I read the first part of Hebrews in the Message version today. I really like reading the message. Especially after reading the book in the NIV. I realized that the reason whoever wrote this letter wrote it was because the Jewish Christians were still trying to add things to faith. They were making following Christ a religious thing with rules and labels and punishments for failing. But that's not what it's about. It's about believing.
"Watch your step, my friends. Make sure there's no evil unbelief lying around that will trip you up and throw you off course, diverting you from the living God."
If we can believe than we'll be just fine. If I can believe....
That's way more deep then it sounds. I think when he says believe, God means he wants me to believe in him and in the saving work of Jesus. But I think he also means he wants me to believe in him like I believe in my husband. I believe my husband can do anything. He's strong and courageous and if he wants to do something, he can do it. It's almost a kind of pride. I believe in God like that. He can do anything and I am proud to say that I follow him.
I think he also means I need to believe what he says about me. He says I am made perfect, I am a treasure, I have everything I need to win this fight. He says so many things about me that I usually believe are too great to be true of me. But he says believe it. These things are true.
When I believe in God, for God, about God, then my whole world view is different. Literally anything is possible and he can accomplish it. It's a deceptively difficult thing to do.
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