Evening Scripture

Hebrews, Chapter 3

Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest.He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house. Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything.

“Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house,” bearing witness to what would be spoken by God in the future. But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory. 

So, as the Holy Spirit says:  

“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts
as you did in the rebellion,
during the time of testing in the wilderness,
where your ancestors tested and tried me,
though for forty years they saw what I did. 

That is why I was angry with that generation;
I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray,
and they have not known my ways.’
So I declared on oath in my anger,  
‘They shall never enter my rest.’”  

See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end. As has just been said: 

“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts 
as you did in the rebellion.”  

Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt?And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies perished in the wilderness? And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief. 

Evening Reflection

If anyone had a reason to give up, it was Athanasius. He had been exiled multiple times and slandered by many. Others urged him to give into the theology of the Arians, but he refused. The matter in question – the divinity of Christ – was too important for him to cave to, even though it would have been easier for him to do so. Standing firm on the truth of Scripture, Athanasius continued in a faithful defense of Jesus’ identity as God despite intense struggle and persecution. He advocated for the truth presented at the council of Nicaea, expressed in The Nicene Creed: “We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father.”  

The things most worth doing are often the most difficult. 

In the Bible, that is one of the reasons the Israelites did not enter the Promised Land as instructed – it appeared too challenging. The report of the spies (except Joshua and Caleb) discouraged Israel because they focused only on the size of the enemies and the threat of going to battle against them (Numbers 13:31-33).

So, they took the easier route: they gave up. In doing so, they not only faced forty years of wandering in the wilderness, they also lost their chance of entering the promise of God because of unfaithfulness (Numbers 14:26-35). 

Long-term faithfulness may seem like the harder route with the struggles that are sure to come, leaving us discouraged and weary. Yet, giving up and caving into sin is the cowardly option. It offers nothing of value, only a fleeting, selfish relief of not having to endure suffering for the sake of obedience. 

Thankfully, we do not have to attempt to tread the path of obedience alone or in our own strength. Jesus, our great High Priest, has gone before us as One fully faithful to the Father. To remain steadfast, Scripture encourages us to “fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest” (Hebrews 3:1). With Him, nothing is impossible, for He gives us the courage to keep going, even when it would be easier to give up.    

Evening Prayer

Lord,

Set my eyes on you so that I focus on the goal and purpose of life: to know You and to love You with all my heart, soul, and strength. The more I focus on You, the less I will obsess over the obstacles that stand in the way of obedience.  

The temptation is strong, O Savior, to give up, for it would be easy to do so. No one would notice if I did, none but You. Give me the strength to keep going, because I cannot do this alone. Enable me to stand firm in the promises of Your Word, mediating on the faithfulness that You have shown throughout time. Truly, You remain faithful even when I am faithless (2 Timothy 2:13).

In Your name, Jesus, I pray.

Amen.       

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Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.

Click to Listen to Signs of Life: UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org

Join us this Fall for Season One of "Signs of Life," an original podcast from UM News. The journey begins in Atlanta, hearing how a book from an icon of the Civil Rights movement is bringing relationship and understanding to two congregations seeking to bridge divides. Then to Belfast, learning about the Northern Ireland Peace Process and the Methodist connection that was—and is—an essential part of healing and peacemaking. Finally, at the Global Young Peoples Convocation in Dublin, explore the world of translation and interpretation through diversity, language and culture.

UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org

Evening Scripture
Hebrews, Chapter 3
Therefore, holy brothers and sisters,&nbsp;who share in the heavenly calling,&nbsp;fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge&nbsp;as our apostle and high priest. He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God&rsquo;s house.&nbsp;Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses,&nbsp;just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself.&nbsp;For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything.
&ldquo;Moses was faithful as a servant&nbsp;in all God&rsquo;s house,&rdquo;&nbsp;bearing witness to what would be spoken by God in the future.&nbsp;But Christ is faithful as the Son&nbsp;over God&rsquo;s house. And we are his house,&nbsp;if indeed we hold firmly&nbsp;to our confidence and the hope&nbsp;in which we glory.&nbsp;
So, as the Holy Spirit says: &nbsp;
&ldquo;Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the wilderness, where your ancestors tested and tried me, though for forty years they saw what I did.&nbsp;
That is why I was angry with that generation; I said, &lsquo;Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.&rsquo; So I declared on oath in my anger, &nbsp; &lsquo;They shall never enter my rest.&rsquo;&rdquo; &nbsp;
See to it,&nbsp;brothers&nbsp;and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.&nbsp;But encourage one another daily,&nbsp;as long as&nbsp;it is called &ldquo;Today,&rdquo; so that none of you may be hardened by sin&rsquo;s deceitfulness.&nbsp;We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold&nbsp;our original conviction firmly to the very end. As has just been said:&nbsp;
&ldquo;Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts&nbsp; as you did in the rebellion.&rdquo; &nbsp;
Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies perished in the wilderness?&nbsp;And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest&nbsp;if not to those who disobeyed? So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.&nbsp;
Evening Reflection
If anyone had a reason to give up, it was Athanasius. He had been exiled multiple times and slandered by many. Others urged him to give into the theology of the Arians, but he refused. The matter in question &ndash; the divinity of Christ &ndash; was too important for him to cave to, even though it would have been easier for him to do so. Standing firm on the truth of Scripture, Athanasius continued in a faithful defense of Jesus&rsquo; identity as God despite intense struggle and persecution. He advocated for the truth presented at the council of Nicaea, expressed in <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/faith-life/what-we-believe/nicene-creed">The Nicene Creed</a>: &ldquo;We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father.&rdquo; &nbsp;
The things most worth doing are often the most difficult.&nbsp;
In the Bible, that is one of the reasons the Israelites did not&nbsp;enter&nbsp;the Promised Land as instructed &ndash; it appeared too challenging. The report of the spies (except Joshua and Caleb)&nbsp;discouraged Israel because they focused only on the size of the enemies and the threat of&nbsp;going to battle against them&nbsp;(Numbers&nbsp;13:31-33).
So, they took the easier route: they gave up. In doing so, they not only faced forty years of wandering in the wilderness, they also lost their chance of entering the promise of God because of unfaithfulness (<a href="https://www.biblestudytools.com/numbers/passage/?q=numbers+14:26-35">Numbers 14:26-35</a>).&nbsp;
Long-term faithfulness may seem like the harder route with the struggles that are sure to come, leaving us discouraged and weary. Yet, giving up and caving into sin is the cowardly option. It offers nothing of value, only a fleeting, selfish relief of not having to endure suffering for the sake of obedience.&nbsp;
Thankfully, we do not have to attempt to tread the path of obedience alone or in our own strength. Jesus, our great High Priest, has gone before us as One fully faithful to the Father. To remain steadfast, Scripture encourages us to &ldquo;fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest&rdquo; (<a href="https://www.biblestudytools.com/hebrews/3-1.html">Hebrews 3:1</a>). With Him, nothing is impossible, for He gives us the courage to keep going, even when it would be easier to give up. &nbsp; &nbsp;
Evening Prayer
Lord,
Set my eyes on you so that I focus on the goal and purpose of life: to know You and to love You with all my heart, soul, and strength. The more I focus on You, the less I will obsess over the obstacles that stand in the way of obedience. &nbsp;
The temptation is strong, O Savior,&nbsp;to give up,&nbsp;for it would&nbsp;be easy to do so. No one&nbsp;would&nbsp;notice if I did, none but You.&nbsp;Give me the strength to keep going, because I cannot do this alone.&nbsp;Enable me to stand firm in the promises of Your Word, mediating on&nbsp;the&nbsp;faithfulness&nbsp;that You have shown throughout time. Truly,&nbsp;You&nbsp;remain&nbsp;faithful even when I am faithless&nbsp;(<a href="https://www.biblestudytools.com/2-timothy/2-13.html">2 Timothy 2:13</a>).
In Your name, Jesus, I pray.
Amen. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
Want More?
Sign up for our free newsletter, The Good Word, for weekly biblical wisdom and encouragement delivered right to your inbox. Join our community today: <a href="https://www.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword/">https://www.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword/</a>&nbsp;
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION&reg;. NIV&reg;. Copyright &copy; 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by <a href="https://www.biblica.com/">Biblica</a>. All rights reserved worldwide.
Click to Listen to Signs of Life: <a href="https://www.umnews.org/en/news/um-news-podcast-season-one">UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org</a>
Join us this Fall for Season One of "Signs of Life," an original podcast from UM News. The journey begins in Atlanta, hearing how a book from an icon of the Civil Rights movement is bringing relationship and understanding to two congregations seeking to bridge divides. Then to Belfast, learning about the Northern Ireland Peace Process and the Methodist connection that was&mdash;and is&mdash;an essential part of healing and peacemaking. Finally, at the Global Young Peoples Convocation in Dublin, explore the world of translation and interpretation through diversity, language and culture.
<a href="https://www.umnews.org/en/news/um-news-podcast-season-one">UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org</a>

Your Nightly Scripture — 365-Day Bible Reading Plan for Peaceful Sleep is a calming, Scripture-centered devotional podcast designed to help you end each day with God’s Word. Brought to you by BibleStudyTools.com, this 5-day-a-week Bible reading plan features carefully selected passages from across the Bible, paired with slow, reflective devotionals and gentle evening prayers.

Perfect for bedtime listening, each episode is read at a peaceful pace with natural pauses to create a quiet, meditative experience that helps you rest, reflect, and draw closer to God. From Psalms and Proverbs to the Gospels and beyond, this year-long journey includes special Easter and Christmas readings, guiding you through the story of Scripture with hope, peace, and spiritual renewal.

Want more prayers and practical spiritual tips each week? We're excited to introduce The Good Word, a new way to receive weekly biblical wisdom and encouragement right in your inbox. Join our community today: https://www.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword/ 

Your Nightly Scripture &mdash; 365-Day Bible Reading Plan for Peaceful Sleep is a calming, Scripture-centered devotional podcast designed to help you end each day with God&rsquo;s Word. Brought to you by BibleStudyTools.com, this 5-day-a-week Bible reading plan features carefully selected passages from across the Bible, paired with slow, reflective devotionals and gentle evening prayers.
Perfect for bedtime listening, each episode is read at a peaceful pace with natural pauses to create a quiet, meditative experience that helps you rest, reflect, and draw closer to God. From Psalms and Proverbs to the Gospels and beyond, this year-long journey includes special Easter and Christmas readings, guiding you through the story of Scripture with hope, peace, and spiritual renewal.
Want more prayers and practical spiritual tips each week? We're excited to introduce The Good Word, a new way to receive weekly biblical wisdom and encouragement right in your inbox. Join our community today:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword/">https://www.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword/</a>&nbsp;

Your Nightly Scripture

Staying Faithful When It Would Be Easier to Give Up  (Hebrews 3)

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/376db697-241d-4e13-b269-b4db00c6ea48/transcript