Today’s reading: 1 Peter 4 & Matthew 14 NIV
SCRIPTURE
“22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
 25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
 27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid. 28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” 29 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” 32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” 34 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him.” -Matthew 14:22-35 NIV

OBSERVATION
As I visualize this setting - I see Peter and his friends getting into a boat one evening to cross the Sea of Galilee.  Peter was a veteran boater-he’d been on boats his whole life fishing with has family daily.  However, as the sun set a storm began to arise.  Not a light or with a gentle breeze either.  the gospel record within Matthew says the boat was “tormented” by the waves.  “Tormented!”  It was so violent that the only the men could do was to attempt to keep the boat upright - aka: bail water & hope... - no navigating - no fishing - sleepless, endless fighting to keep the boat from not capsizing.  (Ever seen the perfect storm?) Imagine what state of mind these sailors were in six hours later - adrienne all but gone - operating out of a pure state of exhaustion - picture the faces of those men who have next to no sea experience / hear their screams.... -

Then someone noticed a shadow moving toward them on the water.  As it go closer, it became apparent that it was the figure of a human being - walking on the water - a ghost or spirit! (Take a moment to process that - I for one might have to check my shorts....).  The crew was convinced a ghost was approaching, and so they became terrified and started to cried out in fear and desperation.  

Often in the middle of storms tormented by waves of disappointment, doubt, and helplessness, I am no better a recognizing the presence of who approaches than the crew.  As I reread the story I get a small since that the writer is wanted me (the reader) to know that Jesus often come when least expected -hours into a storm.

Another aspect not discussed a lot - twelve men sat in the boat, and we don’t know how eleven of them responded.  Perhaps with confusion, wonder, disbelief, fear, or a mixture of each - but one of them - Peter recognized this wasn’t a ghost or mere illusion.  Peter calls out to this figure - this water walker, “If it’s you, command me to come to you on the water.”  For some time I have been intrigued why the writer includes this detail?  Why doesn’t Peter just jump out onto the water?  Hmmm.... Is this story about faith, risk taking or obedience - or a mixture of the three?  Courage alone is not enough; it must be accompanied by wisdom and discernment.  Here the writer is not glorifying risk taking for its own sake as much as I would like - this means before Peter gets out of the boast he had better make sure Jesus things it’s a good idea. (faith/reality - aka: a God idea verses just a good idea).  So, we hear Peter asking for clarity, “If it is you, command me....”  And in the midst of tossing waves, I think Jesus smiled.

As I put myself in Peter’s place for a moment - seeing a figure on the water - thinking I heard Jesus and find myself asking Him to confirm things.  Inwardly questioning, “Is He really inviting me out? “ “Is He really asking me to come and follow Him?” Honestly, I would I’m scared to death - would I have the courage to test the waters or would I cowrie back and watch another step out?  If I don’t move there’s a guaranteed certainty that I will never walk on the water.  I might continually look back and wonder: “what if....?”

I think there’s something here.       
Something internally goes off - acknowledging there is more to life than cowering in a boat.
I was made for more than merely avoiding risk or failure.

What am I putting my trust in, especially when life gets stormy?  What is providing me with a sense of comfort to the degree that I don’t want to give it up even if it’s keeping me from flourishing and joining Jesus out on the water?  What is pulling me away from risk taking, high adventure?  Is it the lack of courage?  The grip of some underlying fear....? (Hmmm.... what is it that most produces fear in me - especially when I think of leaving it behind and stepping out in faith? Leaving this place of fear may be the hardest things I’ve ever done - as it may require me returning to a place where I experienced a great deal of pain). On one hand I question: In what area of my life am I shrinking back from fully and courageously trusting God? Because of the wind, some never decide to step out; while, other step up to the plate and swing (even the best baseball players go down swinging two out of three times). And in the other hand I picture Peter going to the side of the boat - putting one foot over the side, gripping the edge of the boat - then the other foot - sitting on the edge - watching the waves leap forward and slap his against his face - his holding on.... then he let’s go and abandons himself... and reality sets in - setbacks, opposition, unexpected obstacles - a violent gust of wind (all should be expected, but so often we follow Jesus from a perceived illusion of tranquility). It’s here in the midst of processing this and writing it out another question arises as Peter sinks into the water - did Peter fail?  (Personal observation about failure: Failure is not an event, but rather a judgment about the outcome of a particular scenario - it’s the way I process outcomes / aka a measuring stick - and something I believe Jesus desires to set me free from).  Even through people conclude that Peter failed.  I think there were eleven bigger failure sitting in a “tormented” boat - the worst failure is not sinking in the tossing waves - the failure is to cowrie back and get out of the boat due to fear / comfort.
   
APPLICATION
So where do I go from here?  What do I get out of this?
Responding to Jesus called cause us to step out.
To know His voice.
Respond / Step out verses shrink back.

Failure is an opportunity to grow.
As soon as Peter asks for help, Jesus is there.  He meets Peter right where he is at and helps Peter physically by grabbing ahold of him pulling him from the water.  It’s here when Jesus is alone with Peter on the water as the wind blows and the waves crash that Jesus says, “you of little faith, why did you doubt?”  It maybe that Jesus id not want to embarrass Peter in front of the other disciples - so privately they have a mentoring moment in the midst of the waves.
What do I (we) fall?  So, I (we) can learn to get back up.
More than hating to fail, I hate for others people to see me fail.

The finial thing I am walking away with today - is the hardest for me to swallow:
This story about courage, listening / responding, is also one about waiting.
The disciples had to wait the storm the fourth watch of the night before Jesus came to them.  Why?  And what if He passed them by un-noticed - would He come again?
Recently, Leah and I felt as if Jesus was calling us out in the midst of a storm - only to step out and have Him stay, “wait...  and trust...”
I believe that God’s general method for growing a genuine, deep relationship with me is by asking me to got out of the boat and follow Him.  So why would He this time ask me to, “wait?” What is it that most produces fear in me - especially when I think of leaving it behind and stepping out in faith?  It’s twofold for me: 1) The fear that God has forgotten me or my voice has fallen silence to His ears. 2) The fear of returning to a place where I experienced a tremendous uncontrollable pain (nothing I could physically do) and see life take seed / flourish.
It was God that “passed by” and “called me to step out” - shaking everything up - bringing incredible clarity and focus in the midst of inner turmoil / confusion.  It’s here I’ve discover another trust - for the first time my life I’m facing the fear of failure via waiting....
Clarity / Direction: 1) A response to move forward (sell purchased land - hold-fast to action item #1). 2) Actively wait and trust (here’s where fear really creeps in...)

PRAYER
Jesus you are the only one who can meet me where I’m at - in the eye of the storm.  Thank you for meeting me today and surrounding me with a few individuals to assist me in processing through all the confusion / inner turmoil.  I feel fortunately to have clear direction in the midst of a storm and you calling - yet help me within this internal fear I face as I actively wait. - Trevor

Today’s reading: 2 Chron 29; 2 Chron 30; 2 Chron 31; James 4 NIV
SCRIPTURE
“ 11 Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. 12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?” -James 4:12 NIV

OBSERVATION
Slander or defamation—also called calumny, vilification, traducement (for transitory statements), and libel (for written, broadcast, or otherwise published words)—refers to a malicious, false, not specific enough to verify a spoken statement or report.

As I process slanders definition this morning four additional questions come to mind:

Question #1: Why do family members and close friends “slander” one another?
There are various reasons and answers to this question - personal insecurity, pride, selfishness, a desire to harm, a twisted self response, etc... Let’s continue digging....

Question #2: How can I personally stop “slandering”?
In a previous devotional reading James stated, “19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.” - James 1:19-20

Defiantly, there is a few points of truth here that would assist me:
“Quick to listen”, 2) “Slow to speak”, 3) “Slow to become angry”, and (I would add another biblical concept) 4) “Quick to take things back to heart.”

I remember shortly after talking about / “slandering” someone I paused.... pondered things for a bit.... and asked God, “Where is my heart in this?” Here’s what the Lord said, “Start pruning back. Prune back until you see the heart again. Prune back your initial / quick response - prune back on taking personal offense - and listen well.... ‘take things back to heart’ - take things back to want you know is true (of the situation, individuals, etc) - take things back to a learners perspective - ‘take things back to heart.”

Question #3: When the author of the James 4:11 references “the law” - I find it critical to note that he is probably referring to the “new testament law.”  And if this “law” referred to here is the “new testament law” that was established through Jesus’ work on the Cross and not the “old testament law” - how should that modify my take on the text?

Question #4: Who am I to judge my neighbor?

APPLICATION
What’s my take (aka. what I get out of this). Especially questions #3 and #4?  1) My performance is no longer a primary point. 2) Today, I live under a Post Cross covenant or “new testament law” according to the New Testament. 3) I am not God or an individuals ultimate judge; in other words, who I’m I to withhold that which God has extended to me?

Bottom line application: First, my salvation and my faithfulness are all about Him and is not something I can loose because Jesus has paid (past, present, & future) the price - unreal concept.  Secondly, as I slow down and listen well to God’s word - not becoming offended but processing things through what I know as true of God / taking things back to heart - I will be able to shift from the “old law” to the “new law.”  Seeing a personal life transformation along the way.  Third.... I am not to play God.... It’s His role and mine to journey through this life alongside Him.

PRAYER
Help me slow down in life and make time for that which is most important both now and eternally. God, Thank you for fulfilling your promises....  From the side of logic to emotions and back again - passing over that sweet center balance point slow enough to know that’s where I would to live my life.  This morning, I just ask that You would guide me to that point.  Help me navigate today and guide my footsteps for tomorrow.  Please let me always feel the weight of my need for You. I pray that it would stir up my affections for You, leading to deep worship and a surrender of every area of my life. I need a revelation from You as I remember there is only one God.... - Trevor

“live under the freedom of God’s grace.”-Romans 6:1- Trevor

Today’s reading: Isaiah 11,12,13,14; Hebrews 9 NASB
SCRIPTURE
“when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.” -Hebrews 9:11-12 NASB

OBSERVATION
As I read Hebrews 9 three words stood out above the rest, “...when Christ came...” What pivotal words!  It’s here I began to ponder, “How often is this critical transition in my mind and heart not made?”

What transition? A transition from the Old to the New.  A transition from the way things were pre Cross to the way things are post Cross! A transition that effects my entire being and that starts within my mind (logic) and heart (emotion).

Let’s go Hebrews 9:16-17, “For where a covenant is, there must of necessity be the death of the one who made it. For a covenant is valid only when men are dead, for it is never in force while the one who made it lives.”

The terms covenant, will, and testament are translations of the same Greek word. The writer is drawing an analogy between a WILL or covenant taking effect - this a basic play on words serves to make an critical point! A will isn’t in effect without a death - a covenant doesn’t go into effect without a death. What does this mean?

Meaning the New Covenant did not begin at Jesus’ birth but as he died / at his death. This point carries some radical implications - as it messes with our thinking. First the New Testament does not actually begin in Matthew 1. It begins at the point in history when Jesus’ died on the cross & when he came back to life. It’s was not Jesus birth that changed everything. It was his death that inspired the apostles to declare the message of “out with the old, and in with the new.” - Hebrews 8 & 9

Let’s go Hebrews 10:9-10
“He takes away the first in order to establish the second. By this will we have been sanctified (made in right
standing) through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” - Hebrews 10:9-10

The first or OLD covenant was set aside because it made no one right before God. It was a performance based system that everyone failed or fell short of the standard. I mean if you ever tried to please everyone? How incredible overwhelming.  For that reason, Jesus took away the old and made it obsolete. Why? Because of the burden, weight, or headache it causes. The Old has been set aside.

APPLICATION
So where do I go from here?  What do I get out of this process?  What can I walk away with?

Yesterday’s reading in Hebrews 8:13 stated:
“When He said, “A new covenant," He has made the first obsolete But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear.

And then I read two days ago - Hebrews 7:18-19
“For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former covenant because of its weakness and uselessness (for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.”

What does the writer of Hebrews say? The Old is “weak and useless” in it’s attempt to make us right before God.

Wow!  Then when I’m feeling distant from God, it’s because I’ve measured myself and have come up short.  Aka: God no longer measures me or my performance, but He simply desires to do life with me!!! He desires to cultivate a genuine, growing, organic, relationship with me. No expectations / strings attached! Pure... Unreal!!!

PRAYER
God, as a new triathlete and thirty-five year old male I see the importance of transitions. Yet, I still hear echos that “I must live a certain way,” “I must do certain things.” Today find myself dumbfounded or amazed that You desire a relationship with me above everything! Something continues internally screams their has to be more! What and why?  I’m not sure. Is the bottom line: A genuine relationship with Jesus plus nothing? This is huge! Help me make this transition mentally because I’m hung up within various aspect of the old testament - of the previous things I have been taught - and now I find myself in need of unlearning things learned.  Wow! What freedom!!!! Thank God!!!!  - Trevor

Today’s reading: Isaiah 8,9,19 & Hebrews 8 NASB
SCRIPTURE
“For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices; so it is necessary that this high priest also have something to offer.” -Hebrews 8:3 NASB

OBSERVATION
1) Who is the high priest? 2) What does this priest have to offer me?
Let’s dig and go back a few days. Hebrew 5:1-10  “Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people.  And no one takes this honor on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was. In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father.” And he says in another place, “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek. In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety. Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.”

Jesus Christ became the high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.
Who is Melchizedek and how can Jesus legitimately become our high priest through this order? Old Testament priests descend from only one linage - the tribe of Levi. Jesus’ ancestral tree places Him in the tribe of Judah; which, disqualifies him for priesthood.  Why would God role things out this way?  

I could only locate (1) one passage that refers to Melchizedek in the Old Testament: Genesis 14:18 references to him as “King of Salem”.  Okay, let go New Testament: Hebrews 7:3 describes him “without genealogy.”  It leaves me to conclude: A) This guy came out of nowhere, or B) he was conceived by the will of the Force like Anakin Skywalker, or (C) His genealogy records were misplaced and he had no memory of his parents.   Apparently, God doesn’t like to be boxed in and is not always looking for smooth waters to navigate as the book of Hebrews makes tremendous waves in logical processing.  I mean, how can the New Testament and Hebrews reasonably claim Jesus as our priest if the Old Testament allow doesn’t allow it?

Let’s go Hebrew 7:12, “For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also. 13 For the one concerning whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe....”  Okay, I guess God has the right to modify or change things up; however, this Melchizedek tosses a huge question into my skeptics mindset. It would’ve been a lot to both logically connect and sell if Jesus had been from the tribe of Levi as this is a pivotal point. I mean, this is why the Jews did not and do not recognize Jesus Levitical or “priestly” authority.  

Bottom line: According to the law, Jesus is from the wrong tribe to be a priest.  He has the wrong lineage.  On top of that, his priest hood is in the order of Melchizedek, a fantom or mystery man who lives before the law.  

Conclusion: The Law and the Old Testament do not jive / mix with Jesus and the New Testament.  Since I can’t make Jesus fit with the old way of the law - what do I get out of this now?

APPLICATION
What’s my take (aka. what I get out of this). 1) My performance is no longer a primary point. 2) My name is not on the contract.  According to Hebrews 8:8 under the old way, “God found fault with the people” and under the new way, God makes a promise to Himself (see Hebrews 6:1-19).  Bottom line application: My salvation and my faithfulness are all about Him and is not something I can loose because Jesus has paid (past, present, & future) the price - unreal concept.


PRAYER
God for years I’ve been told that I am at the central point of this equation: “Must live a certain way,” “Must do...” And I find myself never done striving, always attempting to level up, and continually falling short - ending with complete frustration.  This morning I am reminded that Your ways are higher than mine.  Via Jesus, this is all about You!  And Your way allow me to embark on a lifelong journey of developing a genuine relationship with Jesus without religions “to do...,” “must hold to...,” etc... list.  Help me.  Help individuals.  Help the church at large.  This is huge! And even some what hard for me to completely fathom all I now get out of this Jesus thing!!!! What freedom!!!!  - Trevor

Hebrews 2:14-18 NIV
SCRIPTURE
“encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” -Hebrews 3:13 NIV

OBSERVATION
en·cour·age/enˈkərij/Verb
1. Give support, confidence, or hope to (someone): "encouraging results"; "I feel encouraged".
Words can heal or words can kill. Words can deliver life or death. It is our choice – we pour our own spirit into our words. God gave us the gift of words, hoping that we would steward them well. Words can focus on us or on others. There are words that build up and words that tear down. Negative words can be dangerous: if we hear them enough, we start believing they are true. The worst part is, after the negative words have been spoken, we tend to repeat those same words to ourselves. Words can also deliver healing or deliver wounds. We have to choose which it will be. Death and life are all in the power of the tongue.

APPLICATION
1. Express Appreciation
Romans 12:21 says, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” The only way to neutralize evil is to replace it by actively doing something good. We have to replace the mistakes by actually complimenting and building others up. We have to practice expressing appreciation.

2. Dedicate Our Thoughts to God Today
Our actions and words need to be pleasing to the Lord. Yet, if our thoughts please Him, everything else will follow suit. What is on our minds and hearts is more important to God. God looks at our hearts; we have to make sure that our hearts are right. God tells us to be careful how we process things on the inside because, sooner or later, they are going to come out of our mouths.

“The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart” (Luke 6:45).

3. Commit to Making Wrong Things Right
We might think that, if we make mistakes with our tongue, the best thing to do is just “zip our lip.” We decide not to say anything anymore and just be quiet. That will not work – if that is our goal to not make any mistakes then we will not make any contributions either.  We will make mistakes but we are not to leave them as mistakes. We are to correct them! Otherwise, our words will go out with barbs wounding people and we will not even know it. If we make a mistake, God says, “Make it right.”

“If you have been snared with the words of your mouth, or have been caught with the words of your mouth, do this then, my son, and deliver yourself … go, humble yourself, and importune your neighbor … Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hunter’s hand and like a bird from the hand of the fowler” (Prov. 6:2-5).

God wants us to understand the power of words and to steward them well. They can deliver life or death. God wants to bring His Words of life to us. If we have prepared our hearts and our ears by stewarding words well, not only can we hear Him but we can also deliver that life to others.

PRAYER
Lord, help me put this into action today, so that, I will not be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness - aka: God I need Your help to put this into action within my life.  I need You to transform another aspect. Why? So that, I my heart doesn’t become hard and I don’t start to buy into the false notation that all this bible stuff is just trickery. - Trevor

Hebrews 2:14-18 NIV
SCRIPTURE
“he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. 17 For this reason he had to be made like them,[k] fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” -Hebrews 2:14-18 NIV

OBSERVATION
This morning I felt confused, lost, and wondering if the writer of Hebrews was bi-polar.  As I read the text I had a visual picture of Jesus talking to himself. “I will put my trust in him.” (vs13) And again he says, “Here am I, and the children God has given me.” (vs13) In the midst of my personal mini video moment - I had to stop and take things back to what I know as true:
 
The epistle presents Jesus with the titles "Son" and "Son of God," "priest" and "high priest."  

Why? The author’s target audience.  This is also why the book has been described as an “complex” as it connects many different parts of the Bible.

Why? God pursues individuals logically, emotionally, and physically.

In the midst of my questions I recalled a past conversation. One day somebody came to me and said, “Trevor, it is nice to churches that have excellent facilities and programs, but to often in those places I don’t see any heart.”
My response was, “There is heart.”
They replied, “There might be, but I do not see it.”
I said, “I know it’s there.”
He said, “I see churches with a lot of activities / programs, but show me where the heart expressed and seen?”
I remember taking this question back to God and asking, “God, where is the heart expressed and seen?”
Here is what the Lord said, “Start pruning back. Prune back until you see the heart again. Prune back internal and external systems (programs) - prune back volunteers and staff loads - and when you start to see and feel heart again... Then things will naturally start growing from a place of genuine health.  If you don’t prune back everything will only be a mere perception.  

APPLICATION
Ok.  How do I apply this? If God wants us to serve Him with all my heart (emotions), mind (logic), and strength (physical).  A personal of logic might reach a logical individual... one that leans more towards the emotional side will connect with those that are like them... and God is in the business of restoration and reconciliation.  
God is trying to reach individual’s hearts and intellects!
Application: I’m to live my life full of logic, wisdom - always learning - ; alongside, a growing, healthy, emotionally state.

PRAYER
God, Thank you for pursuing individuals as your created them. Both logically and emotionally. Help me continue to pull things back to what I know as true. Help me never stop seeking out wisdom and expressing heart. - Trevor

Hebrews 2:14-18 NIV
SCRIPTURE
“he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. 17 For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” -Hebrews 2:14-18 NIV

OBSERVATION
This morning I felt confused, lost, and wondering if the writer of Hebrews was bi-polar.  As I read the text I had a visual picture of Jesus talking to himself. “I will put my trust in him.” (vs13) And again he says, “Here am I, and the children God has given me.” (vs13) In the midst of my personal mini video moment - I had to stop and take things back to what I know as true:
 
The epistle presents Jesus from the point of view for a reason.  

Why? The author’s target audience.  This is also why the book has been described as an “complex” as it connects many different parts of the Bible. Why? Because God pursues individuals logically, emotionally, and physically.

In the midst of my questions I recalled a past story someone shared with me.
One day somebody came to me and said, “It is nice to large churches have excellent worship, teaching, facilities and programs, but to often in those places I don’t see any heart.”
My response was, “There is heart.”
They replied, “There might be, but I do not see it.”
I said, “I know it’s there.”
He said, “I see churches with a lot of activities / programs, but show me where the heart expressed and seen?”
I remember taking this question back to God and asking, “God, where is the heart expressed and seen?”
Here is what the Lord said, “Start pruning back. Prune back until you see the heart again. Prune back internal and external systems (programs) - prune back volunteers and staff loads - and when you start to see and feel heart again... Then things will naturally start growing from a place of genuine health.  If you don’t prune back everything will grow from that place and produce like fruit.  

APPLICATION
Ok.  How do I apply this? If God wants us to serve Him with all my heart (emotions), mind (logic), and strength (physical).  A personal of logic might reach a logical individual... one that leans more towards the emotional side will connect with those that are like them... and God is in the business of restoration and reconciliation - God is trying to reach individual’s hearts and intellects!
Application: 1) I’m to live my life full of logic, wisdom - always learning. 2) Alongside logic needs to be a growing, healthy, emotionally state.  
Bottom line: Seek logic and make sure heart is seen.  One without the other is either dull or out of line.

PRAYER
God, Thank you for pursuing individuals as your created them. Both logically and emotionally. Help me continue to pull things back to what I know as true. Help me never stop seeking out wisdom and expressing heart. - Trevor

Hebrews 1:1-4 NIV
SCRIPTURE
“ 1In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.” -Hebrews 1:1-4 NIV

OBSERVATION
The epistle opens with an exaltation of Jesus as "The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven." (vs 3) The epistle presents Jesus with the titles "pioneer" or "forerunner," "Son" and "Son of God," "priest" and "high priest." The book of Hebrews has been described as an "intricate" or “complex” New Testament book that consists of many different connecting parts.
The epistle casts Jesus as both exalted Son and high priest. Most scholars today believe the document was written to prevent apostasy or the renunciation of a religious / political belief. In light of a possibly Jewish-Christian audience, the apostasy in this sense may be in regard to Jewish-Christians leaving the Christian assembly to return to the synagogue. The epistle dissuades non-Jewish Christians from feeling a need to convert to Judaism. The author writes, "Let us hold fast to our confession." -Hebrews 4:14

The book could be argued to affirm special creation. Special creation is a theological doctrine which asserts that the origin of the universe and all life in it suddenly sprang into being by unconditional fiat or divine decree. It affirms that God by His Son, Jesus Christ, made the worlds. "God...hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son...by whom also he made the worlds."-Hebrews 1:1-2 The epistle also states that the worlds themselves do not provide the evidence of how God formed them. "Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear."-Hebrews 11:3

APPLICATION
In the midst of studying and taking a historical look at the book of Hebrews - I can not help but see God’s Son extending His hand out to us via desiring to cultivate a genuine growing relationship.  
Reading Hebrews 1:1-4 has made me remember that a simple way to see things is:

Old Testament - Promises Made.

New Testament - Promises Fulfilled.  “live under the freedom of God’s grace.”-Romans 6:14

PRAYER
God, Thank you for fulfilling your promises....  From the side of logic to emotions and back again - passing over that sweet center balance point slow enough to know that’s where I would to live my life.  This morning, I just ask that You would guide me to that point.  Help me navigate today and guide me footsteps for tomorrow.  Please let me always feel the weight of my need for You. I pray that it would stir up my affections for You, leading to deep worship and a surrender of every area of my life. I need a revelation from You as I sit in a place of internal turmoil.... - Trevor
“live under the freedom of God’s grace.”-Romans 6:1