It's a lot to chew when I'm feeling so distracted whenever I try to sit and read. I truly desire to grow and learn from God and follow his ways. I'm so bad at staying focused when I try. Especially with the internet so close and my needy dogs at my elbow (or knee for the littler one. hehe).
Lets just start then, eh? This section starts off titled Warning to Pay Attention in my Bible.
Chapter 2 starts out with a sentence containing a big-ole "Therefore" so I read over chapter one again so context would be fresh in my mind. Let's just go with NIV here since that's my physical copy of the Bible. "We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away." So, looking at it with that therefore - because Jesus Christ is greater than the angels we need to pay careful attention to what we've heard.
- "pay more careful attention" We must think about it. Focus on it. Take it in. Remember it.
- "to what we have heard" What have we heard? I would guess the author is referring to the message of Christ and His teachings. What Jesus taught people while he was here on earth. The salvation he offers. It means so much more to those that believe Jesus is higher than the angels - the Son of God.
- "so that we do not drift away" If we lose focus and stop paying attention we can drift away from what we've learned. If we're not practicing it and thinking on it, other things will fill that space and take our attention.
We need to focus and absorb the things we have been taught and know about Christ, especially as we know he is greater than the angels (who brought truth and messages from God as His servants, how much is what Christ says if he is even greater - the Son of God himself!). Otherwise, we will lose them. We'll forget as it gets further from our daily lives.
"For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation?" If what the angels said couldn't be escaped, how can we not be bound by what God's Son said? If you ignore the Salvation given, it doesn't mean you can get away scott-free and not pay the price for what's been declared. Everyone will be held to what was declared by God.
"This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will." Christ first announced it, the people who heard confirmed it. They were first hand witnesses. God also bore witness to it by providing His power working through them with miracles.
"For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation?" If what the angels said couldn't be escaped, how can we not be bound by what God's Son said? If you ignore the Salvation given, it doesn't mean you can get away scott-free and not pay the price for what's been declared. Everyone will be held to what was declared by God.
"This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will." Christ first announced it, the people who heard confirmed it. They were first hand witnesses. God also bore witness to it by providing His power working through them with miracles.
So, here's my little summary:
The Creator of the universe gave us this salvation. We should not ignore it or forget it. We need to remember and focus on it so we don't get lost in this world.
The Creator of the universe gave us this salvation. We should not ignore it or forget it. We need to remember and focus on it so we don't get lost in this world.
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