The Present Jesus

Last week, we saw that Jesus is the same yesterday. So this week, as we continue the chronological progression, we'll see Jesus is the same in the present.

The Same Comfort for Today
In the first week, I shared how I prefer "new" things and not routine. Yet, if I'm honest, some routines or consistencies are comforting. For instance, I find it reassuring the sun comes up each morning. I'm thankful air is consistently available to breathe. And I like having pizza every Friday night (just don't serve me the exact same pizza every Friday!). There can be great comfort in knowing something is the same today as it was last week.

That's what the author of Hebrews wants us to realize: the consistency of Jesus should bring us comfort and inspiration. You don't have to wake up each day wondering what mood God is going to be in. His love, mercy, justice and character are the same each and every day... including today.

Today's Comfort Comes From Yesterday's Faithfulness
But there is something else I want you to see. In the verse just before our key verse for this series, the author says,

"Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith." (Hebrews 13:7)

Have you ever respected someone so much you wanted to be like them? Maybe it was a parent, a teacher, a famous athlete, or a mentor. You looked at them, their demeanor, their character, their accomplishments, and you found yourself wanting to imitate them.

The reason you respected them so much is because you saw their consistency. By seeing how they behaved “yesterday,” you had an idea of what you needed to do “today.”

The author of Hebrews encourages his readers to do something similar, to look at their spiritual leaders, the ones who taught them the Gospel, and to "imitate their faith” by remembering how they behaved “yesterday,” so the reader might know how to behave today.

But then the author takes it a step further. He doesn’t just point to the spiritual leaders, he points to Jesus, the most consistent of all. You can look at Jesus’ sacrifice through the cross “yesterday” and let it inspire you to “live like Jesus lived” today.

So let me encourage you to allow the knowledge of Jesus’ presence in the present to comfort you, but let His selfless actions through the cross of “yesterday” inspire you to live selflessly today.