Therefore, brothers and sisters who are partners in the heavenly calling, think about Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession. 2 Jesus was faithful to the one who appointed him just like Moses was faithful in God’s house. 3 But he deserves greater glory than Moses in the same way that the builder of the house deserves more honor than the house itself. 4 Every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. 5 Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant in order to affirm the things that would be spoken later. 6 But Jesus was faithful over God’s house as a Son. We are his house if we hold on to the confidence and the pride that our hope gives us.
Reflection
If you’ve ever had to build a house, or contract to have extensive renovations or repairs to your house, you know how difficult completing that task can be. It takes planning, unwavering belief in the vision, and perseverance to get to the planned for result. But imagine you are building a house, not made of lumber, bricks or mortar, but a house made of people who share in the heavenly calling of God. Today’s scripture writer reminds us that we are the house built by God.
God is the builder of everything, the divine planner with vision and faithfulness to complete the great work of salvation through Christ Jesus. Moses was called by God to be part of God’s eternal house building plan, God’s salvation of the world, long before God came to dwell among us as Jesus in human form.
Just as Moses was sent to save the Israelites and lead them to freedom from Egypt, so Jesus was sent to save us from sin and death. Jesus is our apostle, meaning ‘the one who is sent” and our high priest, the one who mediates with God on our behalf. Through Jesus we are made holy and share in the heavenly calling to do God’s will. Moses was a faithful servant of God serving in God’s house, doing all that God required of him. But Jesus is the faithful son of God, who died to redeem us, and is over God’s house, all of God’s people. We aren’t servants in God’s house, we are siblings in Christ, heirs to God’s promise, and family members of God’s household of faith. We are the living house of God as long as we are persevering in our faith and following the example of Jesus. Through our faithfulness God continues to be at work in the world building God’s house, the Kin-dom of God.
by Jeneene Reduker
For Pondering & Prayer
Persevering in our faith is challenging, but as children of God we don’t persevere alone, because we have salvation through Jesus. We are the house God built to be a living witness to God’s love and grace in the world. And we have confidence and pride that our hope in Jesus gives us.
We’re all still “under construction” as followers of Jesus. How are you a “partner in the heavenly calling?” How does your life reflect that you are the house of God?
Prayer: Holy and Loving God, you have blessed us with your everlasting grace. Help us to persevere and be faithful as we follow Jesus, the head of your house as you build your Kindom. Amen.
As We Begin Lent
For our Lent series this year, we’ll be using the Adam Hamilton book Luke: Jesus and the Outsiders, Outcasts, and Outlaws. At his website, you can find a 40-day reading plan to help you read through the Gospel of Luke during Lent. And join us for worship, in-person or online, at 9:00 & 10:30 every Sunday.
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