October 4, 2018
Hebrews 1:1-4 …“Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son…” vss. 1-2a
The early Christians treasured their scriptures and regarded them as authoritative guides for living. They particularly valued the words of the prophets and saw in them a reflection of God’s wisdom and judgement. But they also believed that God had brought a new word in Jesus and they loved the teachings that were now circulating among them. The old ways had revolved around the temple sacrifices, but now that the temple had been destroyed, Jesus had become the source of their forgiveness and hope. Their attitude toward scripture is helpful as we struggle to make sense of the bible. Like them, we regard those ancient writings as holy but we also know that the gospel is rooted not in literal interpretations of old scrolls but in a living relationship with the person of Christ Jesus. What a blessing it is to have freedom with regard to scriptures and to be open to all the new possibilities of new life in Christ! We have been liberated from blind allegiance to the letter of the law in order that the Spirit of Jesus might lead us to even greater appreciation for the message of grace. It’s that openness that differentiates us from some of the other world religions. We have our roots in the past but, the future is wide open and full of exciting possibilities.
Thought for the Day: What happens when we become bound to the past?
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