CHECK YOUR SPIRITUAL PRIDE AT THE DOOR

September 28, 2012

CHECK YOUR SPIRITUAL PRIDE AT THE DOOR

Hebrews 5

Jordan Campbell

Central Truth

Check your pride at the door when you come to read the Bible. No matter how much we think we know about the Bible, we need to come to it open and ready to learn something new.

For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. (Hebrews 5:12)

1 For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. 3 Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people. 4 And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.

5 So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him,

“You are my Son,
today I have begotten you”;

6 as he says also in another place,

“You are a priest forever,
after the order of Melchizedek.”

7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus^{1

5:7
Greek he} offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. 9 And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, 10 being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

Warning Against Apostasy

11 About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, 13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

Footnotes

[1] 5:7 Greek he

I like to think I am a pretty smart guy, that I have things figured out. And sadly, this all too often flows over into my time in the Word. What a great wake-up call this verse is for people like me.

This verse reminds me of my senior year of high school. Halfway through the year, I had it all figured out. I knew where I was going to college and even who I would hang out with when I got there. I had the grades; I had the SAT score; I had the extracurriculars; and I had the legacy working for me. Or so I thought. After applying early, I was shocked to find out that the great "Jordan" had not gotten in. What a terrific blow to my pride.

Hebrews 5:12 serves as the same sort of wake-up call that my rejection letter was. One author has described this "remarkable rebuke" as a "cold shower." And indeed it should be. The author of Hebrews was writing to believers who should be moving on to maturity in the faith, but who instead had lulled themselves into being content with a milk diet. This verse should ring as true to us as it did to them.

I often approach the Bible in the same prideful manner in which I approached my college application process. I have things figured out. I've been going to church since as far back as I can remember, and I have heard it all. Boy, is that exactly the wrong way to do it. As 1 Peter 2:2 states, we should "long for the pure milk of the word" like "newborn babies." Like newborns, we are to drink deeply of the Word to help us grow to be the people we can be in Christ. But the writer of Hebrews reminds us that we are not to stay as newborns on a milk diet.

In my pride, I like to think I know it all. In reality, I still need to come to the Word with the intense hunger and focus of a new believer. God can always teach me something new, even from verses I think I have "mastered." What a wonderful book we have in the Bible.

1. Regardless of whether you're a new believer or a lifelong one, how do you approach your time in the Word, as a "master" or as a baby?

2. Can you think of any person in the Bible, or perhaps group of people, who thought he/they had it all figured out?

3. Do you find it hard to learn something new from the Word, and if so, why?

4. Are you getting in the Word daily, or does your spiritual pride keep you from doing so?

WEEKLY FAMILY ACTIVITY

September 24-28 (Hebrews 1-5)

Read Hebrews 4:12-16.

• What is the Word of God?
• To what did the writer of Hebrews compare God's Word?
• What does it mean that His Word exposes our thoughts and desires?
• How does it make you feel to know that nothing you think or do is hidden from God?
• Who is our High Priest that has entered heaven?
• What does it says that Jesus understands about us?
• How does it make you feel to know that Jesus experienced all the temptations that you face?
• What was different about Him?
• Is it comforting for you to know that Jesus, who died for your sins, knows and understands you?

Activity: Talk about what it means to be tempted and the difference between being tempted and sinning. When you are tempted, what can you do to keep from sinning? Take time to think through different scenarios as a family and discuss what the temptations are and how you can say "no" to the temptations. (Examples: a friend is mean to you at school, your boss treats you unfairly at work, someone says something untrue about you at school or work, a grocery clerk gives you back too much change, etc.)

Throughout the week, take time at dinner to talk about ways that you were tempted throughout the day and what choices you made, either to fall to the temptation and sin, or to resist the temptation. Then pray together, thanking Jesus for His sacrifice to pay for all of our sins.