident of the continuing faithfulness of his readers. He compliments them on three positive demonstrated activities: their “work” and their “love” for God, which shows up by their “serving the saints” (v. 10). Notice that our service to other believers involves “work.” It takes effort that probably includes planning ahead, spending time, and helping materially. It also takes perseverance; they were praised for serving the saints “as you still do.” This was a way of life for them. These servants also had the good attitude of showing “earnestness” (v. 11). They were not acts of duty but of concern and diligence. It was a ministry for them. What saints do you know who need service? What can you do to help them? Develop a ministry to be of service to them!
Will You Let Me Be Your Servant? – YouTube
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