God Speaks
Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. 2 And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe. 3 The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven. 4 This shows that the Son is far greater than the angels, just as the name God gave him is greater than their names.
5 For God never said to any angel what he said to Jesus:
“You are my Son.
Today I have become your Father.”
God also said,
“I will be his Father,
and he will be my Son.”
6 And when he brought his supreme Son into the world, God said,
“Let all of God’s angels worship him.”
7 Regarding the angels, he says,
“He sends his angels like the winds,
his servants like flames of fire.”
8 But to the Son he says,
“Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever.
You rule with a scepter of justice.
9 You love justice and hate evil.
Therefore, O God, your God has anointed you,
pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.”
10 He also says to the Son,
“In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundation of the earth
and made the heavens with your hands.
11 They will perish, but you remain forever.
They will wear out like old clothing.
12 You will fold them up like a cloak
and discard them like old clothing.
But you are always the same;
you will live forever.”
13 And God never said to any of the angels,
“Sit in the place of honor at my right hand
until I humble your enemies,
making them a footstool under your feet.”
14 Therefore, angels are only servants—spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation.
Source: New Living Translation: BibleGateway.com
We Respond
Reflection: Editor’s note: As praythruthebible.com begins the book of Hebrews, I will be taking the position that it is Someone bragging on Jesus–how He is better than anyone or anything that the Hebrews (Jews) [or any other people] have ever known. He is superior to anyone and anything else. So, let’s brag on (praise) Jesus for all He is worth.
Hebrews chapter 1 emphasizes that Jesus is better than the fathers–Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He is to be honored more than they are. Jesus is better than the prophets of old, more dedicated to proclaiming the Word of the LORD than they were. Jesus was designated the heir of all things. Jesus participated in creation and holds it all together by the word of His power. Jesus is the radiant display of the glory of God, and He is the exact representation of God Almighty. Faith in His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension is the only way our sins are purified, and we can live the Christian life. Once Jesus had accomplished all that God the Father had for Him to do on earth, He sat down at the Father’s right hand (the place of highest authority). He is much superior to the angels. His name is far superior to theirs; the LORD God never called an angel “My Son.” God told the angels to worship and serve Jesus. In quoting from the psalms, the writer of Hebrews relates what God the Father might have said when Jesus arrived back in Heaven. The LORD God is now working out His plan to bring all of Jesus’ enemies under Him. He has also assigned ministering spirits to serve those who are to inherit salvation through Jesus.
Prayer: As we read and study Your Word, Father God, may we focus on the supremacy of Your Son, Jesus Christ. He is better than the fathers–Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and He is to be honored more they are. He is better than the prophets of old, better at proclaiming Your Word than they were. You designated Him the heir of all things. He participated with You and the Holy Spirit in creation and holds it all together by the word of His power. Jesus is the radiant display of Your glory, God, and He is the exact representation of God Almighty. Faith in You, Jesus, and what You have done is the only way sins are purified. Once You accomplished all the Father had asked of You on earth, You sat down at the Father’s right hand (the place of highest honor and authority). Jesus, You are much superior to the angels. Your name, Jesus the Messiah (Christ), is superior to theirs. You, LORD God, never called an angel, “My Son.” Father God told the angels to worship and serve Jesus. LORD God, You exalted Jesus because, as the God-Man, He completed all that You had assigned Him to do on the earth. Therefore, You rewarded Him with the highest position and place of honor. You are now working out Your plan to bring all of Jesus’ enemies under Him. You have also assigned ministering spirits to serve those who are to inherit salvation through Jesus. All this for Your glory. AMEN
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, if He wants you to work on one of the suggestions below or something else more personal that He points out.)
- I will brag on Jesus this week to someone who knows Him well, to someone who only knows about Him, or to someone who has never heard of Him.
- I will honor Jesus this week by reading Hebrews chapter one aloud and discussing with Him what it says about Him and what it means in my life.
- I will find a song, a list, or a poster of the names or descriptive terms for Jesus and put it where I can review it often.
- I will speak up when I hear Jesus’ name used wrongly or faith in Him ridiculed.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.