TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Hebrews 4:15
Read: Hebrews 4:14-16
Listen: Hebrews 4
TODAY’S MESSAGE
The wall is almost done. Nehemiah faces one more hurdle. He visits a friend who then betrays Nehemiah (Nehemiah 6:10-14). The friend is an accomplice of Nehemiah’s enemies. He’s sold out and plots to destroy Nehemiah’s reputation. It’s a Judas moment. One threat to any rebuild is a betrayal by a close friend. Jesus faced this in his ministry. Like Nehemiah, Jesus knows betrayal. He didn’t let bitterness creep in but instead completed his mission to die on the cross for the sins of humanity.
We’re all broken people. Nehemiah experiences betrayal, and we’ll likely have something similar happen to us someday. When that happens, we can be strengthened by knowing Jesus experienced this. The writer of Hebrews shows that we can hold firmly to our faith in Jesus, no matter what happens, because Jesus knows what we’re going through. We read in Hebrews, “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). The things Jesus experienced while he was on earth should give us confidence to ask God for what we need. We can run to God to get us through when we’re betrayed.
IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY
Personalize and pray Hebrews 4:14-16. Here’s an example: “Jesus, thank you for being the great high priest who ascended to heaven. Please help me hold firm to my faith in you. Thank you for enduring life as a human, with all its pain and temptations. Thank you for empathizing with what I go through. Help me have the confidence and trust in you to bring my struggles and pain to you. Please give me the mercy and grace I need to follow you and show your love to the people around me.
2023 SPIRITUAL PRACTICES
Join us all of 2023 developing a different spiritual practice each month. SPIRITUAL PRACTICES are intentional regular activities to deepen our relationship with God and mold us to be more like Jesus.
November is BIBLE MEDITATION. Keep track of our spiritual practices at beyondtheweekend.org/spiritualpractices.
Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.
