Wisdom-Trek ©

Putnam Church Message – 05/21/2023

Last, we continued our extended series through the book of Hebrews in the New Testament. We learned that we should “Beware of a Hard Heart” caused by neglecting to follow God, which will prevent us from entering into His rest. Today in Hebrews 4:1-11 we will extend that thought as we learn how to “Stop Churning and Start Resting.” Let’s begin by reading today’s passage.

‘They shall never enter my rest.’”

do not harden your hearts.”

I’m convinced that if our civilization were to be uncovered by curious archaeologists thousands of years from now, they would see relics of an anxious society. Vacation destinations provide havens for those approaching the critical zone of “burnout.” Treatment facilities house countless victims of mental, emotional, and physical breakdowns. Therapists help calm the fretful, and physicians routinely prescribe antidepressants and antianxiety medications. Unfortunately, our generation is marked by all the ingredients of a society dominated by anxiety, including apprehension, uneasiness, worry, and dread. The word I like to use to describe it is churning. Like the churning of your stomach when you have severe intestinal flu. Churning keeps you awake in the wee hours of the morning, ruins your day by robbing you of focus, and drives some to the brink of dangerous despair.

When you think of “resting,” what kinds of images come to mind? How about sleeping in late on a lazy Saturday morning? An unhurried afternoon at the beach? Grilling burgers in the backyard with some friends? Perhaps a leisurely drive through the countryside or an overnight at a cozy cabin? Hiking in the mountains or fishing by a lazy river? These idyllic images are characterized by either low-stress, no-pressure, reduced-tension activities; or calm, serene, restful inactivity. Ahhhhhh. Our bodies and minds scream for these brief intermissions from the unending drama of life.

The same is true of our souls, but unlike our bodies and minds that will break down and refuse to go on without rest, the outcry of the “inner person” is often drowned out by the bustle of busyness. But the good news is that spiritual rest is available. It doesn’t require us to fly to some tropical paradise, rent a mountain cabin, or pay a masseuse to work out the knots. As we learn in Hebrews 4:1–11, God has made provision for us to enjoy daily spiritual rest. The problem is; that seemingly few believers enter into that rest.

In the Old Testament, God had promised the people of Israel that they could enter and possess the land of Canaan, attaining rest from their wanderings and enemies. Instead of accepting His promise and responding in obedience, they resisted Him in hardness of heart and unbelief. They exchanged abundant joy and refreshing rest with generation after generation of anxious churning. What a tragedy! God offered them rest. They refused it. It is equally tragic that when God extends the same offer of rest to believers today, they often disregard it.

Based on the consequences of unbelief described in last week’s message from 3:7–19, the author of Hebrews issues another invitation for his readers to stop churning and start resting (4:1–11), beginning with a warning in 4:1. The opening conjunction, “Therefore,” indicates that he is exploring a logical conclusion of his previous discussion of Israel’s failure to embrace the rest available to them. They had come so close to entering the Promised Land. They could literally see it! But instead of becoming emboldened by faith, by belief, they were filled with fear.

But doesn’t Hebrews 4:1 say, “Let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it?” So the NLT puts it, “So we ought to tremble with fear that some of you might fail to experience it.”

Yes, we must fear God with all honor, respect, and reverence. But, like the ancient Hebrews, we must not fear worldly obstacles flung into our paths. Instead, we fear God and keep His commands in faith/belief despite numerous distractions and obstructions. The “fear” mentioned in Hebrews 4:1 refers to a healthy respect for the dire consequences of faithlessness, unbelief, and disobedience to God (4:1) since the promise of entering his rest still stands. And grave danger looms for those who halfheartedly reach for rest or turn back at the offer, either by believing in other gods, self, or no god.

But what kind of rest is the author of Hebrews writing about? Physical? Emotional? Mental? The author refers to a present reality available for believers—a spiritual condition affecting our inner peace, joy, and hope. This concept of a spiritual “place of rest” is explained in 4:2–8.

God doesn’t post warning signs without also posting directions. Immediately following the warning against falling short of the spiritual resting place God offers His people (4:1), the writer of Hebrews provides three guideposts that point God’s people toward the place of rest. We might call this the GPS for entering the place of rest. So, what does it take for believers to enter the rest God has for them?

First, entering God’s rest takes the right formula (4:2–3). Now, I don’t want you to get the wrong idea here. The Christian life isn’t “three steps to this,” “five ways to that,” or “seven stages for getting from A to Z.” I don’t like formulaic approaches to the Christian life that obscure the fact that it is an exciting, dynamic relationship with the living God. However, in 4:2–3, we find a straightforward equation for entering into the rest God has for us: HEARING + BELIEVING = RESTING.

The author of Hebrews clarifies that simply hearing good preaching doesn’t enable anybody to enter into spiritual rest—rest from fear, melancholy, or stress. In my experience, some of the best-taught, most knowledgeable people are sometimes the most anxious or tense people I’ve known. For example, the Israelites with Moses had heard the promise of entering the land of Canaan. Still, it did them no good because they failed to embrace (believe) the promises by faith (4:2). Had they truly believed, they would have acted with confidence. Similarly, Christians, having been called from their own spiritual Egypt of slavery to sin, can find themselves wandering in the wilderness because they fail to trust God to deliver them to the place of rest He established for them before the foundation of the world (4:3). Confidence comes through completely trusting God and resting in Him.

If we ignore the formula (hearing + believing = resting), there will be no rest, only wandering. Because the principle of faith/belief undergirds everything God does in the lives of His people, failure to respond to His Word by faith/belief and failing to obey His commands by faith/belief will result in His discipline rather than His blessing (4:3).

Second, entering God’s rest takes the right attitude (4:4–6). Hebrews 4:3 concluded with a statement that requires some reflection. I like the rendering in the NLT: “This rest has been ready since he made the world.” God’s rest was part of His creation and His Global Eden, which is already here, but not yet fully manifested. The author of Hebrews unpacks this for us by returning to the creation account in Genesis and one of the Psalms. The discussion of “rest” prompted the writer to think of God’s work of creating the world in six days before resting on the seventh day (Heb. 4:4; Gen. 2:2). Now God sits in His place of rest with open arms, inviting us to intimate communion with Him. He has completed the work for us in Christ so we can rest in Him. God never intended to enjoy a solitary rest from His labors. Instead, he flung open the gates of fellowship for all who would surrender their labors and striving and embrace His rest by faith and belief.

However, the ancient Israelites didn’t get this. When they crossed the Sinai wilderness and approached the Promised Land at the southern border of Kadesh-Barnea, the Lord’s open arms were met with fear and trembling. They saw giants in the land, obstacles too great, and pitfalls too deep. Their lack of faith (belief) led to a failure to obey. They wouldn’t enter the land. In His frustration and anger at their unbelief, this is why God pronounced, “They shall never enter my rest,” (Heb. 4:5).

Likewise, our weakening, waning, and waffling faith can do us in if we turn our backs on God and reject Him. The most insignificant obstruction in our path can look like an insurmountable barrier. The puniest critic of our faith can seem like an angry giant. But instead of fearing the things of this world, we should link arms with the Lord and let Him lead us (Ps. 23:4), “Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.” According to the author of Hebrews (Heb. 4:6), “So God’s rest is there for people to enter.” All we need is to trust Him in His word and believe He will act on His promises.

Third, entering God’s rest takes the right timing (4:7–8). These two verses are the main reason I understand the “rest” discussed by the author to refer to a present spiritual condition achieved in this life by faith (4:7). So God set another time for entering his rest, and that time is today. Not tomorrow, next week, or next year, because every day is today! We need to choose daily to dwell in His rest continually. When we hear His voice, we have a choice: harden our hearts in unbelief and disobedience, or soften our hearts in faith/belief and action. This is a constant, ongoing, every-moment decision—not a one-time event in the past or future.

The Israelites failed to enter God’s physical rest in the Promised Land because they lacked faith; they did not believe. And even though Joshua led the next generation into the Promised Land, the psalmist shows there was another, more excellent type of rest. Just as the ancient Hebrews could have stepped into the Promised Land and taken complete possession through their faith/belief, Christians today can find rest for their souls in the Lord Jesus at any moment—and every moment—of their spiritual life. So the invitation of Jesus still stands, which is two of the sweetest verses in the Bible, Matt 11:28-29, “Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Ahhh. Nothing is more peaceful than a soul at rest.

The same kind of rest God entered after His work of creation “remains” for us. All we need to do to enter that rest is surrender our anxieties—to take God at His word. Just as God created everything for us to enjoy during His “Sabbath rest,” He has done everything necessary to experience spiritual peace today. Think of it as a reserved seat at a great banquet. God has purchased and prepared the meal, set the table, and opened the doors. By sending His Son, He accomplished the work of salvation. /By sending the Spirit to dwell in us and empower us, He has given us the means of taking Him at His word. 2 Peter 1:3 says, “By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.”

The author of Hebrews then concludes this section where he began: warning his readers with the example of Israel’s failure to enter the “rest” of the Promised Land. With all the labor accomplished on our behalf and nothing required of us but belief, no one should fall short of entering spiritual rest (Heb. 4:11). Yet he also clarifies that even receiving a free offer requires a decision, a choice, an act of the will. He commands the Hebrew believers to “make every effort” to enter the rest available. This is stronger language than merely exhorting, encouraging, or persuading. The author of Hebrews knows that old habits die hard.

Even though all believers should be eager to cross the border into the Promised Land and begin experiencing rest for their souls, our natural tendency—motivated by self-sufficiency, fear, and rebellion—is to linger at the line. But the author of Hebrews couldn’t be more direct in his appeal. He’s telling all of us today to stop churning, and to start resting.

Have you entered the rest that the author of Hebrews wrote about? Or are you still on the other side of the Jordan, wandering in the wilderness of worry about the future, regrets over the past, or frustrations with the present? Have you crossed into the promised rest, or are you pacing back and forth, biting your nails over the giant obstacles in your path of spiritual progress?

The ancient Israelites saw several obstacles that frightened them and prevented them from embracing God’s promises and entering His rest. I can think of two main enemies that stand in the way of our entrance into the spiritual peace, joy, and hope that gives us rest in a weary land: panic and pride.

The first enemy, panic, says, “You’re not going to make it!” When panic kicks in, we begin to see our problems as so big that not even God can handle them. But think about it: If our God can take the formless and void world of Genesis 1:2 and organize and fill it in six days, then He can organize your chaos and fill your needs in six seconds! So when panic looms on the border of God’s place of spiritual rest, resist it! Instead, enter into His rest today. Don’t wait until you’re overwhelmed. Romans 12:1-2 says, “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” (And I might add, restful.)

The second enemy, pride, says, “You can handle your problems on your own.” When pride shows up, it convinces us that we don’t need God’s help. We don’t need His rest. With a little more effort, self-motivation, and personal endurance, we can overcome our struggles right here in the wilderness. But as Proverbs 16:18 tells us: “Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.” So, instead of succumbing to the specter of pride, release it! Enter into His place of rest. Don’t try to establish your own place of rest.

To enter God’s rest today, replace panic and pride with peace. In prayer, offer God your fears, worries, pains, and problems. Do it now! God again set a certain day, calling it “Today.” He’ll make good on His promise and replace your fretting with resting. Then stand in that rest. Resist the temptation to go back, try to work things out on your own, or give in to this fallen world's chaos. Begin each morning with a new resolve to enter His rest.

His mercies never cease.

Great is his faithfulness;

his mercies begin afresh each morning.

I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance;

therefore, I will hope in him!”

So today, make it your choice to Stop Churning and Start Resting.

Next, we will continue our series on our adventure through the book of Hebrews. The first section will last seven weeks and is about “Christ Is Superior in His Person.” Next week, the message title will be “Spiritual Surgery By a Sympathetic Surgeon.” So please read Hebrews 4:12-16 for next week’s message.

Thank you for joining me on this leg of our Wisdom-Trek. I hope these verses have inspired you to actively embrace wisdom’s call and make her a daily presence in your journey. As we continue our journey, may we navigate life’s challenges with wisdom and grace.

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Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2238 of our trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before.

In today’s Wisdom Nugget, I’m delighted to have you join me again as we embark on a journey through the eternal wisdom of the Bible.

Today, we’re diving into Proverbs 14:22-28 from the New Living Translation. These verses provide profound insights for living a life that aligns with the principles of the Bible.

So, lace up your hiking boots as we delve into the wisdom of Proverbs.

Verse 22: “If you plan to do evil, you will be lost; if you plan to do good, you will receive unfailing love and faithfulness.”

This verse underscores the power of our intentions. It teaches us that evil intentions lead to destruction, while good intentions are rewarded with love and faithfulness.

So, what’s the solution to this?

Choose Good Intentions: Make a conscious decision to plan and act with good intentions. Your heart’s posture matters, and it has a profound impact on your life’s outcomes.

Verse 23 is a gem, let’s explore it.

Verse 23: “Work brings profit, but mere talk leads to poverty.”

This verse is a timeless reminder of the value of hard work. It tells us that actions, not just words, lead to prosperity, while empty talk results in poverty.

What’s the key takeaway here?

Embrace Diligence: Put your words into action. Hard work and determination are the stepping stones to success. Talking about your goals is not enough; you must actively pursue them.

Verse 24 has a significant message, too.

Verse 24: “The wealth of the wise is their crown, but the foolishness of fools yields folly.”

This verse underscores the value of wisdom. The wise accumulate wealth, not just in monetary terms but also in the form of a well-adorned life. Fools, on the other hand, only yield more foolishness.

So, how can we apply this wisdom?

Pursue Wisdom: Seek wisdom diligently. It is a priceless treasure that enriches every aspect of your life. The pursuit of wisdom leads to a life well-lived.

Now, verse 25 has an important message.

This verse highlights the significance of truthful testimony. Speaking the truth can save lives, while false witnessing is an act of betrayal.

So, what’s the solution here?

Speak the Truth: Commit yourself to being a truthful witness. Your words have the power to make a positive impact and save lives. Be a beacon of honesty and integrity.

Now, verse 26 offers a thought-provoking perspective.

This verse speaks to the security found in a deep reverence for God. Those who fear the Lord can find refuge not only for themselves but also for their children.

So, how can we apply this wisdom to our lives?

Fear the Lord: Cultivate a deep and abiding reverence for God. This fear, rooted in love and awe, provides security and a refuge for you and your descendants.

Let’s explore verse 27 now.

Verse 27: “Fear of the Lord is a life-giving fountain; it offers escape from the snares of death.”

This verse celebrates the life-giving nature of fearing the Lord. It acts as a fountain of life and offers protection from the traps of death.

So, what’s the solution here?

Revere the Lord: Let your reverence for God be a source of life and protection. It acts as a wellspring of strength and wisdom to navigate life’s challenges.

Now, verse 28 has a vital message.

This verse speaks to the significance of leadership. A king’s glory lies in the growth of his kingdom, while a prince without subjects has nothing to rule.

So, how can we apply this wisdom to our lives?

Lead with Purpose: Whether in our personal lives or leadership roles, leading with a sense of purpose is essential. The true glory of leadership is found in the growth and well-being of those under your care.

And there you have it, my friends, a profound exploration of Proverbs 14:22-28 from the New Living Translation. These verses offer us timeless wisdom for living a life in accordance with the principles of the Bible.

As we continue on our journey, remember that the wisdom from the Bible is the guiding light for our path. Until next time, keep seeking God’s wisdom and make it a part of your daily trek.

Thank you for joining me on this leg of our Wisdom-Trek. I hope these verses have inspired you to actively embrace wisdom’s call and make her a daily presence in your journey. As we continue our journey, may we navigate life’s challenges with wisdom and grace.

If you found this podcast insightful, subscribe and leave us a review, then encourage your friends and family to join us and come along tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

As we take this trek together, let us always:

Live Abundantly (Fully)

Love Unconditionally

Listen Intentionally

Learn Continuously

Lend to others Generously

Lead with Integrity

Leave a Living Legacy Each Day

I am Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Everyday! See you next time for more wisdom from God’s Word!

 

Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2237 of our trek. The purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before.

In today’s Wisdom Nugget, I’m delighted to continue our journey through the book of Proverbs as we seek to discover the timeless wisdom it offers us. We’ll be delving into Proverbs 14:15-21 from the New Living Translation. So, please sit back, relax, and let’s embark on this wisdom-filled journey.

In Proverbs 14:15, we find these words:

This verse paints a clear picture of a common problem we face in life. Many of us, at times, are prone to gullibility and accepting information without questioning its validity. We’re all bombarded with an endless stream of information in today’s world. News, social media, and various sources constantly vie for our attention, making it crucial to discern truth from falsehood.

Now, what’s the solution to this dilemma? How can we avoid the pitfall of believing everything that comes our way?

The answer lies in becoming prudent. Prudent people don’t accept information at face value. They take time to investigate, think critically, and carefully consider their actions. Being prudent means pausing before making a decision and considering the steps you are about to take.

Moving on to Proverbs 14:16, we read:

The problem highlighted here is the danger of arrogance and carelessness. The fool mentioned in this verse is someone who is overconfident and doesn’t consider the consequences of their actions. They often fail to recognize the evil in their path.

So, how can we become wiser and avoid the pitfalls of arrogance and carelessness?

The solution is to be cautious and turn away from evil. Wise individuals recognize that they don’t have all the answers, and they understand their limitations. They avoid overconfidence and take time to evaluate their choices, ensuring they are in alignment with their values and principles.

Now, let’s explore Proverbs 14:17:

This verse highlights a problem that many of us face - the consequences of a quick temper and crafty behavior. When we allow our anger to control us, we often make foolish decisions that we later regret. On the other hand, crafty behavior, which usually involves deceit and manipulation, leads to hatred and broken relationships.

What’s the solution to these issues of anger and craftiness?

The answer is to develop patience and honesty. Instead of giving in to a quick temper, we should pause and consider the consequences of our actions. Practicing patience allows us to make more rational choices. Additionally, cultivating honesty in our interactions with others fosters trust and strong relationships.

Moving on to Proverbs 14:18:

This verse underscores the problem of inheriting folly when we lack prudence and discernment. When we fail to think critically and act wisely, we often find ourselves caught in a cycle of foolishness.

So, what’s the solution to this cycle of folly?

The solution is to seek knowledge and wisdom. Prudent individuals make it a point to acquire knowledge and learn from their experiences and others. This continuous pursuit of knowledge leads to a crown of wisdom. It’s a reminder that the more we learn and grow, the wiser and more successful we become.

Now, let’s explore Proverbs 14:19:

This verse addresses the problem of the wicked bowing down before the good. It may seem puzzling at first that evil individuals would humble themselves before those who walk in righteousness.

What’s the solution to this seeming paradox?

The solution lies in living a righteous life. When we consistently demonstrate good character and moral integrity, even those who walk in wickedness will recognize and acknowledge the power of goodness. It’s a reminder that our actions and the way we live can be a powerful testimony to the truth and righteousness.

Lastly, in Proverbs 14:20-21, we read:

Here, we find a dual problem and solution. The problem is twofold: the poor are often despised, and neighbors are belittled.

What’s the solution to these issues of prejudice and belittlement?

The solution is found in helping the poor and treating our neighbors with respect and dignity. We must resist the temptation to judge people based on their material wealth. Instead, we should strive to be generous and compassionate towards the less fortunate, and treat all our neighbors with kindness. In doing so, we find blessing and honor.

As we’ve journeyed through Proverbs 14:15-21, we’ve uncovered valuable wisdom that can guide our lives. By being prudent, avoiding arrogance and carelessness, practicing patience and honesty, seeking knowledge and wisdom, living righteously, and treating our neighbors with respect and kindness, we can navigate life’s challenges with grace and wisdom.

Thank you for joining me on this leg of our Wisdom-Trek. I hope these verses have inspired you to actively embrace wisdom’s call and make her a daily presence in your journey. As we continue our journey, may we navigate life’s challenges with wisdom and grace.

If you found this podcast insightful, subscribe and leave us a review, then encourage your friends and family to join us and come along tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

As we take this trek together, let us always:

Live Abundantly (Fully)

Love Unconditionally

Listen Intentionally

Learn Continuously

Lend to others Generously

Lead with Integrity

Leave a Living Legacy Each Day

I am Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Everyday! See you next time for more wisdom from God’s Word!

Putnam Church Message – 05/14/2023

Last, we continued our extended series through the book of Hebrews in the New Testament. We explored how the Messiah (Jesus) is greater than Moses. Today, in Hebrews 3:7-19 we are warned of having a hard heart. As we read this passage, look for references to unbelief and remember the concept of believing loyalty. Let’s begin by reading today’s passage.

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.’ ”

do not harden your hearts

as you did in the rebellion.”

Warning signs and signals bombard us every day. From a simple “notification” that your smartphone battery is getting low to a flashing yellow light telling you to slow down, to countless similar alerts: “Watch Out for Falling Rocks,”…“Road Ends,”…“Slow! Children at Play”…“Speed Zone”…“Slippery When Wet.” Add to these the constant beeps, buzzes, bells, and blaring horns that keep us up-to-date on impending doom, and it’s easy to miss the alarms in life placed there to protect us from harm. As most of you can probably attest, one of the most annoying alarms is to wake you in the morning - it is so easy to press that snooze button in the morning, to silence the alarm.

Firmly planted along the winding path of the letter to the Hebrews are several passages delivering stern warnings. They aren’t optional suggestions, simple advice, or false alarms. Instead, these are true and timely announcements of real danger from potential perils in the Christian’s life of faith. The same single-word message blares loud and clear in these passages: Beware!

We’ve already seen the first warning sign in Hebrews 2:1–4, “We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.” The author invites us to slow down and observe a second warning in our following passage: “Beware of a hard heart!” It’s a message too many neglect, / but it’s one we all need to hear from time to time, / or we may end up careening off the path of Christian faith, love, and hope.

Given the Jewish background of his audience, the author was always eager to summon testimony from the Old Testament. Its language and images would have been immediately familiar to Jews, who would have been able to draw on a wealth of background knowledge that most Gentile readers couldn’t. The Old Testament text woven into this warning passage in Hebrews 3:7–11 is adapted from Psalm 95:7–11. We don’t know the original human author of this psalm, but the writer of Hebrews rightly attributes the words to “the Holy Spirit,” who stands as the divine author behind every word of Scripture (2 Tim. 3:16), “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.”

When the Holy Spirit inspired the words of Psalm 95, He inspired the author to point back to the time of Israel’s wilderness wanderings recorded in Numbers. The people of Israel had recently been delivered from bondage in Egypt, had passed through the Red Sea, and were headed for Canaan to take possession of the Promised Land as God’s special covenant people. The journey would have taken less than two weeks if they had taken a direct route across the Sinai Peninsula along a well-established trade route. But their sin against God and their hardness of heart led to a forty-year delay!

Neither a map, a compass, nor a GPS would have done the Hebrews any good. They hadn’t simply lost sight of the road; they had lost sight of their God. Their problem was a heart condition. Instead of having hearts softened by God's unspeakable power and glory and overwhelmed by His goodness and mercy toward them,  they grew numb toward Him. Tough, not tender. Rough, not responsive. Hardened, not humble. This embarrassing scar on the history of God’s covenant people would be a painful reminder of the effects of a hardened heart.

Although those tragic events of rebellion in the wilderness had occurred centuries earlier, the author of Hebrews brought it to bear on his readers because he saw in them a strikingly similar tendency toward dullness of hearing and hardness of heart. God knew the Israelites needed their faith refined and tested as they journeyed to the Promised Land. And God had shown the people over and over again that He who had guided them into the wilderness would also provide them with everything they needed. But sadly, they repeatedly failed to trust the Lord. We see an example of this in Exodus 17:1–7. Instead of responding in faith and obedience, the Israelites grumbled against Moses, God’s chosen mediator, and prophet. Moses’ response showed that they were rebelling not merely against a man, but against God: “Why are you complaining against me? And why are you testing the Lord?” (Exod. 17:2). In light of their complaining, Moses named the place “Massah and Meribah” (Exod. 17:7). These words mean “test” and “arguing.” It was to this demonstration of hard-heartedness that the author of Hebrews referred by quoting Psalm 95:7–8 (Heb. 3:7–8).

Another test came to the people as the wandering nation set up camp at Kadesh-Barnea after receiving the Law at Mount Sinai. God instructed them to send spies into the land to size up its people, cities, and fortifications. Not that they needed to gather intelligence to make an informed decision about whether to take the land. God had already instructed them to take it. But reconnaissance was required to determine how to carry out the operation best. However, the spies returned trembling in their boots: “We can’t go up against them, they are stronger than we are” (Num. 13:31). They should have responded with, “God got us out of Egypt; He can get us into Canaan.” But they didn’t. They buckled under fear instead of standing firm in their faith. So persuasive were the words of the naysayers that the Hebrew people in (Num. 14:1–2), “Then the whole community began weeping aloud, and they cried all night. Their voices rose in a great chorus of protest against Moses and Aaron. ‘If only we had died in Egypt, or even here in the wilderness!’ they complained.” They rebelled against the Lord by fearing the people of Canaan more than they feared the Lord (Num. 14:9).

What was God’s response to the Israelites’ failure? He drew a line in the sand. He wouldn’t tolerate their incessant murmuring, rebellion, and complaining anymore. They had cried out, “If only we had died in Egypt, or even here in the wilderness” (Num. 14:2). Now God responded with an answer to their prayer:  “Now tell them this: ‘As surely as I live, declares the Lord, I will do to you the very things I heard you say. You will all drop dead in this wilderness! Because you complained against me, every one of you who is twenty years old or older and was included in the registration will die’” (Num. 14:28–29). God takes hardened hearts seriously!

Psalm 95:7–11 refers back to these two episodes of hard-heartedness in the history of Israel. And the author of the Hebrews uses this warning to drive home a crucial point. When faced with trials and tribulations in life that appear as if they may completely undo us, we need to trust God, who alone can give us rest (Heb. 3:11). The emphasis of Hebrews 3:7–11 is God’s disdain for hardened hearts. The message is clear: If God disciplined His people in the Old Testament for their lack of faith (belief), then His New Testament people were also subject to discipline.

In his appeal and application to his readers in 3:12–19, the writer of Hebrews highlights the first and last words of his quotation from Psalm 95—today and rest. The first word underscores the urgency of the warning to his audience. Those who hear the Spirit’s voice through the Jewish Scriptures and the author’s divinely inspired writing need to heed the warning and learn from the examples of the past … today. Not tomorrow. Not next week. Not after we’ve pondered the pros and cons or compared the cultural contexts of ancient Israel with our modern world. The moment we hear God speak; we should respond. To delay is to allow hardness to set in like rigor mortis until our faith and obedience are as lifeless as a corpse ready for burial.

The stern warning hits the Hebrew believers in 3:12. Like their Old Testament counterparts; they ran the risk of coddling,  “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” (3:12–13). Just as the Word of God comes to us fresh each day, so does the opportunity to harden our hearts against it. However, the turn away from God toward hardness of heart begins at the individual level (“that none of you” 3:12). The cure for this calcification is found in the corporate body, the church: “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called ‘Today,’” (3:13). And we know that every day is today. This is what it means; “We have come to share in Christ” (3:14). Though we trust Him as individual sinners, the moment we believe, we are baptized into His body and become members of one another (1 Cor. 12:13), “But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.”

The demonstration of our genuine relationship with Christ is seen, “If indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end,” (Heb. 3:14). On the surface, this statement makes it sound like staying strong and remaining firm in our faith until the end of our lives is the part we play in maintaining our relationship with Christ: We may think, “If I don’t remain firm, Jesus will boot me out!” I cannot emphasize enough that our acceptance before God is not based on our performance but on Christ. Our belief in Christ is what allows us access to God. It is more likely that this statement functions like the sobering assertion of 3:6 (if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory.) The idea there, as well as here, is that the outcome of our lives demonstrates the validity of our claim: Continuance in faith is the ultimate proof of the reality of faith. That is, believing loyalty.

 

This warning in 3:14 reminds us that we’re not meant to be spectators but rather participants in the arena of the Christian life. To use a football analogy, if we’re blocked and tackled by painful trials and tests, we must always keep our orientation toward the end zone and focus on our Master. This is where the Israelites in the wilderness went wrong. They lost their grip on God’s promises and abandoned His commands. They wandered in the wilderness instead of heading straight for the goal line. As a result, they failed to enter into rest—from their wanderings and trials—in the Promised Land (Exod. 3:8), “Their own fertile and spacious land. It is a land flowing with milk and honey.” They died in the wilderness of Sinai. Their outcome is a constant warning of the effects of a hardened heart—all the more reason for believers to hear God’s voice through His Word and to examine their heart condition daily for signs of hardening (Heb. 3:15).

In 3:16–19, the author draws subtle but clear parallels between the historical experiences of the Old Testament Israelites and the spiritual experiences of New Testament believers. For any among us who might think, “That will never happen to me.” 3:16–17 proves that it can happen to anybody. Those who came out of Egypt under the leadership of Moses and who had seen the astonishing signs and wonders of deliverance—they were the ones who later provoked God and sinned, leading to their punishment in the wilderness (3:16–17).

The warning in Hebrews 3:7–19 against hard-heartedness is simple but sobering. Unbelief has serious consequences both for the non-Christian, who may resist their opportunity to trust Christ alone for salvation until it’s too late, and for the Christian who fails to obey the voice of God in His Word and grows hard of heart. For unbelievers, persistent hardness to the gospel bars their entrance into the eternal “rest” of heaven. For the believer, / hardness toward the things of the obedient Christian life / shuts the gates to the joyous “rest” of intimate fellowship with their Savior. And just as the salvation from sin that comes through Christ is superior to the rescue from Egypt that came through Moses, Christ’s offer of spiritual and eternal rest is far superior to the temporal rest offered to the Israelites in the Promised Land.

The author of Hebrews helped his audience to understand his warning by looking back at the historical situation that shaped the corporate memory of both the Israelites in the Old Testament and the Jewish believers of his audience. Under Moses’ leadership, the ancient Israelites suffered forty years in the wilderness because of their unbelief. Deceived by sin, they provoked God time and again. The rest He had promised them disappeared as they opted for their way instead of God’s way. The author called his audience to look inward to care for their similarly sinister hearts.

But if we leave this warning in the first century as a mere relic of Christian history, we’ll miss the author’s point entirely. Hard-heartedness is not a disease limited to ancient Hebrew Christians! No man-made cure has ever been discovered, and no amount of self-reform could inoculate fallen humans from hard-heartedness. This is why the warning of Hebrews 3 needs to be taken to heart by all of us.

When preventing physical heart disease, most of us know what to do: Avoid smoking, exercise regularly, eat sensibly, and monitor our cholesterol frequently. However, what can we do to prevent spiritual heart disease? Hebrews 3:7–19 answers this question for us in two points.

First, we need a daily dose of mutual encouragement (3:13). We must “encourage one another day after day … so that the deceitfulness of sin will harden none of [us].” When did you last do that for someone … or allow someone to do that for you? This is more than simply making an encouraging phone call or sending a friendly email. (Although those acts of kindness are essential) It involves spending time with one another, life-on-life—the kind of fellowship one finds in a close-knit church community. You get to know the struggles and temptations of others while they get to know yours. Only then can you begin to exhort and encourage one another in this way.

Second, we need the daily discipline of personal perseverance (3:14). We’ll show forth the evidence of our faith “if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end.” The endurance of our faith in times of testing demonstrates our readiness to enter into God’s rest. When we come to a barrier that causes our stomachs to churn, we need to instantly fall to our knees and seek refuge in Him. He alone can give us (Phil. 4:7), “Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Only then will we understand what it means to enter His rest completely.

Next, we will continue our series on our adventure through the book of Hebrews. The first section will last seven weeks and is about “Christ Is Superior in His Person.” Next week, the message title is “Stop Churning and Start Resting.” So please read Hebrews 4:1-11 for next week’s message.

Thank you for joining me on this leg of our Wisdom-Trek. I hope these verses have inspired you to actively embrace wisdom’s call and make her a daily presence in your journey. As we continue our journey, may we navigate life’s challenges with wisdom and grace.

If you found this podcast insightful, subscribe and leave us a review, then encourage your friends and family to join us and come along tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

As we take this trek together, let us always:

Live Abundantly (Fully)

Love Unconditionally

Listen Intentionally

Learn Continuously

Lend to others Generously

Lead with Integrity

Leave a Living Legacy Each Day

I am Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Everyday! See you next time for more wisdom from God’s Word!

Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2235 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before.

In today’s Wisdom Nugget, I’m delighted to continue our journey through the book of Proverbs, where we uncover its timeless wisdom. Today, we’re delving into Proverbs 14:8-14, from the New Living Translation. So, let’s lace up our hiking boots as we explore the paths of the wise and the foolish in these verses.

In Proverbs 14:8-14, we continue our exploration of the characteristics and outcomes of living a life of wisdom. These verses provide valuable insights into the significance of our choices and attitudes.

Verse 8: “The wise understand the road ahead and take it; the fool wanders aimlessly.”

This verse sets the tone for the passage, emphasizing the contrast between those who plan and those who wander aimlessly. The wise understand and take the road ahead, while the fool meanders without direction. It highlights the enduring value of wisdom in decision-making.

Verse 9: “Fools make fun of guilt, but the godly acknowledge it and seek reconciliation.”

These verses focus on the attitudes toward guilt. Fools make fun of guilt, but the godly acknowledge it and seek reconciliation. It underscores the importance of humility and seeking forgiveness.

Verse 10: “Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can share its joy.”

Here, we see the uniqueness of each person’s emotions and experiences. Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can share its joy. It reminds us of the depth and complexity of our individual journeys.

Verse 11: “The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the godly will flourish.”

These verses contrast the outcomes for the wicked and the godly. The house of the wicked will be destroyed, while the tent of the godly will flourish. It underscores the enduring value of living a righteous life.

Verse 12: “There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.”

This verse highlights the potential deception of our own judgment. There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death. It emphasizes the importance of seeking wisdom and guidance.

Verse 13: “Laughter can conceal a heavy heart, but when the laughter ends, the grief remains.”

These verses focus on the contrast between laughter and grief. Laughter can conceal a heavy heart, but when the laughter ends, the grief remains. It reminds us of the depth of our emotions and the need for authenticity.

Verse 14: “Backsliders get what they deserve; good people receive their reward.”

This verse emphasizes the contrasting outcomes for backsliders and good people. Backsliders get what they deserve, while good people receive their reward. It underscores the enduring value of faithfulness.

As we reflect on Proverbs 14:8-14, we’re reminded that wisdom isn’t just theoretical knowledge; it’s practical and influences the choices we make in our daily lives.

Take a moment to consider these questions: How can you navigate life’s paths with wisdom and purpose? In what ways can you embrace humility and seek reconciliation in your relationships? Remember, wisdom equips us to make choices that lead to a life of purpose and fulfillment.

Let’s summarize the key takeaways from Proverbs 14:8-14:

Wisdom in Decision-Making: The wise understand the road ahead and take it; the fool wanders aimlessly.

Humility and Reconciliation: Fools make fun of guilt, but the godly acknowledge it and seek reconciliation.

Individual Journeys: Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can share its joy.

Contrasting Outcomes: The house of the wicked will be destroyed, while the tent of the godly will flourish.

Seeking Wisdom and Guidance: There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.

Embracing Authenticity: Laughter can conceal a heavy heart, but when the laughter ends, the grief remains.

Enduring Value of Faithfulness: Backsliders get what they deserve; good people receive their reward.

In closing, remember that wisdom equips us to make choices that lead to a life of fulfillment. As we continue our journey through the vast landscapes of wisdom, may we navigate life’s paths with humility, authenticity, and faithfulness.

Thank you for joining me on this leg of our Wisdom-Trek. I hope these verses have inspired you to make wise choices, navigating the paths of the wise, and embracing authenticity. As we continue our journey, may we navigate life’s challenges with wisdom and grace.

Thank you for joining me on this leg of our Wisdom-Trek. I hope these verses have inspired you to actively embrace wisdom’s call and make her a daily presence in your journey. As we continue our journey, may we navigate life’s challenges with wisdom and grace.

If you found this podcast insightful, subscribe and leave us a review, then encourage your friends and family to join us and come along tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

As we take this trek together, let us always:

Live Abundantly (Fully)

Love Unconditionally

Listen Intentionally

Learn Continuously

Lend to others Generously

Lead with Integrity

Leave a Living Legacy Each Day

I am Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Everyday! See you next time for more wisdom from God’s Word!

 

Putnam Church Message – 05/07/2023

Last, we continued our extended series through the book of Hebrews in the New Testament. We focused on Jesus: the “Pioneer of Our Perfection,” and learned three essential principles to have hope in suffering. Today in Hebrews 3:1-6 we will explore how the Messiah (Jesus) is greater than Moses. To fully understand the importance of this passage, we must take on the mindset of a first-century Christian Jew facing hardship and persecution.

Let’s begin by reading today’s passage.

Though the very words of the book of Hebrews are “God-breathed”—the inspired and inerrant Word of God—the chapter and verse numbers are not. They are artificial insertions to make citations and cross-referencing easier. Nevertheless, I’m not sure what we’d do without them. The chapter and verse additions are certainly helpful, but sometimes, they give the impression that the inspired author intended a hard break from one chapter to the next.

When we step across the threshold into Hebrews 3, we shouldn’t imagine a door separating this passage from what precedes. Instead, the author ties together Chapter 2 and Chapter 3 with an essential logical connector—“therefore”—which indicates continuity.

We may be stepping from one thought to another, but we’re stepping through an open doorway. The author expects us to take along everything he has been discussing up to this point.

In the previous chapters, the author continued to develop the theme that Christ is superior in His person and work. Not only is He superior to the prophets and angels (Chapters 1–2), but having persevered through temptation, pain, and death, He is also superior to temptation, sin, and suffering. As such, His help is available to us right now, whenever we find ourselves threatened by rising floods or raging storms. In addition, Jesus is always there to help us in trials or temptations—faithful to come to our aid (2:16–18).

With this basic understanding of Christ as our superior prophet, priest, and king, the author of Hebrews is ready to hit his Jewish Christian readers where this truth would likely hurt the most: the ministry of Moses.

Hebrews 3 opens with a powerful appeal to those who have placed their faith in the Messiah. The author calls them “holy brothers and sisters who share in the heavenly calling” by the blood of Christ, forgiven, set apart, and indwelled by the Holy Spirit. They are part of the family of God and are brothers and sisters of one another. They are heaven-bound, where Christ has already made way for them.

The word translated “therefore” indicates a deduction from a previous discussion, “the basis for an action.” Because Jesus is superior to prophets and angels, faithful to God, merciful to us, and willing and able to help us—in light of all these weighty facts in chapters 1 and 2—we ought to “fix your thoughts on Jesus” (3:1).

The Greek word behind this English translation (katanoeō) for fix your thoughts means “observe carefully” or “pay attention to”—not simply to think about, but to contemplate deeply. In essence, the author says, “You Jewish believers in the Messiah: because of the superiority of His person and work, you’d better think very carefully about Him. Don’t just give Him a fleeting glance or knowing nod. Observe Him. Pay attention to Him. Get to know Him.”

He’s the “Apostle and High Priest of our confession.” The Greek word translated as “apostle” means “one sent forth.” This is the only place in the New Testament where the term “apostle” refers to Christ. It’s usually used for those Jesus Himself sent into the world. This notion fits well with Jesus’ words in John 17:18, “Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world.” The author was likely drawing again on his assertion that Jesus was superior to the prophets and angels, both of whom were sent by God to carry His message. The author used the verb form of “apostle,” apostellō, in Hebrews 1:14 to refer to angels “sent out to render service” to believers. This rare title of Christ underscores His heavenly origin and thus strengthens the reality of our “heavenly calling” (3:1).

Besides the fact that Christ serves as the supreme Apostle, He also functions as the supreme “High Priest” (3:1). He is the perfect Mediator between God and humanity (1 Tim. 2:5). As our great High Priest, Christ satisfies the desperate spiritual need and deep longing for a bridge-builder between God and humanity, between heaven and earth—a longing expressed movingly in the words of Job millennia ago:

someone who could bring us together.” (Job 9:32–33)

Christ alone is that mediator. He is the High Priest who can stand on our behalf between earth and heaven, because He is the divine Apostle, sent from on high to lead us heavenward.

Prophets…angels…high priests…kings…In the minds of the Jewish readers, a significant figure was still missing from the author’s argument for the superiority of Christ’s person and work: Moses. He, too, was sent by God. He, too, stood between God and the nation of Israel as their mediator. No other figure in the Old Testament would have been as highly esteemed by the Jewish people. Had the author of Hebrews been interested in flattering his readers rather than exalting Christ, he would have avoided the subject of Moses altogether. Instead, he pressed on to broach the delicate matter of the superiority of Jesus even to Moses.

Moses, of course, had spoken face-to-face with God. Deuteronomy 34:10 makes a big deal out of this fact, in contrast to the other prophets: There has never been another prophet in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face. Moses had received the Law and passed it on to the nation of Israel. He had led the Hebrews out of the bondage of slavery in Egypt and through the Red Sea. He had revealed the plans for constructing the Tabernacle—the forerunner of the temple—where sacrifices and offerings were to take place. The Jewish mind could not imagine a person on earth equal to Moses. And the thought of one who was superior to Moses would have shocked their senses. Yet this is precisely what the author of Hebrews asserted. Therefore, Jesus is superior even to Moses!

God appointed Moses and the Messiah as mediators of His message; both served Him faithfully, and therefore both deserved honor and glory (Heb. 3:2–3). Notice that the author doesn’t disparage Moses in any way. However, the Messiah is even “worthy of greater honor than Moses” (3:3). The honor properly due to Moses as a great servant of God pales compared to the honor due to the glorious Messiah. Why?

First, the Messiah is more glorious than Moses because He is the builder of God’s house (Heb. 3:3–4). The term “house,” in Greek, oikos, is used metaphorically seven times in Hebrews 3:2–6 to refer not to a physical structure (a sanctuary, temple, or church building) but to the people of God. Even in ancient Greek usage, the term could refer figuratively to a family or “household.” Before the birth of the church at Pentecost, “house” could refer figuratively to Israel (Hos. 1:4; Matt. 10:6; Heb. 3:2), but afterward, it would also be used to refer to the church (1 Tim. 3:15; Heb. 3:6). Moses was a member of God’s household of the Old Testament—the people of Israel. Though he served as their leader during the time of the Exodus from Egypt, he, too, was a member of the nation and a part of the “house” (3:3). Yet Christ is the “builder of the house” (3:3). A surprising statement in 3:4 spells out the reason Christ, as the builder of God’s spiritual house, deserves greater honor than Moses: “God is the builder of everything.” In subtle, simple terms, the author of Hebrews again attributes to Jesus the works of God, as Jesus is not only the builder of the church but also the craftsman of all things (1:2).

Second, the Messiah is more glorious than Moses because He is the fulfillment of Moses’ testimony (Heb. 3:5). Though Moses faithfully carried out his duties as a servant in God’s house, his task was to bear witness “bearing witness to what would be spoken by God in the future” (3:5). In other words, Moses’ ministry was a foreshadowing of Jesus’. It pointed to Him and anticipated His coming.

Jesus demonstrated this after His resurrection when He said (Luke 24:44), “Then he said, ‘When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled.’” Jesus explained to some of His followers how the Scriptures pointed to Him, “beginning with Moses and with all the prophets” (Luke 24:27). Clearly, the one to whom Moses was pointing is worthy of more glory than Moses himself.

Third, the Messiah is more glorious than Moses because He is the Ruler of God’s house (Heb. 3:6). Not only is Christ the builder of God’s spiritual people (3:3–4), But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. (6) This means Christ is the heir of the household of God—the one who inherits the right to rule, as if He were a firstborn child in a human household. The author of Hebrews already used this image of “firstborn” in 1:6, and Paul uses the same idea in Colossians 1:15, where Jesus is described metaphorically as the “firstborn over all creation.” Yet this is a different emphasis. Colossians focuses on Christ as the recipient of authority over heaven and earth. Hebrews 3:6 zooms in on Christ’s headship over the people of God—the church. Colossians 1:18 Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. Ephesians 1:22 pulls both ideas together: God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. Moses was never exalted to such a position of supreme authority as Christ—the Son, firstborn, and head of all things.

The author isn’t trying to disparage Moses by comparing Moses and the Messiah. Instead, he’s demonstrating that Jesus is beyond comparison with even the most significant figure in biblical history. Jesus Christ is superior to all things—and people—in His person and work.

The superiority of Jesus will do us no good if we don’t place Him as superior in our lives. This was the problem facing these Jewish Christians. They were tempted to abandon their Messiah and go back to Moses. This would have been a disaster, a step backward to an inferior ministry. Never forgetting his purpose in writing, the author of Hebrews emphasizes, in the second part of Hebrews 3:6, his readers’ response to the superiority of Jesus.

He reminds them, first, “We are his house” (3:6). However, the author seems to place a conditional element on this promise: If indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory. At first blush, this verse seems to say that if we fail to hold on to our faith and hope in Christ, we could somehow be kicked out of God’s household, disowned, or disinherited. Does this mean our salvation is contingent on our subsequent faithfulness? Absolutely not. Remember in our series “What Does God Want?” We affirmed, “That salvation could never be gained by moral perfection; it cannot be lost by moral imperfection.”

The conditional construction, indicated by “if,” has different meanings. Sometimes, it does indicate a conditional relationship, as in the phrase, “If you eat your broccoli, then you can have dessert.” The implication is: If you don’t eat up, no dessert for you! This is how the author is using the term here. He’s saying that the continuance of faith and hope proves the reality of a person’s authentic membership in the family of God. Remember the phrase we learned for this is “Believing Loyalty.”

We shouldn’t obsess over a little segment of a person’s life in which they go astray, have a lapse, or fall and struggle to get up. We all have dips and rises on the bumpy ride of spiritual growth. However, we can look at life as a whole, see how a person’s life ends, and observe the evidences of true Christianity. That’s proof that there’s a reality that backs up the claim. And if a person who claims to be a Christian appears to have fallen entirely away and failed to endure in faith and hope until the end of their life, then perhaps that person had never been a member of the family of God in the beginning, has subsequently rejected God.

Those who are genuinely in the household of faith live under the Father’s roof and the Son’s watchful eye. However, they are not immune to stumbling, tripping, and even falling flat on their faces. We never cease to be frail, fallen, and vulnerable people, saved by grace through faith in Christ alone. But those who are true believers—and therefore members of the household of faith—have Christ as their high priest. He ministers like no one else can. He can catch us when we stumble, steady us when we trip, and pick us up when we fall. He strengthens us in our frailty, forgives us when we fail, and comforts us in our weaknesses. If we endure in this faith and hope—with Christ at our side—to the end, then it will be manifest to all that we indeed are members of His household.

This message was something the Hebrew believers desperately needed to hear. Some had fallen; others were teetering; others may have been reaching out for something to steady their tottering faith. The author points them to Christ—superior to all others, even superior to Moses. All they needed to do was reassert their faith and hope, their confidence in Him—not good works, not spiritual disciplines, not striving to make themselves more worthy in God’s eyes, but confidence in Christ. Behind this hopeful message was the hint of a warning. If they didn’t endure in their faith, but instead abandoned their Messiah and ran back to Moses, their claims to be members of God’s household would be suspect. Only by getting right with Christ would their identity as God’s children be assured.

Like the first-century Hebrew believers, each of us today has a decision to make: Moses or Messiah?

You’d think it would be an easy decision, especially after reading a passage like Hebrews 3. If the Messiah is God in the flesh, the center of biblical prophecy and human history, and the Savior of sinners—including Moses—then why would anybody choose to follow Moses instead? The apostle John made the contrast equally clear: “For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ,” (John 1:17).

Yet I’m constantly astonished at how many Christians tend to exchange the grace of Jesus Christ for the Law of Moses! Some do this blatantly, others more subtly. Many give the Ten Commandments priority in their lives, as if avoiding those “top ten” sins will keep them out of hell … or at least keep them on God’s good side. Others make their lists of “dos and don’ts”—do eat this, don’t drink that, do shop here, don’t support that, do vote for this person, don’t talk to that person. Sometimes, the list of unwritten “laws” seems to rival Moses’!

In our study of Hebrews, as we consider a group of people wavering between Moses and Messiah, Law and grace, old covenant and new covenant, we’ll have many opportunities to revisit this dilemma. But as we seek to plant our feet firmly upon Christ and His grace, consider focusing on some key passages of Scripture that highlight the believer’s proper relationship to the Law, grace, and faith. (Bulletin) Study the following passages from the book of Galatians. Mull them over in your mind. Commit them to memory. Talk about them with your family or friends. Soak them in. Doing so will keep you from straying from your devotion to the new life of liberty in the Messiah and swerving toward the old life of bondage to the Law.

Galatians 2:16–21

Galatians 5:1–6

Galatians 5:18–23

Next Sunday, we will continue our series on our adventure through the book of Hebrews. The first section will last seven weeks and is about “Christ Is Superior in His Person.” Next, the message title is “Beware of a Hard Heart.” So please read Hebrews 3:7-19 for next week’s message.

Thank you for joining me on this leg of our Wisdom-Trek. I hope these verses have inspired you to actively embrace wisdom’s call and make her a daily presence in your journey. As we continue our journey, may we navigate life’s challenges with wisdom and grace.

If you found this podcast insightful, subscribe and leave us a review, then encourage your friends and family to join us and come along tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

As we take this trek together, let us always:

Live Abundantly (Fully)

Love Unconditionally

Listen Intentionally

Learn Continuously

Lend to others Generously

Lead with Integrity

Leave a Living Legacy Each Day

I am Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Everyday! See you next time for more wisdom from God’s Word!

Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2233 of our trek. The purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before.

In today’s Wisdom Nugget, I’m excited to continue our journey through the book of Proverbs, where we explore its timeless wisdom. Today, we’re delving into Proverbs 14:1-7, from the New Living Translation. So, lace up your hiking boots as we explore our choices between building wisdom and embracing folly.

In Proverbs 14:1-7, we continue our exploration of the characteristics and outcomes of living a life of wisdom. These verses provide valuable insights into the significance of our actions and attitudes.

This verse sets the tone for the passage, emphasizing the importance of wisdom in building a home. A wise woman builds her home, while a foolish woman tears it down with her hands. It underscores the enduring value of wisdom in family life.

Verse 2: “Those who follow the right path fear the Lord; those who take the wrong path despise him.”

These verses highlight the contrast between those who follow the right path and those who take the wrong path. Those on the right path fear the Lord, while those on the wrong path despise Him. It emphasizes the importance of our attitudes and choices.

Here, we see the consequences of prideful and wise speech. A fool’s proud talk becomes a rod that beats him, while the words of the wise keep them safe. It reminds us of the power of our words and attitudes.

Verse 4: “Without oxen a stable stays clean, but you need a strong ox for a large harvest.”

These verses focus on the value of productivity and the role of effort. A stable stays clean without oxen, but you need a strong ox for a large harvest. It emphasizes the importance of hard work and the potential messiness of progress.

Verse 5: “An honest witness does not lie; a false witness breathes lies.”

This verse contrasts honesty and deception. An honest witness does not lie, while a false witness breathes lies. It underlines the enduring value of honesty and integrity.

Verse 6: “A mocker seeks wisdom and never finds it, but knowledge comes easily to those with understanding.”

These verses emphasize the contrasting attitudes toward wisdom. A mocker seeks wisdom and never finds it, but knowledge comes easily to those with understanding. It highlights the importance of humility in seeking wisdom.

Verse 7: “Stay away from fools, for you won’t find knowledge on their lips.”

This verse advises us to be discerning in our associations. Stay away from fools, for you won’t find knowledge on their lips. It reminds us of the significance of choosing our companions wisely.

As we reflect on Proverbs 14:1-7, we’re reminded that wisdom isn’t just theoretical knowledge; it’s practical and influences the choices we make in our daily lives.

Take a moment to consider these questions: How can you build wisdom in your home and relationships? In what ways can you cultivate humility in seeking knowledge and understanding? Remember, wisdom equips us to make choices that lead to a life of purpose and fulfillment.

Let’s summarize the key takeaways from Proverbs 14:1-7:

Wisdom in Building a Home: A wise woman builds her home, while a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands.

Attitudes and Choices: Those on the right path fear the Lord, while those on the wrong path despise Him.

Power of Words: A fool’s proud talk becomes a rod that beats him, while the words of the wise keep them safe.

Value of Productivity: A stable stays clean without oxen, but you need a strong ox for a large harvest.

Honesty and Integrity: An honest witness does not lie; a false witness breathes lies.

Humility in Seeking Wisdom: A mocker seeks wisdom and never finds it, but knowledge comes easily to those with understanding.

Choosing Companions Wisely: Stay away from fools, for you won’t find knowledge on their lips.

In closing, remember that wisdom equips us to make choices that lead to a life of fulfillment. As we continue our journey through the vast landscapes of wisdom, may we embrace wisdom in building our homes, cultivating humility, and choosing our companions wisely.

Thank you for joining me on this leg of our Wisdom-Trek. I hope these verses have inspired you to actively embrace wisdom’s call and make her a daily presence in your journey. As we continue our journey, may we navigate life’s challenges with wisdom and grace.

If you found this podcast insightful, subscribe and leave us a review, then encourage your friends and family to join us and come along tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

As we take this trek together, let us always:

Live Abundantly (Fully)

Love Unconditionally

Listen Intentionally

Learn Continuously

Lend to others Generously

Lead with Integrity

Leave a Living Legacy Each Day

I am Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Everyday! See you next time for more wisdom from God’s Word!

Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2232 of our trek. The purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before.

In today’s Wisdom Nugget, I’m thrilled to continue our journey through the book of Proverbs, where we explore its timeless wisdom. Today, we’re delving into Proverbs 13:17-25 from the New Living Translation. So, fasten your hiking boots as we navigate the righteous and wicked paths in these verses.

In Proverbs 13:17-25, we continue our exploration of the characteristics and outcomes of living a life of wisdom. These verses provide valuable insights into the significance of our actions and attitudes.

Verse 17: “An unreliable messenger stumbles into trouble, but a reliable messenger brings healing.”

This verse sets the tone for the passage, emphasizing the contrasting outcomes of reliability and unreliability. An unreliable messenger stumbles into trouble, but a reliable messenger brings healing. It highlights the enduring value of dependability.

Verse 18: “If you ignore criticism, you will end in poverty and disgrace; if you accept correction, you will be honored.”

These verses focus on the response to criticism and correction. Ignoring criticism leads to poverty and disgrace, while accepting correction leads to honor. It underscores the value of humility and a willingness to learn and grow.

Verse 19: “It is pleasant to see dreams come true, but fools refuse to turn from evil to attain them.”

Here, we encounter the contrast between realizing dreams and refusing to turn from evil. It is pleasant to see dreams come true, but fools refuse to change their ways to attain them. It reminds us of the importance of moral character and self-improvement.

Verse 20: “Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble.”

These verses emphasize the impact of our associations. Walking with the wise leads to wisdom, while associating with fools leads to trouble. It highlights the importance of choosing our companions wisely.

Verse 21: “Trouble chases sinners, while blessings reward the righteous.”

This verse contrasts the experiences of sinners and the righteous. Trouble chases sinners, while blessings reward the righteous. It underscores the enduring value of righteous living.

Verse 22: “Good people leave an inheritance to their grandchildren, but the sinner’s wealth passes to the godly.”

These verses highlight the contrast in outcomes for good people and sinners. Good people leave an inheritance to their grandchildren, while the sinner’s wealth passes to the godly. It reminds us of the legacy we leave behind.

Verse 23: “The poor can farm little land, but diligent farmers can have more food than they can eat.”

This verse focuses on the impact of diligence. The poor can farm little land, but diligent farmers can have more food than they can eat. It emphasizes the value of hard work and perseverance.

Verse 24: “A refusal to correct is a refusal to love; love your children by disciplining them.”

These verses underscore the importance of correction and discipline in love. A refusal to correct is a refusal to love; love your children by disciplining them. It highlights the role of discipline in nurturing and guiding the next generation.

Verse 25: “The godly eat to their hearts’ content, but the belly of the wicked goes hungry.”

This verse contrasts the godly’s satisfaction and the wicked’s hunger. The godly eat to their hearts’ content, but the belly of the wicked goes hungry. It emphasizes the enduring value of righteous living.

As we reflect on Proverbs 13:17-25, we’re reminded that wisdom isn’t just theoretical knowledge; it’s practical and influences the choices we make in our daily lives.

Take a moment to consider these questions: How can you become a more reliable and dependable person? In what ways can you embrace humility and a willingness to learn from criticism and correction? Remember, wisdom equips us to make choices that lead to a life of purpose and fulfillment.

Let’s summarize the key takeaways from Proverbs 13:17-25:

Value of Reliability: An unreliable messenger stumbles into trouble, while a reliable messenger brings healing.

Humility and Learning: Ignoring criticism leads to poverty and disgrace; accepting correction leads to honor.

Moral Character: It is pleasant to see dreams come true, but fools refuse to turn from evil to attain them.

Wisdom in Associations: Walking with the wise leads to wisdom; associating with fools leads to trouble.

Contrasting Destinies: Trouble chases sinners, while blessings reward the righteous.

Legacy and Inheritance: Good people leave an inheritance to their grandchildren; the sinner’s wealth passes to the godly.

Value of Diligence: The poor can farm little land, but diligent farmers can have an abundance.

Discipline in Love: A refusal to correct is a refusal to love; love your children by disciplining them.

Contrasting Outcomes: The godly eat to their hearts’ content; the belly of the wicked goes hungry.

In closing, remember that wisdom equips us to make choices that lead to a life of fulfillment. As we continue our journey through the vast landscapes of wisdom, may we embrace reliability, humility, and righteous living.

Thank you for joining me on this leg of our Wisdom-Trek. I hope these verses have inspired you to actively embrace wisdom’s call and make her a daily presence in your journey. As we continue our journey, may we navigate life’s challenges with wisdom and grace.

If you found this podcast insightful, subscribe and leave us a review, then encourage your friends and family to join us and come along tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

As we take this trek together, let us always:

Live Abundantly (Fully)

Love Unconditionally

Listen Intentionally

Learn Continuously

Lend to others Generously

Lead with Integrity

Leave a Living Legacy Each Day

I am Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Everyday! See you next time for more wisdom from God’s Word!

Putnam Church Message – 04/30/2023

Last, we continued our extended series through the book of Hebrews in the New Testament. Our focus was not to drift away from our spiritual foundation. Today, I will read Hebrews 2:5-18.

Perspective (Point of View)—that’s what the first-century readers of Hebrews needed and what we all need as we face the tsunamis of suffering in this life. We need to recognize where we are in God’s story and trust that the pioneer and perfecter of our faith will bring this world (and all His faithful followers) to a good and glorious end. The remainder of Hebrews 2 provides this perspective.

Following his comments regarding angels in chapter 1 (and a strong warning that Christians must guard against neglecting their salvation in 2:1-4,) the writer of Hebrews returns to his discussion of angels, this time in their relationship to humanity. At the beginning of God’s story, humans were originally designed to exercise dominion over the created world. But on this side of Genesis 3, after the fall of humanity, that original intention for men and women was suspended, and we are subject to suffering and the effects of a cursed world. However, the writer of Hebrews pulls back the curtain ever so briefly and gives us a teaser trailer of a future in which the ultimate Son of Man, Jesus Christ, will lead the redeemed to realize their full potential in God’s plan. Coming to their rescue, Jesus Christ will restore to humanity what they lost in Adam.

Until then, we’re all stuck in an often bleak series of scenes characterized by suffering. But even amid this suffering, God is working things together for our good and His glory (Rom. 8:28). Until Christ comes and establishes the new global Eden, that is, the finalization of God’s kingdom, we can expect to suffer through the long, arduous, and often painful process of sanctification.

a son of man that you care for him?

You made them a little lower than the angels;

you crowned them with glory and honor

The connection would be seamless if we read Hebrews 1:14, skip 2:1–4, and pick up with 2:5. In 1:14, the author refers to angels as ministering spirits who render service for “those who will inherit salvation.” Then, in 2:5, he mentions angels again and refers to the future world “about which we are speaking,” connecting the readers not to the warning of 2:1–4, but to the argument of 1:1–14. This suggests that the warning passage in 2:1–4 should be understood as subordinate, yet eminently important. It’s as if the author is a referee at a football game and calls a “time-out” in the action to step onto the field, point out actual or potential infractions, and warn players that a wrong move here could lead to disqualification. Then he steps off the field, blows the whistle, and the action picks up exactly where it left off.

As the inheritors of the salvation accomplished by Christ, /humans have a higher calling than angels on earth (2:5). God never gave dominion over this world to the angels. (Although He did assign the nations to members of His divine council at Babel until Christ brought all nations under him) The dominion position of responsibility and authority resided with His unique imagers, the crowning work of His creation—humanity. Genesis 1:27–30 describes God's specific plan and purpose for humankind in their pre-fall condition.

Before the Fall (Gen. 3), Adam and Eve had been placed on the path toward realizing this high calling. Though they started in the Garden of Eden and had a lot of work ahead of them,/ they had been endowed with purity and intellect, equipped to carry out the labor in perfect submission to God. Had they remained obedient to God, they would have continued filling and subduing the earth, expanding the Garden of Eden into a Global Eden. The scope of the dominion as initially intended is described in vivid poetry in Psalm 8:3–8, which the author of Hebrews later quotes:

the moon and the stars you set in place—

what are mere mortals that you should think about them,

human beings that you should care for them?

Yet you made them only a little lower than God

and crowned them with glory and honor.

You gave them charge of everything you made,

putting all things under their authority—

the flocks and the herds

and all the wild animals,

 the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea,

and everything that swims the ocean currents.

I can imagine King David out one night staring into the limitless depths of space illuminated with billions of stars—all works of God’s unfathomable creation, all held together by His inestimable power. As the overwhelming magnitude of creation dizzied David, he began to ponder the truth of Genesis 1: “We humans were created to rule over all this!” And he was right! That’s good theology. David was rightly astonished by the honor with which humans were crowned.

But soon, David’s eyes would have returned to the reality of this present world. As he looked around at the tattered corners of this domain, he would have been reminded that Paradise had been infested with thorns and thistles. Something happened after Genesis 1 that turned God’s intended order upside down—the fall of humanity.

The author of Hebrews grasps the glory of God’s original creation and the tragedy of humanity’s lost dominion. Though all things—without exception—had been subjected to Adam (Heb. 2:8), the current situation looks bleak.

Humans were meant to have dominion over everything on earth—but they have not. Instead, they are creatures frustrated by their circumstances, defeated by their temptations, and surrounded by their weaknesses. The ones who should be free are bound; the ones who should be rulers are slaves.

Indeed, the Fall was an utter disaster, plunging humanity into chaos, confusion, defeat, and death. As a result, humankind suffered loss in every way imaginable—intellectually, psychologically, morally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. In plucking and eating the fruit from the forbidden tree (Hold up Apple), Adam and Eve were deceived by one of God’s angelic beings who chose to disobey God. They had been tricked into thinking they would become like God (Gen. 3:4–6). Instead, they fell from their trajectory of triumph and became victims of the creation they were meant to rule over.

But let’s not lose sight of where the author of Hebrews leads us in his argument. He wrote, Yet at present, we do not see everything subject to them. Three letters, YET. Remember that 2:5 began with a view toward the future: “It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking.”—the world to come …The Kingdom of God…already…but not yet…

God still has glorious plans for restoring rule over creation to humanity. Enter the Lord Jesus Christ, the perfect imager of God.

Right now, the world is not fully subject to our authority. (Although, since the time of Christ, the Kingdom of God on earth was started and has been expanding through the church – it is already here, but not yet fully realized) With that in mind, we are still under the result of the fall, and sin has come and robbed us of our supreme position over creation. Humanity has fallen in Adam. But when we put our faith in Christ, we are “in Christ”—physically, genetically, historically—he acted in our place. So Adam and Eve fell; their children were fallen, and their descendants were fallen—and now we look around and see the results of the tragedy. It’s not how it used to be … or how it was meant to be. Not everything is yet subjected to humanity...but it is underway…it is already here but not yet completed.

Nevertheless, we humans still have within ourselves a drive to conquer what God once gave us to rule. Think about it. Humans try to climb the highest mountain “because it’s there.” We launch rockets into space to walk on the moon. We map every bay and peninsula, every island and inlet, every river and wasteland, to satisfy a hardwired curiosity. We dive deeper and deeper into the depths of the oceans to find just one more unknown species. We have a built-in drive that says, “Exercise dominion.” The desire is still there. But the ability was partially damaged.

We fail most of the time miserably. But amid this frustrating time that follows Genesis 3, we now see Jesus. He turns our attention away from our debilitating condition to renew our hope in a day when all things will be subdued. Though the Son was God over all, eternal with the Father, he was made “Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while” (Heb. 2:9). He took on our humble state and place in this fallen world. As Paul wrote in Philippians 2:7:

he took the humble position of a slave

and was born as a human being.

When he appeared in human form,

Not only that, but He also suffered death on the cross (Phil. 2:8), not for His sin, but ours. He humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

He did it for you and me, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. (Christ tasted death, reversing the fall of Adam and Eve – Unbite the Apple)

What Adam had lost, Christ regained—but not simply for Himself. Christ went from frailty to perfection in His work on the cross and triumph over the grave. He thus became the “pioneer of salvation” and “bringing many sons and daughters to glory” (2:10). When we are aligned with Him in faith and united with Him by the indwelling Holy Spirit, we begin to regain what we lost in Adam. Christ became just like us so we could be lifted and more like Him. This gives us an entirely new perspective on the ideal, the actual, and the possible. We now know the ideal—what we should be—like Adam and Eve experienced in Eden before the Fall. We experience every day the actual—what we are, divested of the glory and honor we once had, subject to defeat and death, and separated from the presence of God. And we can see in Christ the possible—what we can and will be, conformed to Christ practically in this life, but ultimately and perfectly after our resurrection and restoration in the world to come, ruling and reigning with Christ in the new Global Eden.

in the assembly I will sing your praises.”

In the balance of Hebrews 2, the subject shifts from the glorious future to the difficulties of the here and now. Humanity had been designed to rule this world as God’s imagers. That changed when sin entered the story. No longer capable of being perfect imagers, humans found themselves in dire need of renewal /but unable to accomplish it independently. Christ stepped in to reverse this situation. As a result, Jesus tasted death for everyone (2:9). But now, during this time between the accomplished work of Christ and the “until”—when everything will be made subject to Him—we who will one day partake of glory with Him are still subject to suffering. Nevertheless, Christ's superior person and work puts even our suffering in perspective.

It was through His suffering that Jesus fully identified himself with fallen humanity. Though morally innocent, He took on mortal flesh. Though deserving of glory and honor, He dwelled among the inglorious and was dishonored. Though worthy of life, He suffered death. Hebrews 2:11–12 points out that God accomplished our sanctification by becoming our “sibling”—that is, “Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.”

The author of Hebrews then applies three more Old Testament passages to Christ, all of which highlight His total identification with us. Christ became like us, living in this in-between time—enduring the hardships, sufferings, and even death common to all of us. He, too, felt abandoned by God, but trusted in Him through suffering, and became a testimony in this fallen world. Without this identification, He couldn’t have said, “I understand. I know what you’re going through. I know how you feel.” But the other side of the coin is that Christ’s suffering enables us to identify with Him (Phil. 3:10-11). I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death,  so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!

Christ Himself partook of the same flesh and blood that we have (2:14). And by suffering and dying, he struck the devil a deathblow—that ancient radiant one who had long ago enslaved humanity with death. It’s only a matter of time before Satan is utterly defeated by the coming of the Son of God in glory, when death itself will be done away with. In the meantime, we who were once enslaved to the power of death have been freed from fear (2:15). Though we are still reminded of our mortality every day through earthly suffering, the superiority of the person and work of Christ—over sin, Satan, and suffering—gives us hope and confidence to press on every day.

And not only has Christ given us hope, but He also gives us help. (John 16:7) The Holy Spirit was sent to be a Comforter and Helper (Gal. 3:29) to those who are spiritually “Abraham’s descendants,” those who belong to Christ. So Paul says (Gal. 4:6–7), And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir. So when Christ came into our lives, the Spirit came into our hearts. This is a blessing only experienced by redeemed humanity—not by angels (Heb. 2:16).

Christ was made like us “in all things.” Our fate—suffering, and death—became His fate, just as His fate—resurrection and glory—will become ours. In this way, Christ became our mediator, our “merciful and faithful high priest” (2:17). When we suffer, He understands. When we succumb to the world's temptations and fall flat on our faces, He doesn’t rub our faces deeper into the muck of our transgressions. Instead, he has made a once-for-all propitiation for our sins. The word “propitiation” means an “offering that turns away (or satisfies) divine wrath against sin.” The price for our sin has been paid.

Besides the past payment for all our sins, Christ is actively helping us amid temptation and suffering. Through His intimate association with us, Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. Therefore, he steps into our trials and temptations—not to condemn us, but to help us. Whenever we are tempted, we need to cry out for help. Jesus’ ears are tuned to the tempted, and He is quick to run to our side and deliver us.

As we wait eagerly for that day when all things will be restored through Christ to the way they were meant to be, we can endure the trials and temptations of this life with the help of our faithful high priest—the one who is superior over suffering in His person and work.

The people addressed in the book of Hebrews felt like homeless refugees wandering the streets of a war-torn city, surrounded by piles of rubble with nowhere to turn for help. The author’s purpose was to meet them in their ruined condition, and put a blanket over their shoulders, shoes on their feet, and a word of encouragement in their ears. More than anything, they needed a reminder of hope to carry on. That hope came in the superior person and work of Jesus Christ. We must do a few things to have this same hope amid suffering.

First, we need to focus fully on Christ. When we turn our focus away from a sad longing for the way things used to be and from the horrifying reality of how things are, we can draw hope and strength from how things will be when Christ returns. We must focus on Jesus in times of grief, loss, tragedy, doubt, disillusionment, loneliness,...

Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2230 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before.

In today’s Wisdom Nugget, I’m delighted to continue our journey through the book of Proverbs, where we explore its timeless wisdom. Today, we’re delving into Proverbs 13:9-16, from the New Living Translation. So, lace up your hiking boots as we uncover the treasure of wisdom and understanding in these verses.

In Proverbs 13:9-16, we continue our exploration of the characteristics and outcomes of living a life of wisdom. These verses provide valuable insights into the significance of wisdom and understanding.

Verse 9: “The life of the godly is full of light and joy, but the light of the wicked will be snuffed out.”

This verse sets the tone for the passage, emphasizing the contrasting destinies of the godly and the wicked. The life of the godly is full of light and joy, while the light of the wicked will be snuffed out. It underlines the enduring value of living a righteous life.

Verse 10: “Pride leads to conflict; those who take advice are wise.”

These verses highlight the impact of pride and the value of seeking advice. Pride leads to conflict, while those who take advice are considered wise. It emphasizes the importance of humility and open-mindedness.

Verse 11: “Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows over time.”

Here, we encounter the contrast between quick wealth and earned wealth. Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears, while wealth from hard work grows over time. It underscores the value of diligence and perseverance.

Verse 12: “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.”

These verses focus on the power of hope and fulfilled dreams. Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life. It highlights the importance of holding onto our dreams and seeing them through.

Verse 13: “People who despise advice are asking for trouble; those who respect a command will succeed.”

This verse contrasts the attitudes toward advice and commands. People who despise advice are asking for trouble, while those who respect a command will succeed. It reminds us of the value of seeking and heeding wise counsel.

Verse 14: “The instruction of the wise is like a life-giving fountain; those who accept it avoid the snares of death.”

These verses emphasize the life-giving nature of wise instruction. The instruction of the wise is like a life-giving fountain, and those who accept it avoid the snares of death. It underscores the importance of learning from the wisdom of others.

Verse 15: “Good judgment wins favor, but the way of the unfaithful leads to their destruction.”

This verse highlights the contrast between good judgment and unfaithfulness. Good judgment wins favor, while the way of the unfaithful leads to their destruction. It emphasizes the importance of making wise choices.

Verse 16: “Every prudent person acts with knowledge, but a fool displays his folly.”

These verses underscore the contrast in behavior between the prudent and the fool. Every prudent person acts with knowledge, while a fool displays their folly. It reminds us of the importance of thoughtful action.

As we reflect on Proverbs 13:9-16, we’re reminded that wisdom isn’t just theoretical knowledge; it’s practical and influences the choices we make in our daily lives.

Take a moment to consider these questions: How can you embrace humility and open-mindedness in seeking advice? In what ways can you cultivate diligence and perseverance in your pursuits? Remember, wisdom equips us to make choices that lead to a life of purpose and fulfillment.

Let’s summarize the key takeaways from Proverbs 13:9-16:

Contrasting Destinies: The life of the godly is full of light and joy, while the light of the wicked will be snuffed out.

Value of Advice: Pride leads to conflict, while those who take advice are wise.

Diligence and Perseverance: Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes disappears quickly, while wealth from hard work grows over time.

Power of Dreams: Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.

Seeking Wise Counsel: People who despise advice are asking for trouble, while those who respect a command will succeed.

Learning from the Wise: The instruction of the wise is like a life-giving fountain, and those who accept it avoid the snares of death.

Importance of Good Judgment: Good judgment wins favor, while the way of the unfaithful leads to their destruction.

Prudent Action: Every prudent person acts with knowledge, but a fool displays their folly.

In closing, remember that wisdom equips us to make choices that lead to a life of fulfillment. As we continue our journey through the vast landscapes of wisdom, may we embrace humility, diligence, and the enduring value of living a righteous life.

Thank you for joining me on this leg of our Wisdom-Trek. I hope these verses have inspired you to actively embrace wisdom’s call and make her a daily presence in your journey. As we continue our journey, may we navigate life’s challenges with wisdom and grace.

If you found this podcast insightful, subscribe and leave us a review, then encourage your friends and family to join us and come along tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

As we take this trek together, let us always:

Live Abundantly (Fully)

Love Unconditionally

Listen Intentionally

Learn Continuously

Lend to others Generously

Lead with Integrity

Leave a Living Legacy Each Day

I am Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Everyday! See you next time for more wisdom from God’s Word!