Bible.com.au: Reading Plan - Developing Spiritual Resilience

Reflection:

People have many different ideas about what God is like. Who gets to define what God is like? Well, God does. And God has, in the person of Jesus.

God is not pure mystery beyond all understanding. In Jesus, God has chosen to reveal himself. Hebrews 1:3 says Jesus is ‘the exact representation of God’s being’. Colossians 2:9 says all of God’s fullness dwelt in Jesus. When one of Jesus’ disciples asked to see God the Father, Jesus replied, ‘Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.’ (John 14:9)

Reformer, John Calvin rightly said, “God is comprehended in Christ alone.” Former Anglican Archbishop Arthur Michael Ramsey puts it this way: “God is Christlike and in him is no un-Christlikeness at all.”

What is God like? He is like Jesus. In Jesus we see God. As my friend Dion Fasi puts it, “When God takes a selfie it looks like Jesus.” (see Colossians 1:15) What does this mean?

Read the gospels. Look at how Jesus interacted with his disciples, with the sick, with the marginalised, and with those searching for truth. In Jesus we see what God is like. God is trustworthy. God does have our best interests at heart.

Prayer:

Thank you, Father God that you do not want to remain a pure mystery, but in Jesus, you have given yourself to be known. Thank you, Lord Jesus, that you truly reveal exactly what God is like, and that this is such good news! Where my heart-picture of you, Lord, is different from what I see in Jesus, would you transform my mind by your Spirit into the true knowledge of God?

Hebrews 1:1-14

God’s Final Word: His Son

1In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. 3The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.

The Son Superior to Angels

5For to which of the angels did God ever say,

“You are my Son;

today I have become your Father”?

Or again,

“I will be his Father,

and he will be my Son”?

6And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says,

“Let all God’s angels worship him.”

7In speaking of the angels he says,

“He makes his angels spirits,

and his servants flames of fire.”

8But about the Son he says,

“Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever;

a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.

9You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;

therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions

by anointing you with the oil of joy.”

10He also says,

“In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth,

and the heavens are the work of your hands.

11They will perish, but you remain;

they will all wear out like a garment.

12You will roll them up like a robe;

like a garment they will be changed.

But you remain the same,

and your years will never end.”

13To which of the angels did God ever say,

“Sit at my right hand

until I make your enemies

a footstool for your feet”?

14Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

Developing Spiritual Resilience

Day 7 of 14

NIV

Hebrews 1:1-3

Days

Hebrews 1:1-14