Hebrews 3:1-6
Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest whom we confess. He was faithful to the One who appointed Him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house. Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house, testifying to what would be said in the future. But Christ is faithful as a Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.
Devotion
In previous chapters, the writer of Hebrews has demonstrated how Christ is superior to the prophets and that He is superior to the angels. In this chapter, we will discover that Christ is superior to Moses. It should come as no surprise that Hebrews was written for Jewish readers.
As we think about Christmas, we must give careful thought that Jesus came as an Apostle and our High Priest from God. Jesus ascended back to the Father and is there today interceding for you and me. When we fix our thoughts on Jesus, we must not just think of Him as a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. If this is how we view Christmas, we will miss the real significance of His first advent. Jesus said, “I have come to seek and save that which was lost.” His first advent was about bringing God’s mercy, grace, and forgiveness down to man. The first time He came to reconcile mankind to God.
His second advent He will come in power and glory to set up His eternal kingdom. We must not lose sight of His second advent as we celebrate Christmas. Jesus was faithful to carry out God’s purpose for mankind. Because He was faithful, we have a reason to celebrate His first advent. Because He was faithful, we must take seriously His promise of returning to set up His eternal kingdom. In our culture, the true meaning of Christmas frequently gets lost in all the traditions and gift buying.
My challenge to everyone this Christmas is that we fix our thoughts on Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest whom we confess. Let this Christmas be the time we unashamedly proclaim, “A Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.”
Questions to Ponder
Who is Jesus to you? Why do you celebrate His birth? How will you celebrate His first advent this year? In view of the promise of His second advent, how does this impact how you live your life today? How will you help your family reclaim the true meaning of Christmas this year?
Spend some time in prayer meditating on what God revealed to you today.