By Peggy Engeler

Listen to God

“So, be careful and do not refuse to listen when God speaks. Others refused to listen to Him when He warned them on earth, and they did not escape. So, it will be worse for us if we refuse to listen to God who warns us from heaven.” (Hebrews 12:25) Simple language, powerful words that should give us reason to pause and reflect.

Experts on the Bible don’t agree on the authorship of this letter to the Jewish Christians struggling with not just persecution, but sin as well. They were torn between their new faith and the temptation to revert to old routines and traditions. The Old Testament was a faithful guide for thousands of people for thousands of years. It was established to teach us about God’s holiness and our failure to achieve His perfection.

In Hebrews 12:22-24 we learn about the New Covenant. “Now, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering. You have come to the assembly of God’s firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God Himself . . . You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the New Covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel.”

This New Covenant has a better sanctuary (Hebrews 9:1-10); and a better sacrifice for sins (Hebrews 9:11- 10:18). The writer argues that Jesus is better than any form of the old faith. He is better than angels, better than their leaders, and better than their priests (Hebrews 1:4-2:18; Hebrews 3:1-4:13; Hebrews 4:14-7:28)

Under the New Covenant in Christ, we can approach God and a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshipping Him with holy fear and awe.” (Hebrews 12:28)

Clearly the writer is emphasizing in Hebrews 12:25 that God’s people did not listen to Him when He spoke from the earth under the Old Covenant, and they did not escape His wrath, but it will be worse for us to not listen as He is speaking to us from heaven under the New Covenant. For our sake for heaven’s sake, Let’s open our Bibles and our spiritual ears, so we don’t miss a word of that He has to say to us.

Currently available in paperback, on kindle and audible and will be

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