Live to Love Scripture Encouragement

Norm Wakefield
Live to Love Scripture Encouragement

Podcast by Norm Wakefield

  1. 11 HR. AGO

    To reject Jesus deserves the greatest punishment

    Hebrews 10:28-29 Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? Back at the beginning of chapter 2, the author wrote, “For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty, how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? The author was referring to the Law of Moses in these verses. The first covenant had no provision of mercy if someone broke the Law willfully in the sight of two or three witnesses. If someone who despised the word of God revealed in the Law, the first covenant, was punished without mercy, what do you think God will do to someone who despises the second, greater covenant established by His Son, Jesus Christ? Can someone neglect so great a salvation as God has provided in Jesus with impunity? To reject or neglect God’s promises in Christ is to trample on Jesus. To refuse to be washed in Jesus’ blood is to insult the Holy Spirit of grace, by which one is to be set apart to God. The seriousness of unbelief is graphically unpacked in these verses. There’s no escape from the fury of God’s judgment if one insults the Holy Spirit, by whose grace the Son of God gave Himself to redeem God’s people and give them entrance into the Holy Place for the glory of God. I wonder if this is the sin against the Holy Spirit that is unforgivable.  Of course these verses are intended to produce a fear of the Lord, which gives one wisdom and understanding. Job wrote, “And to man He (God) said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding’” (Job 28:28). One is a fool to despise wisdom.  So let us consider how to stimulate one another to live to love with Jesus. For some, knowing the truth of what God has done for us in Christ is a great, positive encouragement. For others, the negative approach is needed—a strong warning of what can be expected if we don’t continually abide in Christ and love with Him. Draw near to the throne of grace, my dear friend, and draw from the fullness of God’s love and grace so you can bring Him glory in the day of judgment, which is coming soon.

    3 min

  2. 1 DAY AGO

    A severe warning aimed to stimulate love and good deeds

    The encouragement today is somewhat negative and severe, but it has the same aim as the previous verses, namely to stimulate love and good works for the glory of God. Hebrews 10:26-27 For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire that will consume the adversaries. Before we can understand verses 26-31, we need to consider what the author has already said. The sin he warned his readers about was unbelief. “Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God” (3:13). And again in 3:19, “So we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.” He told them of a promised rest from God that has been provided in Jesus Christ as their high priest. That rest is the throne of grace, where Jesus had entered in with His blood to redeem them and bring them to God. Since they had a great high priest who could sympathize with their weaknesses and who had been tempted as they had been, he encouraged them to continually draw near to the throne of grace where Jesus sits as their intercessor and source of mercy and grace. In chapter 5, he showed them how Jesus received suffering well, drew near to His Father for grace, and did good rather than evil. He told them the mature have been trained by practice in suffering to discern good and evil.  In light of what God has done through Jesus for His people, to not draw near to God for help is a willful sin. He has loved us by perfecting us in Christ, once and for all, and He has provided His grace to us. The only reason for not drawing near to receive grace to trust God and love with Jesus can only be because we don’t believe what God has said and done. If we have received the truth that Jesus’ sacrifice for sins has satisfied God’s justice and have the testimony of the Holy Spirit before us, then our sin is willful rather than ignorant. The one who willfully refuses to draw near to God for grace to trust and love has rejected Jesus Himself. God has provided no other sacrifices since Jesus’ sacrifice finished the work. All that remains for such an adversary of Jesus and righteousness is a terrifying expectation of judgment. God’s judgment will rage against His adversaries like the fury of a fire that consumes everything in its path.  Notice the “for” at the beginning of verse 26. That connects these thoughts to the previous admonition to consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds. This very serious warning was given in love as a powerful stimulant for those who were drifting away, abandoning the call to live to love with Jesus. It was a call to repent of willfully rejecting Jesus and His call to love while they still had time to be fruitful. I close today’s encouragement with this thought. We are going to be consumed—one way or another. Either we will be consumed by the love of God or by the fury of God’s fiery judgment. If you know God has provided His Son to live for you and you reject His grace because you want to live for yourself, you sin willfully. There’s no hope in rejecting Jesus’ sacrifice and provision of grace. Please repent today. But if you hold fast to the confession of your hope in Christ, you will not be disappointed when you finish your race and stand in the judgment. His blood will cover all your sin, and His righteousness will have been the fountain of your love and good works. God will be glorified either way, but your experience of His glory is determined by your intentional obedience to the truth.

    4 min

  3. 2 DAYS AGO

    Love with Jesus while you have time

    Hebrews 10:25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. We are encouraged by today’s verse that the body of Christ needs regular fellowship and encouragement to love and good deeds. Apparently there were some who had abandoned regular commitment to the assembly. If we are to live to love with Jesus, I think we need daily encouragement. On a practical note, how can one obey Jesus’ command to love one another (believers) as He has loved us if one doesn’t walk regularly in a community of believers? Living to love with Jesus means we will hang out with members of His body on a regular basis. Can you even imagine Jesus forsaking or deserting His own, much less making a habit of doing so? Unthinkable. The author suggested that the more his readers saw the day of judgment drawing near, the more they should consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds. Is it even possible to effectively stimulate someone without being with them? I don’t think so.  When he mentioned “the day,” I’m not sure whether the author had in mind Jesus’ return and the final judgment or their death and entrance into God’s presence. I lean toward our thinking about our death. In Hebrews 9:27, the author wrote, “And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once, and after this comes judgment.” Every day, we are drawing nearer to our deaths. Once we die, it’s too late to glorify God by loving and doing good deeds. Therefore, since we can draw near to the throne of grace through Jesus Christ to receive the grace we need to love and do good to one another, it makes sense that we ought to encourage one another daily to abide in Jesus and love with Him. I hope you’ll consider yourself stimulated and encouraged to love and good deeds today through Hebrews 10:25. Make use of every day to bear as much fruit for the glory of God as you can by abiding in Jesus and loving with Him. Let’s love with Jesus while we have time.

    3 min

  4. 3 DAYS AGO

    Stimulate one another to love

    Hebrews 10:24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, We come today to the third admonition from the author based upon our confidence in Christ as our great high priest and in His blood shed for us. Let us draw near to God. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering. And now thirdly, let us consider or contemplate how to stimulate or provoke one another to love and good deeds.  First, since we have been so loved by God as to be given 24/7/365/forever access to the throne of grace, let’s think about ways we can encourage each other to love like we’ve been loved. That was Jesus’ parting command to His disciples. “Love one another as I have loved you,” He said. This love is agape love—doing the highest good for one another.  Why should we consider “how” or “the way” to stimulate one another to love? Every person is different. The way to love one person may not be the way to love another person. What stimulates one person may not encourage someone else. We need to think about how to love each person uniquely. The only way that is going to happen is if we draw near or abide in Christ. We need His wisdom, love, discernment, and knowledge for how best to love each person He puts in our paths. It’s not a one-size-fits-all kind of love. So be encouraged today to think about how Jesus wants to love each person you meet. Draw near. Ask for help. Listen. Then speak words that will encourage them to live to love with Jesus.  Second, the Christian lifestyle is to be characterized by love and good deeds. It’s the proof that we are His disciples (John 14:35; 15:8). The Holy Spirit must have really put this on the mind of the apostle Paul when he wrote to Titus. Titus 2:7 in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds Titus 2:14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. Titus 3:8 This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men. Titus 3:14 Our people must also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful. We are encouraged in Heb. 10:24 to not only be engaged in love and good deeds but to stimulate one another to live that way. This verse is one of many verses that moved me to produce the Live to Love Scripture Encouragements podcast. Each day as I study the Scriptures, I draw near to the throne of grace through Jesus Christ, expecting the Holy Spirit to give me grace to love you well and stimulate you to love and good deeds for the glory of God. I have not been disappointed in this hope that God will give me what I need to connect every Scripture in some way to living to love with Jesus. I’ve gone through John’s gospel, 1-3 John, Romans, and now Hebrews. Consider how you might stimulate your friends, brothers and sisters in Christ, and family members to love and good deeds by listening to this podcast daily and sharing it with them. Also, please encourage them to visit livetolovewithjesus.com and get or give Live to Love: Experience Freedom and Joy in Relationships or spiritofelijah.com, where they can also get or give Equipped to Love: Building Idolatry-free Relationships. These are some ways you can consider to obey Heb. 10:24.

    4 min

  5. 4 DAYS AGO

    Hold fast to the promises of God in Jesus Christ

    Heb. 10:19-21, 23 Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God…Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; Today’s live to love scripture encouragement comes from verse 23, with which the author gives a second admonition beginning with “let us.” Yesterday we were encouraged to draw near to the throne of grace. Today, let us hold fast to the hope we have in Christ without wavering. Our hope is that God is pleased with Jesus’ work on our behalf and welcomes us with open arms to share in His glory forever. We are assured by God’s faithfulness that we will receive whatever grace we need to glorify God through Jesus Christ.  I hope you can see the connection between this verse and John 15:7-8. Notice the promise of God in these verses. “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.” Our confession is that God is glorified most as we live our lives abiding in Jesus so that His life and love can be displayed (bear fruit) in this world. He who made this promise is faithful. That’s why we don’t bend or lay over in the face of difficulties and hardships. By the way, that’s what it means to not waver.  As we live to love with Jesus, we draw near to God’s throne of grace with confidence and hope that we will receive whatever we need to glorify God through Christ Jesus, our great priest. Let us hold fast to our confession: Jesus Christ is our hope of glory because He is our life. No matter how rough the road, how painful the suffering, or how impossible the relationship, we agree with what God says regarding His Son. He is the way, the truth, and the life, and He is the only way to the Father and the only way we can receive the grace we need to live to love in His name.

    3 min

  6. 5 DAYS AGO

    We are perfect in His sight

    Hebrews 10:19-22 Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.  The last two days we’ve looked at two reasons for living a life of love: 1. We have confidence to enter into the presence of God through the blood of Jesus, and 2. we have a great priest in Jesus who ministers for us in the presence of God. Today we begin looking at what we ought to do in view of these two wonderful blessings in Christ. In verses 22-24, the author gave three admonitions to those who have such blessings in Christ. He introduced each admonition with the words, “Let us.”  The first thing we should do is draw near to or come before the throne of grace with a sincere or true heart. Because of the blood of Christ shed for us, we have every encouragement to come to God for help because the truth is that our hearts have been cleansed by faith through the power of the Holy Spirit. When Peter testified to the rest of the disciples that they should receive the Gentiles who had believed in Jesus in Joppa, his argument was based on the work of the Holy Spirit in their hearts. He said, “And God, who knows the heart, testified to them, giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us; and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.” In verse 20, the author stated that we have the same confidence.  You’ll notice the verb tense “having” indicates the work is passive. It’s not something we have done; it’s something that has been done to us. We can draw near with sincere hearts because God has given us faith, and faith is the assurance, the full assurance, of God’s pleasure and acceptance. The presence of a Holy Spirit-wrought faith cleanses our consciences. He used the image of the priests sprinkling blood from the sacrifice in the tabernacle on the worshipper, except this blood is the better and greater. We know we are identified with Jesus’ blood sacrifice, so we know our sins are removed once and for all time. He also used the image of the priests and worshippers washing their bodies with the water from the bronze basin in the tabernacle before approaching God. Again, the water used for washing in the tabernacle did not wash them once for all, but the cleansing power of Jesus’ blood is a pure water. One only needed to be washed once for all time.  Do you remember when Jesus washed Peter’s feet and Peter resisted Him? Jesus said, “‘If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.’ Simon Peter said to Him, ‘Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.' Jesus said to him, ‘He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.’ For He knew the one who was betraying Him; for this reason He said, ‘Not all of you are clean.’” Our bodies of sin have been completely washed clean by the blood of Jesus, as well as our consciences. Therefore, wouldn’t it be evil for us NOT to draw near to God when He has prepared us for that very thing? We are perfect in His sight. Let us live like it. Before we take another step into this day, let us see ourselves spotless, undefiled, and unblemished in God’s sight. Faith in Christ assures our hearts that it is true. That’s a true heart. Let us go to Him for the fullness of life and love that our souls desire so we may live today to love with Jesus.

    5 min

  7. 6 DAYS AGO

    Jesus is a great priest for us

    Hebrews 10:19-21 Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near… Yesterday we were encouraged by the first of two reasons for the Christian lifestyle of love. Today, let’s be encouraged by the second reason: We have a great priest over the house of God. This has been the main point of this letter to the Hebrews. Back in chapter 8, verses 1-2, we read, “Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a minister in the sanctuary and in the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man.”  The priestly ministry of Jesus is great, which makes Him a great priest over God’s house, “whose house we are (said the author in Heb. 3:6), if we hold fast our confidence (our confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus as we just read in verse 19) and the boast of our hope firm until the end.” The priests in the tabernacle offered the blood of goats and bulls, but the greatness of Jesus is that He offered Himself—His own blood—acting on behalf of God for us and acting on our behalf before God.  Since we have this new way and this great priestly ministry acting for us, let us draw near to God’s throne for the grace we need today to love with Jesus. He loves everyone He puts in our paths. He has put them there so they might experience His love and so that God might be glorified through us as we display the glory of our relationship with God through Jesus Christ. We will look more at the glory of God that we display in the next few days, but today, let’s be encouraged by this second reason for why we live as we do. Jesus is our great priest who has faithfully served His Father and us by bringing us to Him, spotless, blameless, and perfected.  I close today’s live to love encouragement by thanking You, Jesus, for being such a great priest for us. Thank You for making a new way, a living way, through the sacrifice of Yourself as well as through Your resurrection life. We worship You! We are so grateful for the grace You give us as we draw near to You. We want to glorify the Father with our lives, and apart from You, we can’t do it, but with You, we are able to display Your fruit for His glory. So, live Your life through us today, empowering us with Your love by Your Spirit. Amen.

    3 min

  8. DEC 7

    Jesus provided a new and living way to God

    I’m going to read Heb. 10:19-25 so we can get the full scope of these verses first, and then focus on verses 19-20.  Hebrews 10:19-25 Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. What can be more encouraging to people who have embraced God’s call to live to love with Jesus than to hear a direct admonition from the Scriptures to love based upon what God has done for us in Jesus Christ? Verses 19-22 provide the why behind our loving. Today let’s be encouraged by the first of two reasons for the Christian lifestyle of love.  We have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus. Let’s remember why we enter the holy place. We enter the holy place in heaven to receive mercy and grace to help in time of need. Let me remind you of Heb. 4:16. “Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” How do we gain access to the holy place? We gain access through a new and living way rather than through an old, dead way. Jesus made a new way through the veil of His fleshly body. We learn from Matthew 5:50-51 that when Jesus breathed His last breath, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom as Jesus passed through the veil of His flesh into the Holy Place in heaven. God provided a sign in the temple on the earth, which was a shadow of what is in heaven, signifying what took place in the heavenly reality. In His death, Jesus inaugurated a new and living way for us to enter into God’s presence. We, who live to love with Jesus, know we cannot display the fruit of the love of God apart from abiding in Jesus, who is seated in the Holy Place. Jesus means for us to draw near to Him continually. He said in John 15:5. “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him (this is a present active verb meaning continuous action), he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.”  So the encouragement today from verses 19-20 is that we may confidently, continuously draw near to the throne of grace through Jesus Christ. He is the way, the new and living way, to the Father’s presence, love, and grace. He is our source of life and love today. We have everything we need to love whoever God puts in our paths.

    4 min
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Podcast by Norm Wakefield

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