November 17, 2025 - Hebrews 1-4

I don’t know if it’s reality or just sort of a psychological response but, looking at the news day by day, it seems as if just about all we discover is bad news.  It is good to turn some of this stuff off and spend time in God’s Word, which is sort of like a slipping out of the storm into calm.  The writer of the epistle to the Hebrews begins, “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son” (1:1,2).  This Jesus has come “that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery” (2:15,16).  What encouragement we have:  “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.  Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (4:14-16).  The throne of grace!  Maybe spend a bit more time there than considering the affairs of the day?

My faith looks up to Thee,

Thou Lamb of Calvary,

Savior divine!

Now hear me while I pray,

take all my guilt away;

O let me from this day

be wholly Thine.

May Thy rich grace impart

strength to my fainting heart . . .

While life’s dark maze I tread,

and griefs around me spread,

be Thou my Guide;

bid darkness turn to day,

wipe sorrow’s tears away,

nor let me ever stray

from Thee aside.   -- Ray Palmer (1830)