Grace be with all of you.
Hebrews 13:25
Life is full of change. Sometimes we choose change; sometimes others force change upon us. We refer to the kind of change that involves new seasons and new environments as “transition.” Transition is not fun, and the enemy often uses the uncertainty of the future to capitalize on our innermost fears. Transitioning from what is to what will be promises an intimate meeting with the unfamiliar, and the unfamiliar often feels like a threat.* The perceived threat of the unfamiliar causes many of us to resist the change, no matter how necessary that change may be.* For some of us, our resistance to change may cause us to cling to those things that were or to the ways things were once done.
Others enjoy the unknown, see it as an adventure, and embrace change just because it’s new. Like early adopters of new technology, some people enjoy the “next season” so much, they dive in without proper perspective.
God invites us through the book of Hebrews to another approach: rather than cling to the past, or embrace the future, God invites us to plant ourselves in the things that cannot change and never do.*
God is always doing something new, and His Holy Spirit carries forward the purposes of God.* The book of Hebrews demonstrates the perfect orchestration between the fresh wind of the Spirit and those things that never change.* This is Kingdom living.
The writer ends his work with these brief but to the point words: “grace be with all of you.”
The letter of Hebrews was written when the Roman Empire was changing as was Judaism.* Believers were looking for something to hold onto. What are you looking to hold onto?
The words of George Guthrie:
I pray that you will heed “the word of exhortation” that is Hebrews. May you grasp fully the message of the exalted Christ, who has died for our sins and lovingly embraces us in the new covenant. May you consider him, fixing your eyes on the author and perfecter of our faith. May you heed the warnings and exult in the promises of this book, following the good examples such as Abraham and Moses and avoiding the errors of the bad. May you receive an inheritance with the saints in the heavenly Jerusalem as we worship with the angels “in joyful assembly.”
Today, take a step.
Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to take hold of those things that never change. Perhaps today God wants you to let go of the past, surrender your future, and rest in Him.
Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.
Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus.
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*Stedman, R. C. (1992). Hebrews (Heb 13:22–25). IVP Academic.
Grindheim, S. (2023). The Letter to the Hebrews (D. A. Carson, Ed.; pp. 707). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
France, R. T. (2006). Hebrews. In T. Longman III & D. E. Garland (Eds.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Hebrews–Revelation (Revised Edition) (Vol. 13, pp. 195). Zondervan.
Guthrie, G. (1998). Hebrews (p. 452). Zondervan Publishing House.