Sabbath School Class Week 19

Sabbath School Class Week 19

Last week we came to a clearer understanding of Jesus.  We saw him as our trainer, as someone who is beside us encouraging us and helping to train us into the person he would have us be.  The first  two verses of this next study remind me of my 1/2 marathon.  I injured my right knee some where in mile number 2.  I could keep going when the road was flat or going down but even the slightest incline and I was in agony.  We are running a race and the next few verses talk about doing all we can as we walk the path of life toward our eternity with our Savior.  He wants us to finish strong without injury. Can you imagine running any race with your creator by your side?  Can you imagine?

While I was running my race a woman kept showing up at the most difficult moments to encourage me and run/ walk  beside me.  I wouldn't see her for miles and then as I approached a hill she was right there with her arm through mine encouraging me.  To this day I am amazed by what she did for me.  Jesus is that for us, but we can also be that for one another!  

READ:

12 Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.13 “Make level paths for your feet,”[b] so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.

Warning and Encouragement

14 Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.16 See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. 17 Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears, he could not change what he had done.

Make level paths for your feet.....  What does this mean?

In the message it says... Clear the path for long-distance runners so no one will trip and fall, so no one will step in a hole and sprain an ankle. Help each other out. And run for it!

How do we level or clear a path and what is this path?  

In 2 Samuel 22:37 David writes:  You provide a broad path for my feet,

so that my ankles do not give way. 

In this passage David is writing about what the Lord is doing for Him.  Yet here in Hebrews the author has used his words but is asking we do this for one another.  How is that?

We realized last week that it was our job to lead others to Christ their trainer. Here the author is telling us to make that path smooth, get rid of the hills, make sure it is a smooth easy path for them....  to what?  

The next paragraph perhaps answers all that for us... READ verses 14-17.

Here it tells us what? We are to make sure_______________________

What important lesson do we learn from Esau?

Back in verse 15.  What does it mean to make sure that no one falls short of the Grace of God?  

Remember the picture the author is painting for us... running a race, Jesus as our trainer.  Then he talks about a flat path that no one trips and gets hurt on.  Then don't let anyone fall short.... of the goal (GRACE of GOD!) Once again it points to this path, this encouragement we are to be giving, we are to do NOTHING that can in anyway keep someone from making it into the arms of JESUS!!!!! 

What could be some hills or rocks or pitfalls that we create for those who are on their way to meet Jesus?

If you do a search for the word paths.  It is very interesting.  Over and over we are asked to make the path straight and level.  Easy.  

When you think of navigating church and the relationships in church, the "rights and wrongs" the "requirements"... do we make the path to Jesus, with Jesus straight and without hills, or do we mistakenly make it a slippery path.  See in all the scriptures the slippery path is the wrong path... which one are we making or contributing to?  

It isn't that Jesus is easy, that a walk with him is a beautiful straight stroll on a beautiful hill-less path... or am I?  

Let's continue on.  READ: 

The Mountain of Fear and the Mountain of Joy

18 You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; 19 to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, 20 because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.”[c] 21 The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”[d]

22 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly,23 to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

25 See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”[e] 27 The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.

28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our “God is a consuming fire.”[f]

A mountain of Fear or a mountain of joy?  When you introduce people to your Savior do they see the mountain of fear of the mountain of joy?

I know the God on Mount Sinai is the same God who sent His son... so why the difference? 

JESUS 

Jesus is a big difference!!!!!  Now when we accept him, when we come to him and accept His grace, we don't have to go to the mountain of fear we are with him and going to the Mount Zion. 

The path to Jesus MUST be easy, it is easy!  He has taken away the fear, He has paid the price, he has shed His blood for us. We must be careful to take the path, to walk the path into His arms of Grace and do all we can to make sure that it is a path welcoming for those who have yet to meet him, have yet to accept His grace.  Once in HIS arms they will be able to navigate life, they will find strength, and experience JOY.  

Are you in HIS arms of grace? 

Challenge:

Daily go to His arms, pray for new direction in how to flatten and smooth out the path to Jesus for all you come in contact with!