July 23, 2020
Hebrews 2:14-18
Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.  For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants.  For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.  Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
New International Version (NIV)
We remember President Harry S. Truman’s words, “The buck stops here.”  In other words, if everybody else passes the buck, I will take responsibility because I am ultimately in charge.   Who is in charge of this world, anyway?  Do you ever wonder?  Some people believe the devil is in charge.  Others believe God is in charge.  Some people think people are in charge.  What do you think? 

At the beginning of this chapter, the writer of Hebrews calls us to pay attention, lest we drift.  In my experience we never drift closer to God.  As a teenager, I fell asleep in a raft in a cove off of the Rhein river.  The next thing I remember was the loud horn of a barge.  I had drifted right out into the main stream of the river.  Drifting is dangerous!

Then the writer of Hebrews makes it clear that the angels are not in charge (2:5).  Quoting from Psalm 8, he says that God has put everything under the son of man’s feet.  Then he observes that the Psalmist must not have been talking about people in general.  “Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them.”  We are not in charge of the world. 

“But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels” (2:9).  The Psalmist was pointing to Jesus.  Jesus took charge of the world by taking up his cross and walking up a hill.  So he was made perfect through his suffering.  The devil was in charge through death.  But Jesus eviscerated death and vacated its power by dying himself.  This liberates us from the power of death.  Praise God, we have a merciful and faithful high priest who made atonement for our sins.  His suffering strengthens us when our suffering tempts and tests us.

Jesus pronounces the final, “The buck stops here.”  He takes responsibility for our broken universe.  In his time, he will make all things new . . . including me . . . including you.  In fact he has already begun.  “If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come.  The old has gone."  The new is here (2 Corinthians 5:17).  In a world which repeats the mantra, “It is not my fault,” Jesus calls us to own our own mistakes and to turn to him for grace.  There is salvation.  Do not neglect it.  Let’s pay attention today so that we do not drift.

Pray with me:         
Father, do we not rightly sing, “Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love”?  Awaken us today with your truth.  If we have drifted into the danger zone, give us the grace to cry out to you for help.  Let us not neglect this magnificent salvation. Make us more earnest today.  Help us to apply our hearts to wisdom.  We believe that you alone are in charge of this world, as our great King.  Help us to worship you rightly, we pray.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.  
Join us in memorizing the Word.  Scripture for this week:    
Matthew 6:14-15
For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Our 2020 Every Day with Jesus readings will follow the Foundations New Testament reading plan.  Copies of the reading plan are available at Tallowood Baptist Church, or download your copy at REPLICATE.ORG 
We would love for you to join us as we read the New Testament through this year, five chapters a week.  In addition I will continue my long-standing practice of reading one Psalm a day through the year.  Use Robby Gallaty’s H. E. A. R. plan to study each chapter (also found at REPLICATE.ORG). Highlight verses which speak to you, explain what they mean in your own words in a journal, apply them to your own life, then respond by doing what God tells you to do.  
Joyfully, 
Duane 

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