so due to some recent events i've been thinking a lot about this verse over the past couple of weeks. hebrews 2:16 has brought me immense amounts of encouragement and comfort as i've seen the power of prayer and how it works (even today)! this is what it says (literally from the greek):
for obviously he (jesus) does not himself HELP angels,
but he does personally HELP abraham's children (lit. seed).
the word for help here is epilambaneti (in greek) which means:
to reach out your hand and take a needy person by his hand in order to help him
this is the same word used in matt. 14:31, mark 8:23, luke 14:4, and hebrews 8:9. these are amazing stories of jesus reaching out to help different people in their time of most need, one of which includes where he is walking on water and reaches down to pull peter up out of the raging sea after his moment of doubt.
this has been such an encouragement to me because it reminds me that christ himself will personally reach out his hand to save me. abraham's children are not only those who are direct descendants but also those of us who have been adopted into his body by christ's sacrifice.
when we are in the moments of our greatest need, do we reach out to christ for help or are we willing to sink beneath the crushing waves in our own pride?
this is not some prosperity gospel, but rather the reality that as god's children we are going to find ourselves under the attack of the evil one and only god can save us. praise god that he has provided us a way out! hard times will come but as one of god's children we have all the power of the creator of the universe on our side! dang, that's cool!
some thoughts thanks to dr. sauer (prof. at MBI)
2 comments:
Phil, we were talking today about God being "above all." And He really is--He's above the troubles and frustrations; He's above the fears and directs the hopes. And yet He reaches down and touches each life in different ways. Praise the Lord for His willingness to use us, such menial creatures in His eyes. Thank Him for His willingness to save us, such unworthy beings as we are. Bless Him, for He has prompted others to share the Great Good News with us, that we might live and that we might live abundantly!
And yet, magnify and lift Him up, so that He might draw all men unto Himself.
Praise Him, for He is above all!
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