We are God’s house

READ: Ezekiel 13,14; Psalms 129; Hebrews 3

SCRIPTURE:  Hebrews 3: 5 “Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house,” bearing witness to what would be spoken by God in the future.
6 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.

 OBSERVATION: Moses was a highly respected leader in Judaism. As the bible says, “no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, who did all those signs and wonders the Lord sent him to do in Egypt” ( Deut. 34:10,11). Moses was undoubtedly a faithful servant of God; God himself certified that “ he is faithful in all my house” (Num.12:7). Jews gave a great emphasis on observing the law of Moses.  In Hebrew 3, the author compares Jesus with Moses and says Jesus is “worthy of greater honor than Moses” (v.3). In verses 5 and 6, he specifically points out two things: Moses was a servant, but Christ is the Son (notice the tense of the verb); Moses was “in” God’s house, but Christ is “over God’s house.” A servant will surely receive the reward for his faithful work. But everything belongs to the Son, including the servant. Moses was just a part of God’s house. Christ is the builder, maker of everything (v.3). Jesus is indeed worthy of great honor. We too can say that “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”  (Rev.5:12).

The Bible affirms that we are a part of God’s house and family (Eph.2:19; 1 Pet.2:5). All who receive the salvation of God become the children of God and a member of God’s household. Here the author of Hebrews points out that following Jesus and his example is better than following Moses and his law. Jewish Christians were under severe persecution and threatenings from the Jews. They would have been told that there would be no more persecution if they came back to follow Moses and the law. So the author writes,  “if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory.” Some people have a great start in their Christian lives, but they do not firmly hold their faith. When they face problems, pressures, and persecutions, they abandon their faith. Jesus taught us that “the one who stands firm to the end will be saved” (Mt.10:22). It is not how good our start was, but whether we finish our race matters to God. “We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end” (v.14). We should be careful not to lose the prize that God has for us, for anything. “We do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved” (Heb.10:39).

APPLICATION:  There can be many faithful servants in God’s house. But no one will be equal to the faithful Son of God. I should be faithful to serve Christ till the end or till he comes back.

PRAYER:  Father God, thank you for your holy and heavenly calling to serve you. Lord, help me to fix my eyes and thoughts on Jesus. Holy Spirit, enable me to finish my race of faith faithfully and successfully. Amen.

- Arputharaj Samuel
+91 9538328573

Day – 312