Captain. Through.

In preparation for this morning's Worship Service, I read Hebrews 2:9-18. Verse 10, caught my attention. 

For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. Hebrews 2:10 (NKJV)

For: indeed, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification

Many: emphasizes the quantity involved

Sons: properly, a son (by birth or adoption); (figuratively) anyone sharing the same nature as their Father. For the believer, becoming a son of God begins with being reborn (adopted) by the heavenly Father – through Christ (the work of the eternal Son). Emphasizes likeness of the believer to the heavenly Father, i.e. resembling His character more and more by living in faith; highlights the (legal) right to the Father's inheritance.

Glory: "the glorious condition of blessedness into which it is appointed and promised that true Christians shall enter after their Saviour's return from heaven" Thayer's Greek Lexicon 

Captain: from two words meaning "the first" and "to lead" – properly, the first in a long procession; a file-leader who pioneers the way for many others to follow. Arxēgós does not strictly mean "author," but rather "a person who is originator or founder of a movement and continues as the leader – i.e. 'pioneer leader, founding leader' " HelpsBible.com

Salvation: to bring to the end (goal) proposed

Perfect: to bring to the end (goal) proposed

Through: "thoroughly," literally, "successfully" across to the other side

Sufferings: misfortune, calamity, evil, affliction, something undergone, i.e. hardship or pain

A couple words stand out to me as I read and studies Hebrews 2:9-18.

Captain (first and leader, currently involved)

Through (successfully across to the other side; victory!)

Looking forward to hearing Pastor Osborne preach

on Hebrews 2:9-18 this morning. 

To listen the sermon, check this website:

http://www.faithbaptistwh.org/watchservice/

Faith Baptist Church • Winter Haven, FL

Proverbs 4:5-7: All-out Effort

Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth. Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will keep you. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. and in all your getting, get understanding. Proverbs 4:5-7

Get: by implication to own -- attain 

Wisdom: ethical and religious

Understanding: the faculty (an ability, natural or acquired, for a particular kind of action)

Do not forget: cause to forget, to be oblivious of

Turn away: to bend away (including moral deflection)

Forsake: be remote, absent, depart

Perserve: keep, watch, guard, protect

Love: beloved like, friend, to have affection for

Keep: guard from dangers, preserve

Principal: absolute chief, the first, in place, time, order or rank

Understanding: discernment

As I read these verses, I couldn't help but picture a football game. The intense desire of the teams to "get the ball" to "get the touchdown". Offense and Defense want that ball — and all the effort is directed to getting it! Offense has the ball, and what they do with it, is key if they want to keep it and score. Defense is in an all-out effort to get that ball either by causing a fumble, interception, or taking over on downs. All-out effort is put forth in "getting". 

Do I put forth the same effort in getting Wisdom? Do I get an all-out effort to get the treasure of Wisdom? 

And once I get wisdom, what do I do with it? Do I use it, or do I hide in the locker room? Having wisdom is one thing, but using the understanding of wisdom is a different level of play. It's using wisdom to direct my life. Wisdom should be a good friend, whom I want to have beside me throughout life. No matter what comes, wisdom will be there to direct and guard me.

Wisdom should be the first and foremost thing which I desire and strive to get, and it should have first place in my life. Wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord and that begins with a heart permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31MSG). 

All-out effort. First and foremost. Get Wisdom. It will change your life! 

Unmatchable. Unsurpassable.

"He also is the Head of [His] body, the church; seeing He is the Beginning, the Firstborn from among the dead, so that He alone in everything and in every respect might occupy the chief place [stand first and be preeminent]." Colossians 1:18 (AMP)

First and be preeminent. 

Number One. Incomparable. Supreme. Superior. Unequalled. Ultimate. Matchless. Unmatchable. Unsurpassable. 

Occupy. 

Be active with. Immerse. Involve. Engage. Monopolize. Residence.

In EVERY respect. 

Without exception. Consideration. Practice. Regard.

Fact: Jesus Christ is the first and unequalled. 

Because of that FACT, He is to have unmatchable and unsurpassable residence in my heart and life, without exception. There is to be NO competition.

Does Jesus Christ have the ultimate, unmatchable, preeminent place in every aspect of my life? 

In order for me to say "yes" to that question, I must be permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31; MSG).