Hebrews 6:13 When God made a promise to
Abraham, because he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, 14 saying,
"I will surely bless you and multiply you." 15 And thus Abraham, having patiently endured,
obtained the promise. 16 Human beings, of course, swear by someone
greater than themselves, and an oath given as confirmation puts an end to all
dispute. 17
In the same way, when God desired to show even more clearly to the heirs
of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it by
an oath, 18
so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible that
God would prove false, we who have taken refuge might be strongly encouraged to
seize the hope set before us. 19 We have this hope, a sure and steadfast
anchor of the soul, a hope that enters the inner shrine behind the curtain, 20 where
Jesus, a forerunner on our behalf, has entered, having become a high priest
forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
The
writer of this letter invites his readers to “seize the hope” set before them. This hope - “a sure and steadfast anchor of
the soul” - is
rooted in Jesus. The writer uses the image of Jesus who leads his followers “behind the curtain” into the presence of
God. This is the only hope that can
survive history, and culture and religious expression.
As you approach Sunday – give thanks to the God
of Abraham for the gift of life. Then hold to the ways of Jesus as the anchor
for the future.
Ordinary 17 / Pentecost +10
39 God, Our Source of Hope
The Scripture passage
for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other
Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 243.
This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.
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