Think Carefully

Reading: Hosea 6-9; Hebrews 3 And so, dear brothers and sisters who belong to God and are bound for heaven, think carefully about this Jesus whom we declare to be God’s messenger and High Priest. (Hebrews 3:1 NLT) Have you ever noticed how often God tells us to think or to consider? The writings of the Old Testament prophets are full of admonitions to consider our ways, to consider the majesty and beauty of nature, to consider the consequences of good and bad actions, and to consider the goodness and mercy of God. Jesus often told his followers to look around at God’s creation, at the order of nature, at the behavior of people, and think about how the things we see relate to our lives. This morning, as I read Hebrews 3:1, I was challenged to think carefully. Will you think carefully with me about these things…? • We belong to God. Our lives are not our own. We’re bought with a price. We are stewards, responsible managers of our very lives. We must make our choices, and spend our lives in ways that please the true owner. God takes care of his property. If I belong to him, he will take care of me. We belong to God! • We are bound for heaven. Life is short, eternity is long. Live in the light of eternity. When things are good here and now, don’t forget that all the material stuff stays behind when we leave. Use it, enjoy it, bless others with it, but keep a loose grip. When things are tough here, don’t forget that things are good in heaven where we’re going! We are bound for heaven!

• Think carefully about this Jesus. Consider how he loves, how he cares, how he serves, how he sacrifices, and live like that. Forgive others the way he forgives us. Be filled with his Spirit. Allow him to be the true Master of life. Remember that he’s the healer, the encourager, the purpose-giver, the advocate, the risen Redeemer, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. He loves us unconditionally, he’s gone to prepare a place for us, and he’s coming back for us. Think carefully about this Jesus! Prayer: Father, Thanks for these challenging and encouraging words for us down here. We get so caught up in the busyness, the pressures, the pleasures, the challenges of life down here that we sometimes forget to think carefully about who we are, whose we are, where we’re bound, and who Jesus really is! Thanks! Amen.