What's the "Therefore" there for?

Hey all… let’s get to our Deeper Thoughts below super-quick today. It will be rich if you do a certain thing with it. More on that in a moment.
 
But first…


·      Take ownership of the future of Mt. Hope Church! Every believer who decides to make Mt. Hope their home is automatically a “member” of our church by virtue of belonging to Jesus. We are instant family. But beyond that immediate position as a family member of Mt. Hope, there are certain members who go further to make a covenant of partnership to help own and steward our church’s direction. If you would like to explore what our Covenant Partners do, who they are, and what it takes to join those ranks, come hang out with us after church on THIS Sunday, January 11 for a 90-minute orientation session—free lunch included! Click here for more info and to RSVP!
 
o   And everyone mark your calendars for our big Annual Celebration and our next Covenant Partners business matters discussion, Sunday, February 8. Everyone is welcome as we celebrate what God is doing at Mt. Hope, cast vision for what’s next, reveal next steps in our facility expansion, and our Covenant Partners will vote on key decisions—to include the proposed appointment of Ryan Sauder and Samuel Sierra as Elders of our church. More details to come!
 
·      Teens: FIRE Worship Night THIS Saturday, 6:00 - 8:30 p.m. Join us to grow deeper with God & others with pizza, connection, worship, devotion & discussion by candlelight!
 
o   Youth Group THIS Sunday, 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Melissa Wiggins will be sharing her awesome God-story. Snacks, devotion, prayer & connection. Let Jess know if your student needs a ride home.
 
·      Ladies: A NEW Ladies Bible study kicks off THIS Tuesday, January 13 at 7:00 p.m. at the church. Join us with the book "The Circle Maker" by Mark Batterson and learn to pray in a new way as we draw prayer circles around our family, dreams, and the promises of God!  Click here for more info and to RSVP!
 
o   Also… join us Saturday, January 31, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. for a special event as we make prayer and gratitude journals to deepen our relationship with God. More info to come!
 
·      A memorial service for Larry Motz, Pastor Chris’ stepfather and Mt. Hope beloved, will be held on Saturday, February 14, at 11:00 a.m. All are welcome.
 
·      This week’s “Daily Six” continues our super-special six minutes each morning in the Word of God, Monday through Friday, on our Daily Six webpage as we focus on some “Best of The Daily Six,” looking back on content from years ago that still inspires where we are in our spiritual growth today. If you’d like to receive daily email reminders and you’re not already getting them, click here to sign up! 
 
OK…that’s it for you email skimmers and you who don’t want any richness from anything. BUT…
 
 
Some Deeper Thoughts…
 
You’ve heard me say it many times before: whenever you come across a “therefore” in scripture, you should ask “what’s the ‘Therefore’ there for?”
 
The saying isn’t original to me. I believe it was Pastor Rick Hudgens, my first senior pastor I served right out of Bible college, who taught me this. His point was that anytime you see a “therefore” in scripture, it is pointing to what has just been revealed in the previous chapter or verses and then gives you a specific thing to DO as a result.
 
It’s like the Divine version of my every-Sunday “So what am I supposed DO with this?” question that I hear many of you appreciate in our weekend teachings.
 
OK. You get the point, right?
 
“So, now… what am I supposed to do with this right here and right now in my Friday email from Chris?”
 
I’m glad you asked. It will be rich if you do this. Here goes: Go get your Bible. A physical copy… not your phone or iPad. Get it open to Hebrews 12:28. You got it? Stop reading if you don’t… go get it…
 
Now, you see the “therefore.” Check. So… what is it there for, and what is it asking you to do?
 
We just finished last week with two Sundays exploring the “Stunning Outcome” promised in Hebrews 8, 9, 10, and 12 that reveals the grand stage-play the Old Testament tabernacle was designed to be. Chapter upon chapter of the Old Testament commanded the People of Israel to carefully construct a tabernacle—often called “The Tent of Meeting”—which would be where God would meet with His people in His manifest presence. If you missed any of these teachings, it would be worth your 40 minutes to take in last Sunday’s message by clicking here… you’ll get the picture.
 
The stage-play is all about Jesus opening for us a stunning access to the Holy of Holies: the pure, perfect, and complete “manifest presence of God,” which is where God manifests Himself beyond the invisible into a very real, tangible, perceivable closeness with you right here and right now.
 
In Hebrews 12:28, “therefore” speaks to what we DO with this great stage-play. It is what we do with an invitation into God’s unmasked presence. (NOTE: you’ll likely not see Him with your physical eyes… only a handful people in human history have gotten that privilege. But with your spiritual eyes—the impulses of your spiritual heart—you will be able to discern His presence is tangible, not by your physical senses, but by your inner person just knowing He is here and He is speaking.)
 
When we break through into the manifest presence of God because Jesus has opened up the way to His Holy of Holies (see Hebrews 10:18-22), we can therefore DO exactly what is explained to us in Hebrews 12:28 and the following verses.
 
Here’s my assignment for you today—and it promises to be a rich experience if you’ll take me up on it: Take Hebrews 12:28 and read it in your physical copy of scripture—with a pen—and keep reading through Hebrews 13:21. (Remember that when it was written, there was not a chapter break here… Hebrews 13:1 and following are a continuation of the “therefore” instructions.)
 
As you read, take your pen and mark / circle / underline each specific instruction. There are a bunch of them. THEN… once marked, prayerfully go back through each instruction and ask the Lord to reveal to you what that instruction might practically mean in your immediate life. Let the Holy Spirit give you the revelation of a specific context for your present life today.
 
This is rich… that God has revealed in His Word precise step-by-step application of what to do with His presence in our lives. And as we study the Word, His Holy Spirit can apply that into our actual daily experiences and circumstances. His application “spoken” to you will probably feel like a subtle impulse, an impression, an idea that just feels right.
 
Try it. See what happens. Then, let’s meet!! We’ll be in Hebrews 13 this Sunday and next, 10:00 a.m… don’t forget your Bible and a pen! Can’t wait!
 
Much love to you all…
 
Chris Eads
Mt. Hope Pastor
Friend
[email protected]