The Bible Edge
Everyone needs an Edge, Believers can have the Bible Edge
Hebrews 4:14
Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
Pardon the pun, Hebrews is the great “let us” patch (lettuce patch) in the Bible. No other book in the New Testament instructs us on that which we should “let” ourselves do than Hebrews. Not even close. In this wonderful book which is dedicated to proving Christ the phrase “let us” is used 13 times. Romans and Mark come in second by using the phrase 7 times. In all the books that have been read in this office library, nowhere is there found a list of these great admonitions. Let us do that here.
4:1 Let us therefore fear coming short of entering into the rest of God.
4:11 Let us labour to enter into that rest. (this is not speaking about heaven but rather
the victorious Christian life on earth… the spiritual promise land, if you will)
4:14 Let us hold fast our profession. (many are letting their profession of Christ slip)
4:16 Let us come boldly to the throne of grace in prayer for our time of need.
6:1 Let us go on to perfection. (grow in Christ after being born again)
10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance.
10:23 Let us hold fast our profession without wavering.
10:24 Let us consider one another provoking each other unto love and good works.
12:1a Let us lay aside every weight and sin.
12:1b Let us run our race with patience.
12:28 Let us have grace that we may serve God acceptably.
13:13 Let us go forth unto Him bearing His reproach.
13:15 Let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually.
Just reading this list brings conviction. If the only 13 usages of the word “let” were these we could spend a lifetime mastering them. Consider today’s verse where it says let us hold fast our profession. A profession is more than verbal articulation, it is a lifetime vocation. Many call Jesus Lord, and rightly so for so is He. But the profession of their lips does not agree with the work of their hands, the walk of their feet, and frankly the conversation of their tongue. Jesus said so when He quoted Isaiah in Matthew 15:8. This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. In Luke 6:46 Christ also asked: And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
To keep one’s heart close to the Lord, to do the things which He says takes determination to not let our profession of being in Him slip. That’s an edge for life; a Bible Edge.
William Howe, Ph.D.
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