The life-maps of God are right, showing the way to joy. Psalm 19:8 THE MESSAGE.

Yet I am always with You; You hold me by my right hand. You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward You will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire but You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:23-26.

God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! Psalm 46:1-3.

This final chapter of Hebrews, Hebrews 13, helped me see that this was written before the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD. But it helped me see so much more. It shows us the real Temple and the true Altar. Let love of the brethren continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body. Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge. Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,” so that we confidently say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?” Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited. We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned outside the camp. Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate. So, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach. For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come. Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you. Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a good conscience, desiring to conduct ourselves honorably in all things. And I urge you all the more to do this, so that I may be restored to you the sooner. Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead, the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. But I urge you, brethren, bear with this word of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly. Take notice that our brother Timothy has been released, with whom, if he comes soon, I will see you. Greet all of your leaders and all the saints. Those from Italy greet you. Grace be with you all.

When the disciples were with Jesus in Jerusalem before His crucifixion, they marveled at the Temple building. When the religious leaders angrily demanded to know by what authority Jesus was driving out the sellers of animals for sacrifice and the money-changers, in the Temple, Jesus said, “Destroy this temple…and in three days I will raise it up.” (John 2:19). They did. And He did. Those bodies of those animals killed for the sacrifice and offering of blood were burned outside the gate. Hebrews tells us who Jesus, the Son, IS. He is our sacrifice for our sins. Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood...suffered outside the gate. His body is the temple. His blood was sprinkled on the altar that was the cross. Can we sit with that for a moment? Creator God, the Son, came to be with us to show us the Father. And His body, beaten and scourged, was hung on the cross that His blood would sanctify us and atone for our sins. Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant…even Jesus our Lord…equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight…through Jesus Christ…to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen! For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come! Remember? The city which has foundations, whose Architect and Builder is God. If only they could have known. What about today? We are drowning in an ocean of words – and now – artificial “intelligence” created by machines held in huge data centers are spilling out even more words than ever before. When what we truly need is truth that is real and eternal. The truth of who Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit, IS. The truth of who we are – His children dearly loved. The truth of His kingdom…which has foundations whose Architect and Builder is God! And joy of joy…we can be present with Him as He guides and leads us. He leads us to Himself! Why read Hebrews and Scripture with His help? Why indeed! So we can know.