Village Schools of the Bible

Reviewing the 'Lettuce' Patch

To all our nearby Village Schools Friends, may I remind you of our 20thAnniversary Celebration Banquet on Friday, April 26th. The details are in ourschool paper, the Philogian, which you have recently received and on our Web site, www.vsb.net. It would be a great encouragement to have you along at our birthday party. If you can come, phone the Village Office, 952-540-9460, as soon as possible to reserve your seats. Tickets are $25 each.

Hello, my friend. It has been encouraging to hear from various E-LINKERS how this rather long look at this letter to the Hebrews has been stimulating and enabling. It is inevitable that one is strengthened as you focus on any Scripture with eager intention and I, too, have thoroughly enjoyed digging into the Book this way. We continue to ask ourselves who was the author, and I continue to be inclined to think it was the Apostle Paul. However, there are features about this letter which differ in a way from his other letters and one of them is the way the author uses the phrase "LET US..." so frequently. It is both an invitation involving and linking both the writer and the reader, as well as a reminder of things which are of particular importance. I thought I would just list some of the more prominent such phrases, allowing the Holy Spirit to apply them to our hearts as He sees fit.

Heb.4:1, "Let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it."
Heb.4:11, "Let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest..."
Heb.4:14, "Let us hold firmly to the faith we profess."
Heb.4:16, "Let us then approach the throne of Grace with confidence"
Heb.6:1 "Let us leave the elementary teaching about Christ and go on to maturity..."
Heb.10:22 "Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith.."
Heb.10:23, "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful."
Heb.10:24, "Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds."
Heb.10:25, "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing."
Heb.10:25, "Let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching."
Heb.12:1, "Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles."
Heb.12:1, "Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."
Heb.12:1, "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith."

Thirteen invitations to growth, to true Body Life. As we ponder these reminders and find opportunity to share them with others so the letter will continue to make an impact on us forever. As you have seen, they emphasize attitudes which should mark our seeking God: "Be careful... make every effort.. hold firmly.. approach with confidence... leave elementary teachings..draw near to God...hold unswervingly... spur one another on... meet together.. encourage one another..throw off all that hinders...run with perseverance the race before us.." And finally the "Let us.." which seems to be the motivation for fulfilling all the others... "LET US FIX OUR EYES ON JESUS...".

"We bow together, Lord Jesus, to thank you, God's Living Word, for the privilege we have had to fix our eyes on You, the Author and Completer of our Faith. We thank you that you are the Father's Word, and that He has spoken to us by you, His Son, as this letter declares in its first statements. We worship you, Lord Jesus. 'I need no other argument, I need no other plea, It is enough that Jesus died and that You died for me.'" May the Lord bless you, my friend, as we share the reward He gives to those who diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6)

Cheerio, Monty