Hebrews 10
February Memory Verse: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)
Read: Hebrews 10
Have you ever struggled with confidence in your relationship with Jesus? Questions? Doubt? Have you ever struggled to rest in the good news of Jesus and all He has done?
You are not alone. I have experienced this. In fact, I wrestled with doubts and questions for over a year, at one point, until I learned the secret to confidence, assurance and rest. The audience of Hebrews was also struggling with this. This is why the author wrote to them. He wanted them to be confident in the person and work of Jesus. He wanted to share with them the secret to confidence.
The secret to confidence in Jesus is to look at HIM more than we look at OURSELVES.
WE WILL NEVER HAVE CONFIDENCE IN JESUS WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT OURSELVES.
Seems basic but so often we look at ourselves more than we look at Jesus.
In the opening of Hebrews 10, the author is reminding them of Jesus' sacrifice and what He accomplished. He set us free from having to be good enough - not holiness as we will see later but earning righteousness. He set us free from having to live up to standards that we cannot. His sacrifice took away our sin.
Living in this truth brings freedom. Living in the truth that somehow we have to measure up brings bondage. In one, we are looking at Jesus. In the other, we are looking at ourselves. One brings confidence. The other brings insecurity.
Look at what the author says after explaining what Jesus accomplished…
“THEREFORE, brothers, since we have CONFIDENCE to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus…” (v.19)
Trusting in Jesus does not just bring ACCESS to God, it brings CONFIDENCE in God! However, when we look at ourselves and what we can do to give us a place before God our confidence is shot. This is subtle. We quickly, and often unknowingly, move from trying to please God to trying to impress Him. How do I know? Because I know this happens to me. And everytime confidence leaves.
The secret to confidence in Jesus is to look at HIM more than we look at OURSELVES.
Then, what we see in the end of the chapter is that CONFIDENCE IN JESUS LEADS US TO LIVE HOLY LIVES. This makes sense… Looking at Jesus will help us live for Him over ourselves.
Jesus told us this in Matthew 22. If we make loving HIM our number one priority the rest will follow.
What else stuck out to you from the text today? Comment below!
By: Nick Parsons
Read: Hebrews 10
Have you ever struggled with confidence in your relationship with Jesus? Questions? Doubt? Have you ever struggled to rest in the good news of Jesus and all He has done?
You are not alone. I have experienced this. In fact, I wrestled with doubts and questions for over a year, at one point, until I learned the secret to confidence, assurance and rest. The audience of Hebrews was also struggling with this. This is why the author wrote to them. He wanted them to be confident in the person and work of Jesus. He wanted to share with them the secret to confidence.
The secret to confidence in Jesus is to look at HIM more than we look at OURSELVES.
WE WILL NEVER HAVE CONFIDENCE IN JESUS WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT OURSELVES.
Seems basic but so often we look at ourselves more than we look at Jesus.
In the opening of Hebrews 10, the author is reminding them of Jesus' sacrifice and what He accomplished. He set us free from having to be good enough - not holiness as we will see later but earning righteousness. He set us free from having to live up to standards that we cannot. His sacrifice took away our sin.
Living in this truth brings freedom. Living in the truth that somehow we have to measure up brings bondage. In one, we are looking at Jesus. In the other, we are looking at ourselves. One brings confidence. The other brings insecurity.
Look at what the author says after explaining what Jesus accomplished…
“THEREFORE, brothers, since we have CONFIDENCE to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus…” (v.19)
Trusting in Jesus does not just bring ACCESS to God, it brings CONFIDENCE in God! However, when we look at ourselves and what we can do to give us a place before God our confidence is shot. This is subtle. We quickly, and often unknowingly, move from trying to please God to trying to impress Him. How do I know? Because I know this happens to me. And everytime confidence leaves.
The secret to confidence in Jesus is to look at HIM more than we look at OURSELVES.
Then, what we see in the end of the chapter is that CONFIDENCE IN JESUS LEADS US TO LIVE HOLY LIVES. This makes sense… Looking at Jesus will help us live for Him over ourselves.
Jesus told us this in Matthew 22. If we make loving HIM our number one priority the rest will follow.
What else stuck out to you from the text today? Comment below!
By: Nick Parsons
19 Comments
WE WILL NEVER HAVE CONFIDENCE IN JESUS WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT OURSELVES. This is an absolute game changer Nick...Thanks for the devotion!
Thanks Joey! I appreciate you!
The nearness of reward strengthens me. "Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward." (V.35)
Thanks Korbet!
That is such a true and needed reminder. The enemy often takes truths and blows them out of proportion in my life to discourage me. One such truth is that true believers that have been quickened by the Holy Spirit unto faith will live changed lives and produce fruit. This is true and it does serve as a form of evidence for assurance. However, it can never be an ultimate form of assurance. Often times, when I hear a truth such as the fact that we should be on fire to share with those around us, I don't see it in myself as I ought and begin the logic (or lack thereof) train of "Well, I guess I don't have this fruit so my assurance is shot". This is toxic.
I am freed from this when I, like Nick said, look to Jesus and the grace of God. The same grace called me, saved me, regenerated me, and sustains me until I run into the Father's arms forever. It has never been and will never be about me, my volition, or my performance. What a freeing thing it is to serve such a God.
Amen Jordan!!! Keep it up man!
Verse 19-25 was so encouraging to me today.
1. WE have confidence to enter the holy places because of the blood of Jesus. HE invited us in and made a way.
2. He made a way, we are invited and encouraged to draw near with a true heart and *full assurance of faith*. We have been made clean.
3. Hold fast to the confession of our hope because *HE who promised is faithful
4. Such an important element to bringing all of that together and keeping it truly real in our lives is community in the church. Encouraging one another and meeting together.
This passage talks about so many things I’ve been thinking about lately: that he is faithful, that I need to and want to draw near, and that the body of Christ as a real and active part of my life is vital.
Yes! I love this passage too! It was hard to write about it in few words!
Thanks Nick for being so open and transparent about a struggle you faced! Great stuff.
I'm going to chew on this more today.
"The secret to confidence in Jesus is to look at HIM more than we look at OURSELVES."
It's all about perspective and what we focus our attention on.
Thanks Thomas!
"The secret to confidence in Jesus is to look at HIM more than we look at OURSELVES."
This is a great reminder. So often, we try to do it all on our own, and we give ourselves credit when things somehow work out like we wanted. However, we are nothing without Christ, so we shouldn't look at ourselves for anything.
I also love verse 25, where it says don't forsake assembling together, but encourage one another. This is so important, especially during this time where COVID shut everything down at the beginning. I'm thankful that God provided a way for us to meet together through online or zoom at first, and then to safely meet in person after that. We were not created to do life alone, and Christian community can happen best when we can be in person, encouraging and uplifting one another.
Thanks Scottie!
Loved all your points today, Nick. There is such freedom in Christ when just look to Him and rest in Him. Many helpful comments today.
Nick, your message this Sunday offering a comparison between Paul's conversion story and what revelation, renovation and proclamation should look like in our lives was truly inspirational.
Fully agree!
Thank you so much Lindsay! I appreciate you! Thanks for sharing how Jumpstart impacted you!
I went through a period of doubt too, when I was about 22-23. I was struggling with sin that I couldn’t conquer, and I didn’t understand how my weakness matched up with having been truly saved at 8 1/2. So I prayed and prayed for salvation during that time of doubt, but each time I feel like I could see in my spirit that God was she inside compassionately and saying “No, My child, that’s not what you need.” And every time I got in the car during that doubtful season, (whether my car or anyone else’s), the song “Remind Me Who I Am” by Jason Gray would inevitably play on K-LOVE. It’s like you say, that song helped me to look at Jesus instead of at myself, which of course rebuilt my confidence in His salvation!
Thank you for sharing!
Some great truths and reminders today! Thanks!
Amen! As I was reading, I had a hunch that this was Nick writing it. I too remember when I was going through doubts and Nick gave me some helpful insight. And yes, we have confidence through Jesus Christ not there anything that we have done. Part of my doubts stemmed from making sure that I had done enough to obtain salvation not realizing that the work is completed by Jesus Christ. Love it!