Charisma Magazine

Hebrews 4:1-16 This passage in Hebrews speaks of Jesus as our High Priest who was tempted in all points even as we are tempted. He, however, never sinned. Jesus called himself the Son of man often because He was flesh, blood and bone just as we are. God tented Himself in flesh so He could experience all we experience except sin. As a man, Jesus was subject to temptation just as we all are. Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. One thing we often forget is that God sometimes allows the devil to tempt us. God gave permission to the devil to tempt Job. God, however, is not the tempter, as James clearly teaches: "Let no one say when he is tempted, 'I am tempted by God'; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed" (James 1:13-14).

Hebrews 3:1-19 We live in a day when many are falling away, and one of the main reasons is the severe lack of exhortation between brothers and sisters in Christ. The letter to the Hebrews could be subtitled "EXHORTING BELIEVERS TO EXHORT." We are urged to exhort one another daily while it is still today. If we are faithful to exhort one another, we will not be as likely to fall for the deceitfulness of sin.

Hebrews 2:1-18 We've talked much about winning the race of life and running it well by walking in truth and love. We talked about the crown that awaits all those who love the appearing of Christ. Most of us, however, go through life without the realization that we already are wearing a victor's crown. Listen to what the writer says in Hebrews: "Thou madest him [and all of us] a little lower than the angels: thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands. Thou hast put all things in subjection under him‑.‑.‑.‑ he left nothing that is not put under him" (vv. 7-8).

Lamentations 2:20-3:66 In my yearly reading the Bible through, one of the books I breeze through quickly is Lamentations. This book is so negative, yet in the midst of the lamentations of Jeremiah are rich nuggets about God's faithfulness. Listen to just a few verses: "It is the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in Him. The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord." (Lam. 3:22-26, KJV).