In God's Word by Mike Mills: the Benediction

August 18, 2015 - This week we will look at (Hebrews 13:20-21), the Benediction, or blessing from the author to all those who read it.

The 1st verse of our text today verse 21, says; “Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant.

Our God, the God of peace is alone in His ability to bestow peace, which passes all understanding. It was Christ Jesus who first made peace by the blood of His cross. Each Christian being justified by faith, has peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus truly is The Great Shepherd of the sheep by the blood of the everlasting covenant. He alone knows His sheep and they alone know Him, He calls and they follow Him. His sheep shall not want for He cares for them, He leads them in green pastures and by still waters.

Verse 21 says; “make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever Amen.

Our job is to work out our own salvation by fearing God, doing things that are His will and for His pleasure and not our own.

We are to do these things without griping or complaining for God has ordained that each of His children work, even though salvation cannot be obtained through or by works. Works are done because of salvation not for salvation

The burden of the scriptures for today is that Christians might be made complete or mature in their ability to do God’s will. There is no higher aim or calling in life than to do the Masters will each day. Jesus’ primary objective was that He would do the Father’s will each day of His time on earth. To this day, He is the only person to ever accomplish a perfect record of service to God, the Father.

God is love: to do His will is to show love each day to all people. God is light: by doing His will each day we manifest the light of the gospel of Christ to a fallen world. God is peace: to do His is to strive to live at peace with all mankind when possible. God wants us to be good soldiers, not spiritual dwarfs.

He enables us to fight the good fight of faith by providing us with His armor, by giving us the Holy Spirit to lead us in our battles with evil each day. And by strengthening us through the knowledge of the Word of God, for that knowledge is far greater than anything, which is in this world.

When a believer is taught by the Word of God and led by the Spirit of God, and is at all times praising God, then all that he does is pleasing to God.

In Micah 4:6 the prophet tells us just what the Lord does require of us each day it is simply to; “But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God.

You are always welcome to join us for Bible Study on Tuesday evenings in Timpson at the Community Center in SoSo Park and on Wednesday evenings at Spring Hill Baptist Church. For more information please call (936-615-1427).