July 18, 2014
WAKE UP, PAY ATTENTION, AND KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE!
Hebrews 2:1–9
Diana Lopez
Central Truth
If we are indifferent, self-satisfied, and neglectful of the salvation that Christ offers, we will miss receiving the greatest gift of all -- a life that never ends.
Key Verse | Hebrews 2:1–3
Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? (Hebrews 2:1-3a )
Hebrews 2:1–9
Warning Against Neglecting Salvation
1 Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. 2 For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, 4 while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
The Founder of Salvation
5 For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. 6 It has been testified somewhere,
“What is man, that you are mindful of him,
or the son of man, that you care for him?
7
You made him for a little while lower than the angels;
you have crowned him with glory and honor,
1
2:7
Some manuscripts insert and set him over the works of your hands
8
putting everything in subjection under his feet.”
Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. 9 But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
Dive Deeper | Hebrews 2:1–9
The first time I read this passage, I thought it was primarily a reminder of God's great love. Now that I've read it more than once and thought about it some, however, I've changed my mind. This passage is actually an intense reminder to follow Jesus or else face the consequences! Really this passage is a wake-up call.
In Hebrews 2:1-2 (NASB), it says that "we must pay much closer attention . . . so that we do not drift away." It reminds us that "every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty." (Hebrews 2:2, NASB) I don't know about you, but I certainly do not want to experience God's punishment. That said, what is the answer to the question in verse 3 (NASB)? "How will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?" I can't escape the just penalty I deserve if I don't trust in Christ for my salvation. Christ is the answer! Indifference and self-satisfaction only bring emptiness.
If you're like me, you once lived without Jesus at the center of your life. There was a time when I did not know who Jesus was or what His presence in my life could accomplish. In 2010, I trusted Jesus as my Savior, and He saved me from a lifestyle of recklessness, shame, and despair. God's will for me is not a life of sin. He sought me out, pulled me up out of my weaknesses, and wrapped His arms around me. In that moment, I chose to live out Romans 12:2. I chose not to be conformed to the sinful world I was living in, but to be transformed by the renewing of my mind. I made the Lord the center of my life.
When I woke up and started paying attention, life drastically changed for the better. God doesn't want us to experience eternal punishment. That's why He sent Jesus. Trusting in Jesus is our way to live without incurring the punishment of eternal death as a result of our sins. Every day, I do my best to stay close to Jesus, and, as I grow, I'm reminded of the ultimate prize found in Jesus Christ!
Discussion Questions
1. What reasons do you have for not letting the Lord be the center of your life?
2. When you're feeling indifferent and self-serving, who or what helps you wake up and pay attention?
3. What consequences have you experienced as a result of choosing not to follow God's Word?
4. How have you been encouraged this morning to keep your eyes on Jesus? How can you encourage someone else to do the same?