one step: Hebrews 2.1

Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.

The promise that North Gate Church makes is not the promise of an organization to a people, but it is a promise of a people to a people. Meaning, when someone chooses to enter into the community of believers called North Gate Church, they are making a promise to that community with the understanding that the community is making that promise to them. What is that promise?

helping you to find true north.

Like the effect of the earth’s magnetic field on a compass, the invisible force of our culture will point us toward north, attempting to orient our lives and determine our destination. The problem is that this magnetic north will fail to lead us to True North. Magnetic north changes. It has changed up to 600 miles since first located in 1831.* Swaying to and fro, if we follow the pull of this world, we will find ourselves missing our destiny, if even by a few degrees. Finding True North is finding Jesus Christ. North Gate Church helps one another to find and follow Jesus Christ.

In the first verse of chapter 2 of Hebrews, the author mentions drifting away from the message of Christ Jesus. This “drifting” is the Greek word pararreō.* According to scholars, it means to “flow by” or “slip away from.”* According to Ray Stedman, pararreō, “describes that carelessness of mind which, perhaps occupied by other things, is not aware it is losing ground. Plato used it of something slipping away from the memory, and Plutarch of a ring slipping from a finger.”*

The imagery of water moving tells us that the default of the flesh is to drift away; to make no effort is to move in the wrong direction.* This means that one does not necessarily have to do something wrong to drift away, but that one must merely fail to put in the effort to stay moored to Christ.*

The author of Hebrews presents the cure for this dangerous drifting: pay attention.*

It’s easy to accept the directions or the currents handed to us. Without much thought, we can look at the compass that this world hands us and move in the direction dictated by it’s sway. It can feel that all is well. Following the current of this world will feel effortless and unencumbered. It might even feel at times that we are headed in the right direction. However, sadly and fatally, we will find ourselves amiss. “How did I get here?” we will ask ourselves.

What’s our part? What can we do? Pay attention. Where is God? What is His will? Am I engaged in following Christ?

Today, take a step.

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to look around you to see if you have drifted. Perhaps God wants you to re-engage your effort to follow Him intentionally. Maybe today God wants you to follow and find True North.

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.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

*Stedman, R. C. (1992). Hebrews (Heb 2:1–4). IVP Academic.
Grindheim, S. (2023). The Letter to the Hebrews (D. A. Carson, Ed.; pp. 136–143). 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, p. 47–49). Zondervan.
Guthrie, G. (1998). Hebrews (p. 83–89). Zondervan Publishing House.
https://climate.nasa.gov/explore/ask-nasa-climate/3104/flip-flop-why-variations-in-earths-magnetic-field-arent-causing-todays-climate-change/

one step: Hebrews 1.2

“You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning,
    and the heavens are the work of your hands;
they will perish, but you remain;
    they will all wear out like a garment,
like a robe you will roll them up,
    like a garment they will be changed.
But you are the same,
    and your years will have no end.”

The author of Hebrews leverages Psalm 102 to comment on the superiority of Christ above the angels.* Likely understood by the original readers of Hebrews to be a messianic passage, it’s use is not a surprise.* This passage highlights three main characteristics of Christ:

1. His eternal permanence

2. His role in creation

3. His position as Lord

There was a time when a Godly worldview served as the launching pad of science.* The study of the world around us began with an understanding of the Creator as the source of everything. As the Enlightenment exploded, reason became king, and humanity began to seek to find their own starting point for truth, separate from God.*

This abandonment of God does not remove God from the picture, however. Though humanity runs from Him, they unwittingly run to Him.

The late astronomer and astrophysicist Robert Jastrow explained,

For the scientist who has lived by his faith in the power of reason, the story ends like a bad dream. He has scaled the mountains of ignorance, he is about to conquer the highest peak; as he pulls himself over the final rock, he is greeted by a band of theologians who have been sitting there for centuries.

The truth of God spans time, reaching to the very edges of eternity. Sitting at the seed of creation, unchanging since, and sitting at the right hand of the Father, we find Jesus Christ. As the Truth that sets us free, Jesus reigns supreme to all else. Angels, as the writer of Hebrews explains, as created things, do not deserve our worship.* Christ alone deserves our worship.

How many times have we worshipped the messenger over the Message Sender? How often have we looked to saints (dead or alive) for things that only God can give? How is it that we reach to the created over the Creator for help?

We can run from the truth of Christ, we can attempt to explain away His handiwork, but ultimately, we will find ourselves face-to-face with Him.

The supremacy of Christ is expressed through His eternal permanence, His creative work, and His status as Lord over all. These truths give us rest in our souls as we realize that the permanence of His person guarantees the permanence of His work.* The salvation that He gives to those He created exists for eternity, and as Lord over all, He can guarantee it.

Today, take a step.

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to remember the supremacy of Christ over all else. Perhaps today God wants you to consider creation through the lens of Christ. Maybe today God wants you to allow Christ to take His place in your life as the foundation of science and rational thinking. Perhaps God wants you to rest in the knowledge of the permanence of Christ and His work.

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.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

*Stedman, R. C. (1992). Hebrews (Heb 1:7–14). IVP Academic.
Grindheim, S. (2023). The Letter to the Hebrews (D. A. Carson, Ed.; pp. 129–133). 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, p. 44–45). Zondervan.
Guthrie, G. (1998). Hebrews (p. 80–82). Zondervan Publishing House.

one step: Hebrews 1.1

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

The book of Hebrews is a bit of a mystery. Scholars are both unsure of its author and its audience.* Though some believe that Paul wrote Hebrews, and the name “Hebrews” (along with its content) indicates that the letter was intended for Jewish believers in Jesus, scholars cannot definitively confirm the authorship or exact audience.* While it may be frustrating for some not to know, it’s almost fitting.

The opening verses of Hebrews serve as the stylistic pinnacle of the New Testament.* The theological arguments presented in Hebrews provide a rich resource for believers in seeking to understand the person and position of Christ.* In a world that constantly tells us who to listen to and who to serve, this is quite important.

The first four verses of Hebrews (written above) were one, long sentence in the Greek.* This sentence is built around the main idea of “God has spoken.”* Isn’t it interesting that the stylistic pinnacle of New Testament thought, in the first sentence of an argument for the supremacy of Christ, and anchored around “God has spoken” lacks known authorship and audience? It’s almost as if God wants the focus of this all-important conversation to be Himself. That’s the point of much of Hebrews, afterall.

The picture that we are given of Christ through the book of Hebrews is the following: Christ Jesus is…

1. the one God appointed heir of all

2. the one through whom God made the created order

3. the brilliant reflection of God’s glory and imprint of his nature

4. sustaining all things by his powerful word

5. the one who has made purification for sins

6. the one who sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high

7. the one who has become much greater than the angels, as he is the heir of a more distinguished name than they.*

The book of Hebrews provides a series of arguments for the superiority of Christ over all others.* The New Testament believers, like us, were caught up following other voices and allowing those voices to hold more weight in their lives than Jesus Christ.* These voices weren’t bad or wrong, but they were not Christ.* The voices that they were listening to were intended to point to Christ, not to themselves.*

Of these voices in Hebrews we see:

1. the prophets, God’s ancient spokesmen (1:1–3)

2. the angels, Israel’s guardians (1:4–2:18)

3. Israel’s great leader, Moses (3:1–4:7)

4. Israel’s godly general, Joshua (4:8–13)

5. the founder of Israel’s priesthood, Aaron (4:14–7:28).*

Each of these provided a necessary voice from Israel’s past but never intended to be followed alone.* Following just one of these voices provides an example of the good being the enemy of the best.*

In our world, the many voices we hear may be helpful or even good, but we must not forget that Christ is supreme. We ourselves may have things to say that are good and helpful, but we must not forget that Christ is supreme. Perhaps the author of Hebrews remained anonymous because they did not want to become another in the long list of those that the early church were placing too much focus on. Regardless, it serves as a reminder to us that our name matters much, much less than the name of Jesus Christ.

Lord, help us to lift you up.

Today, take a step.

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to remember that Jesus is above all. Perhaps today God wants you to take the voices of others off of the altar of your heart. Maybe today God wants you to allow your voice to submit to His. Perhaps God wants you to become less so that He can be seen more.

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.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

*Stedman, R. C. (1992). Hebrews (Heb 1:1–3). IVP Academic.
Grindheim, S. (2023). The Letter to the Hebrews (D. A. Carson, Ed.; pp. 73–77). 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, p. 37). Zondervan.
Guthrie, G. (1998). Hebrews (p. 45). Zondervan Publishing House.

one step: Romans 16.4

… to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.

Paul wraps up his letter to the Romans with a summation of the purpose of every believer’s life: to bring glory to God.*

I had the amazing privilege of traveling the world playing soccer and telling people about Jesus. On my first international trip, our coach challenged us with this saying: sola dei gloria. These profound Greek words were tattooed on his arm, serving as a reminder to himself about the reason that he lived.

You would never guess that this coach had a history of drug and alcohol abuse. You would never guess that this man had abused and used women. Jesus Christ had completely transformed his life. The words sola dei gloria were the natural response of someone radically saved from a life of sin and death. The words sola dei gloria mean, “to God alone be the glory.”

Paul, throughout his writings, gives us an idea of what giving the glory to God looks like in this life:

• through unwavering faith (Romans 4:20)

• through accepting one another (Romans 15:7)

• through agreeing with the promises of God (2 Corinthians 1:20)

• through enduring hardship (2 Corinthians 4:15)

• through being filled with the love, knowledge, insight, and righteousness of Christ (Philippians 1:9-11)

• through anything that we do (1 Corinthians 10:31)

In these ways and others, we may bring glory to God in this life. Paul points out, though, that the ascribing of glory to God never ends; it extends throughout eternity. God deserves eternal praise.* Heaven will be an eternal worship service, but for the first time in the experience of humanity since Adam and Eve, we will have the amazing gift of seeing the face of God while giving Him glory!*

When we live our lives sola dei gloria, we are joining in on the song of eternity. Eternity does not start when you die. Eternity is today.

Today, take a step.

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to sing a song of praise. Perhaps God wants you to broaden the areas of your life that you live for Him. Maybe today God would ask you to agree with His promises, accept one another, hold fast to your faith, or allow His righteousness to fill you.

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.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

*Kruse, C. G. (2012). Paul’s Letter to the Romans (D. A. Carson, Ed.; p. 589). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Apollos.
Osborne, G. R. (2004). Romans (pp. 420). InterVarsity Press.
Morris, L. (1988). The Epistle to the Romans (pp. 547–548). W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press.
Moo, D. J. (2000). Romans (p. 516). Zondervan Publishing House.

one step: Romans 16.3

…but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil.

Have you ever met someone that was so innocent that they were naïve? It seemed that they knew no evil, but they also didn’t recognize it when it came around, or labeled things evil that were simply unfamiliar. Paul invites the Roman church and us today to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil in a way that does not look like foolish naïvety.

The innocence that Paul speaks of isn’t blind to evil, but it does not operate carelessly in regard to evil either.* To be innocent of evil is to be blameless.* Jesus commanded, “be shrewd as snakes and and as innocent as doves’ (Matt. 10:16).* Elsewhere, Paul commanded, do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless [innocent] and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation’ (Philippians 2:14-15).*

The good that Paul tells us we should be wise to is the good of the truth of God’s word.* These two ideas are linked as if we are not wise to God’s truth (the good), we will not recognize what is evil. Similarly, if we are careless with evil, we will become blind to the truth.

In the words of Hugo Grotius, diplomat, lawyer, theologian, jurist, statesman, poet, and playwright of the 16th and 17th century,

[be] too good to deceive and too wise to be deceived.*

We aren’t ignorant of evil, but we are to live blameless of it.

Today, take a step.

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to recognize the truth of God’s Word in an area of your life. Perhaps God would have you take note of the evil around you so that you can apply His truth in regards to it. Maybe God wants you to allow Him to make you blameless in an area that you have fallen into evil.

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.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

*Kruse, C. G. (2012). Paul’s Letter to the Romans (D. A. Carson, Ed.; p. 579–580). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Apollos.
Osborne, G. R. (2004). Romans (pp. 414). InterVarsity Press.
Morris, L. (1988). The Epistle to the Romans (pp. 540–541). W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press.