A Better Possession

Today’s reading is Hebrews 10.

When the original readers of Hebrews first turned to Jesus, they went through hardships. Significant ones. Honestly, I’ve never been through these kinds of hardships myself. They were publicly exposed to reproach and affliction. I mean sure, I’ve been made fun of on occasion, but not on a level I’d call affliction. Further, this is connected to being put in prison. I’ve never been put in prison for my faith. Though, I did have the cops called on me once for trying to follow up with some fallen Christians. They accepted the plundering of their property. Wow! Because they were disciples of Jesus, some people seized, plundered, stole their possessions. Someone broke into my truck once, but not because I was a Christian. This isn’t just someone happening to be robbed by an opportunistic criminal. This is people targeting Christians because they’re Christians to take their stuff. This would include suing for the Christians’ cloaks and tunics and getting away with it because the judges hated the Christians as well. This would include being driven out of their homes. This would include having land taken away and flocks and herds being confiscated.

These Christians joyfully accepted the plunder. They didn’t complain and groan about it. They didn’t countersue. They accepted it and counted it all joy. Why? Because their earthly goods were not their greatest possessions. They were looking forward to the eternal possessions and the heavenly city. We might be homeless on earth, but we have a greater home waiting. We would rather be homeless temporarily on earth if that is where faithfulness to Jesus leads, than give up our eternal home with Jesus to protect our present possessions. Of course, here is the shocking point of the passage. Sometimes that is exactly where we end up. Sometimes, if we are not careful, in our attempts to store up and protect our earthly possessions, property, and home, we give up our heavenly possessions, property, and home. Sometimes to build up and protect our heavenly possessions, property, and home, we have to sacrifice our earthly possessions, property, and home. Sometimes, we really do have to choose.

Remember, where your treasure is your heart will be also. Where is your heart? Where is your better possession?

Tomorrow’s reading is Hebrews 10.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier sparked by this post.

Discuss the Following Questions with Your Family

1. What are your initial reactions to the chapter and the written devo above?
2. Why is our eternal home a better possession than our present one?
3. Why is it hard to think of our eternal home as a better possession than our present one?
4. How do we help each other develop and maintain a faith that would joyfully let others plunder our possessions in persecution in order to stay faithful to Jesus and look forward to our eternal home?
5. What do you think we should pray for and about in light of this chapter and today’s post?

Something Happened 2000 Years Ago

Today’s reading is Matthew 28.

What was the guard going to do? They were on the hook. They didn’t let a prisoner escape. They let a dead guy escape. How does that happen? Instead of going directly to Pilate, they went to the priests who had begged Pilate for them to be put at the tomb. When the priests and elders heard the tale, they decided to bribe the soldiers. Instead of telling everyone an angel rolled the stone away, the soldiers would tell everyone the disciples stole the body. Of course, if Pilate heard these soldiers had failed to keep the disciples away from the body, they would be in big trouble. Perhaps even execution worthy. But the priests and elders gave them money and a promise to smooth it over with the governor. They accepted. The story was told for years, even until Matthew penned his gospel. In fact, it is one of the theories critics and unbelievers claim even today.

Don’t jump past this part of the story too quickly. As we have learned throughout the reading of Matthew, this is another instance in which we realize something must be done with Jesus. We can’t just ignore Him. We have to explain Him. While He lived, He was a lightening rod that cannot be ignored. He taught things, said things, did things that had to be explained. His opponents couldn’t simply ignore Him. They had to explain. They chose some pretty silly explanations like claiming He was possessed by a demon. Now, even after His death, events take place that simply can’t be ignored. Something happened and it needs to be explained.

Perhaps you don’t believe the testimony of the women at the tomb or the apostles or Paul or the 500. Perhaps you simply cannot accept that Jesus rose from the dead. But you cannot ignore Him and that Sunday morning anymore than the soldiers or the priests could. You have to come up with a story to explain what happened. However, not just any story will do. It has to be one that actually fits and works. You have to come up with a reasonable explanation for the growth of a world-dominating religion from a tiny group of people in a backwater region of the Roman Empire whose leader who claimed to be divine was publicly executed. Something happened that prompted that.

For instance, it can’t be one that says apostles stole the body and had it hidden in one of their basements. Folks don’t endure torture, torment, and death for something they know to be a lie. Had they stolen the body, once persecution started, they’d have given it all up. But they hung on to their testimony of resurrection.

Remember this. Something happened. If it isn’t what Matthew claims, what was it? It had to be something.

As I’m sure you’re aware. I’ve determined Matthew was telling the truth. I believe it. It changes my life. If you’d like to talk about that, let us know in the comments below.

Tomorrow’s reading is Matthew 28.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier sparked by this post.

Discuss the Following Questions with Your Family

1. What are your initial reactions to the chapter and the written devo above?
2. What do you think happened 2000 years ago?
3. If Jesus wasn’t resurrected, what happened?
4. If Jesus was resurrected, how should we live?
5. What do you think we should pray for and about in light of this chapter and today’s post?