“Defiled!”

Tuesday, July 05, 2016

Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the son of God under foot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the spirit of grace?”   (Hebrews 10:29)

Imagine for moment inheriting a family heirloom.  Perhaps , it is a precious vase or piece of  pottery.  Now imagine that when it is given to you it is not received with appreciation.  Pretend you take the vase out to your driveway, and in defiance, you smash it with your hammer!  The precious gift is defiled!

Here the Hebrew writer uses strong terms to describe the attitude of the apostate.  He has “trampled”, “insulted”, and “counted” a “common thing” the gifts of God!  To “trample”  means to treat contemptuously.  To “insult” is to despise God’s very spirit of grace, To “count as a common thing” is to deem the very blood of Jesus as invaluable or worthless.  In essence, the apostate has defiled the gift of God.

God’s gift includes the death of his only son (Jn, 3:16), the blood of his son which sanctifies and cleanses from sin (Mt. 26:28),  and the “spirit of grace” or Divine favor from whence these gifts were offered (Rom. 3:24).   These gifts the apostate has defiled.
 
What other gifts has God given?  He has given us a family name!  We are called by his name – the name of God (I Cor.1:2), and the name of his Son (Rom. 16:16).  What if we by our lives fail to live worthy of that name?  Shall we defile the gift God has given?

God has given us a body through which we may have the strength to serve him.  God tells us to glorify God in our body  (I Cor. 6:20).  He reminds us that it is the “temple of the Holy Spirit”.  But, if we use it to serve ourselves rather than the Lord,  we defile the very gift he has given us!

God has given us a family – his church, his people.  (Mark 10:29,30)  He has richly blessed us with the greatest family on earth.  But, if I fail to serve them (Hebrews 10:24,25) and encourage them, then I defile the wonderful gift God has provided.

So, my brother, praise Him who is the giver of all of these things!  Honor Him by living each day in gratitude for his gracious blessings.

By George Slover 
 

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