Welcome to the first installment of Light Switch Devos, the aim is to give the congregation of Mundelein Church of the Nazarene an opportunity to engage more fully with the material being shared from the pulpit on Sunday morning.

The devotionals below were originally shared via the Mundy Naz Facebook page.

HEBREWS 1 – Week 1

Let’s get one thing right at the beginning of this series.  Despite what popular culture and countless movies would like us to believe, we DO NOT become angels when we die. 

Yes, God created the angels, just like he created you & me. Look at Hebrews 1:13-14 NIV:

BUT…

To which of the angels did God ever say, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet]? Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

Did you catch it? 

“Angels [are] ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

THEREFORE…

The job of an angel is to minister to us on the road to and after our salvation.  There is nowhere in scripture that indicates angels will have the honor of sitting at the right hand (or the left) of God, or that they will even be invited to the table.

Let’s look at it from another angle:

Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23:6 NIV

There is not any indication that a person must “earn their wings” before residing in heaven. We CAN NOT earn our way into heaven.  We can NEVER do enough good to outweigh the bad.  It is only through the blood of Jesus that we are made worthy of heaven.

If you need further convincing, consider the words of Jesus to the thief on the cross.

But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” – Luke 23:40-43 NIV

On that very day, the thief entered Heaven. No earning wings. No looking for a golden ticket to the throne room. No purgatory. No waiting around. He went directly from the cross into the presence of God.

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HEBREWS 3 – Week 2

At its core, the Bible is a story of deliverance. 

He was faithful to the one who appointed Him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house. Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. “Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house,” bearing witness to what would be spoken by God in the future. But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory. – Hebrews 3:2-6 NIV

God used Moses to deliver the Israelites from slavery to Pharoah. Centuries later, Jesus went to the cross to deliver us from sin.

Hebrews 3:14-15. 19 reminds us, “We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end. As has just been said: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.”..So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.”  

Christ’s life…Christ’s death…Christ’s resurrection. All point to His divine purpose.  Christ willingly came from Heaven to live among humanity so that through His death we can spend eternity in the presence of the Father. How cool is that?

If you are reading this today and do not have a personal relationship with Jesus, TODAY is the day to open your heart and let Him in.  You don’t have to say a specific prayer. You only have to pray and invite Jesus to be involved in your day-to-day life.  Your past sins will be immediately wiped away and your life of deliverance will begin.

As I wrote these words, I prayed for each of you to join me in a life that is surrendered to God. 

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HEBREWS 4 (Part 1) – Week 3

For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed. Hebrews 4:1 NIV

I think this passage is telling us that the Word of God is a seed that we should water daily by exercising our faith. I’m not talking about a few extra laps in the pool this afternoon or adding some extra crunches to your morning routine. No, I’m talking about living your faith in such a way that Jesus oozes out of every pore. 

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” – Mark 12:30-31 NIV

You don’t have to do everything all at once, but as a Christfollower you should endeavor to spread God’s Word liberally no matter where you go.

Love God!

Love People!

Live Out Your Faith!

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HEBREWS 4 (Part 2) – Week 4

The Old Testament tells us the Holy of Holies was covered by a veil, and no one was allowed to enter except the High Priest. However, he was only allowed to do so once a year (on Yom Kippur), to offer the annual sacrifice. This was the closest anyone was able to get to the presence of God.

BUT NOW…

We have direct access to God through prayer and a personal relationship.  How cool is that! We don’t have to wait for an invitation or a specific day of the year.  All we have to do is humble ourselves and pray. 

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. – Hebrews 4:16 NIV

In case you were wondering, the sermon texts were:

September 11 |  Hebrews 2:7-11
September 18 |  Hebrews 3:7-12
September 25 |  Hebrews 4:9-11
October 2 | Hebrews 4:14-16
October 9 | Hebrews 5:11-6:3
October 16 | Hebrews 7:26-28
October 23 | Hebrews 10:19-25
October 30 | Hebrews 11
November 6 | Hebrews 12:14-18
November 13 | Hebrews 13:1-6

Our Sunday sermons can be found at Mundelein Church of the Nazarene (YouTube)