127 | How to Keep Your Faith Alive During the Holidays: Hebrews Will Encourage Your Soul - Living On Purpose In Christ | Christianity, Biblical Encouragement, Aromatherapy, Devotions, Essential Oils, Journal Prompts

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Paula Behrens (00:00):
Have you ever stopped to just marvel at the
fact that God became one withus?
That the Creator of theuniverse, the Eternal Word,
stepped into our messy,beautiful world as a tiny baby?
That truth alone should makeour hearts leap.
And yet sometimes life getsbusy, our faith feels routine,
and we forget to stop and soakin the wonder of Jesus.

(00:23):
If that sounds like you,Hebrews is the perfect letter to
dive into this season.
It's a letter that reminds ushow glorious, how sufficient,
and how joy-filled our Saviortruly is.
Okay, stick around until theend because I want to invite you
to our Bible study circle wherewe celebrate, reflect, and

(00:44):
encourage each other as we walkwith Christ together.
When I first began my seminarywork while serving two church
congregations full-time,everyone assumed I had my daily
devotional time perfectlyorganized.
But truth be told, there weremornings I could barely find
five minutes to catch my breath,let alone dive into deep
reflection.

(01:04):
One day, as I rushed out thedoor with mismatched shoes, I
realized that even in my chaos,there was a lesson.
Embracing God's grace andself-forgiveness, I realized
that true success in mydevotional life requires
prioritizing my spiritualpractices.
Are you finding it difficult tofigure out where God is leading

(01:26):
you through the whirlwind ofdaily life?
Perhaps, like me, you hadmoments of doubt, surprise
encounters, and maybe even a bitof overwhelm along the way.
Well, if that resonates withyou and you're yearning for
clarity, peace, andfaith-focused encouragement,
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(01:49):
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(02:12):
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By the end, you'll feelrefreshed, equipped, and ready
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(02:34):
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Give yourself room to breathe.
Head on over now toPaulaBehrens.com/coaching to
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That's Paula Behrens,B-E-H-R-E-N-S .com/coaching (no
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It's time to take that simplestep toward a calmer, more
connected you.
All right, let's get started.
Grab your coffee, open yourBible, take a deep breath, and

(02:56):
let's walk through this lettertogether.
Hebrews can feel intimidating atfirst glance.
It's rich with theology,historical connections, and deep
truths.
But here's the secret.
It was written for ordinarypeople, just like you and me,
people who might feel weary,distracted, or tempted to drift
in their faith.
And that's exactly why it'sstill so relevant today.

(03:17):
Especially now as we celebrateGod stepping into our world,
Hebrews reminds us that Jesus isnot only better, he is
absolutely enough.
He is superior, sufficient, andfull of grace.
And that is joyful news for ourhearts.
From the very beginning, Hebrewsmakes a bold, awe-inspiring
declaration.
God has spoken to us throughHis Son, not a little, not

(03:42):
occasionally, but fully andcompletely.
Jesus is the ultimaterevelation of God's heart and
glory.
Everything in the OldTestament, the sacrifices, the
law, the prophets, pointedforward to him.
And now in Christ, God hasshown his love in the most

(04:03):
personal, tangible wayimaginable.
This Christmas season is awonderful time to reflect on
this truth.
The same God who made the starsand called the universe into
being chose to wrap himself inflesh, live among us, and show
us the way to him.
Hebrews makes this profoundtruth shine in a way that stirs

(04:25):
awe and gratitude in our hearts.
Early on, this letter offers agentle but urgent warning,
saying, Do not drift away.
You know, faith isn't passive,it's active, joyful, and alive.
Life, especially with all itsdistractions, work, family,
social media, deadlines, canlure our hearts into routine.

(04:47):
But Hebrews pulls us back withthe simple reminder, fix your
eyes on Jesus, celebrate him,let him transform the ordinary
into the extraordinary.
Especially in this season ofChristmas lights, music, and
memories, Hebrews invites us topause and remember, the Savior

(05:08):
of the world is with us, guidingus, loving us, and inviting us
into a life full of hope andjoy.
A central theme in Hebrews isJesus as our great high priest.
Unlike the priest of the OldTestament, who offered
sacrifices repeatedly, Jesusoffered himself once for all.

(05:30):
His sacrifice is perfect,complete, and eternal.
And isn't that amazing?
We don't have to striveendlessly to earn God's favor.
We don't have to worry or carryshame.
Jesus has already done thework.
Our role is to trust him, torest in his grace, and to live

(05:51):
in a way that reflects his love.
During Christmas, it'sincredible to think that the
baby in the manger grew tobecome the perfect high priest,
serving us, loving us, andmaking a way for us to come
boldly to God.
That means that we are invitednot only to walk with him, but
also to witness for him.

(06:11):
Even in our smallest acts ofkindness, like helping a
neighbor or showing patiencewith family or sharing an
encouraging word, even thesesmall acts of kindness mirror
the heart of Jesus in tangibleways.
That's how we can live out ourfaith boldly today, which brings
us to chapter 11, the Hall ofFaith.

(06:34):
This amazing chapter highlightsordinary people who trusted God
even when the odds wereimpossible.
Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham,Sarah, Moses.
Their faith was not passive.
It was lived, breathed, andpracticed every day.
This is our invitation too.
Faith isn't just intellectualbelief, it's action, obedience,

(06:58):
and courage.
It might look like inviting afriend to church, speaking truth
with love in a difficultsituation, or choosing patience
and generosity in our home.
Hebrew shows that faith is adaily adventure, full of awe,
wonder, and joy, even in themiddle of ordinary life.

(07:18):
Let's pause for a deeper diveinto the Greek because the
original language of the NewTestament can deepen our sense
of understanding.
One key word is“leitourgos” (λειτουργός), “leitourgos,”
which is often translated asminister or servant.
And here in Hebrews chapter 8,verse 2, we see that it refers
to Jesus as our high priest whois ministering in the True

(07:42):
tabernacle which the Lord setup, not man.
In this case, we see that thisword doesn't just mean someone
who is performing duties in thesanctuary.
It carries a sense of servingwith divine purpose, authority,
and devotion.
When you think about Jesus asthe ultimate
“leitourgos” (λειτουργός), itevokes awe and amazement as we

(08:07):
realize that the Creator of theuniverse chose to serve
humanity, interceding on ourbehalf with perfect care and
intentionality.
Our God is not a distant God.
He is active, involved, andtenderly serving us, offering
his life completely for ourredemption.
Another powerful Greek word is“teleioō” (τελειόω), “teleioō,”

(08:32):
translated as he has perfectedin Hebrews 10:14, which says,
For by one offering he hasperfected forever those who are
being sanctified.
This verb communicates the ideaof bringing to completion,
making fully sufficient, andaccomplishing perfectly.

(08:54):
Jesus' sacrifice is not partialor temporary, it is complete,
sufficient, and eternal.
Nothing is lacking.
Teleioō” (τελειόω), reminds usthat through him we are fully
accepted, fully reconciled, andfully loved by God.

(09:15):
Together, leitourgos (λειτουργός)and teleioō (τελειόω), give us
a breathtaking picture ofJesus.
He is a devoted high priestserving us with divine purpose,
and his sacrifice has fullyaccomplished what we could never
do on our own.
And really, to think that we asHoly Spirit-filled followers of

(09:37):
Jesus, to think that we havethe ability to echo just a
fraction of the devotion thatJesus demonstrated through
things like practicing patienceor sharing a simple act of
kindness in his name is justamazing.
I don't know about you, butsimply knowing this truth causes
me to pause and marvel at thegoodness of our God even more.

(09:59):
Okay, a couple more key themesin this letter are perseverance
and community.
You know, life can be tiringand full of setbacks, but we are
called to run with enduranceand keep our eyes on Jesus.
Even in busy seasons, He is ourstrength, encouragement, and
joy.
Community matters too.

(10:19):
Hebrews urges us to encourageone another and not give up
meeting together.
Faith thrives in connection.
Even if we are feeling alone,God invites us to build each
other up.
Small gestures, checking in,praying, celebrating victories,
they all carry eternalsignificance.

(10:40):
Hebrews contrast the old andthe new covenants.
The old covenant requiredrepeated sacrifices,
highlighting humans'shortcomings.
But Jesus, through hissacrifice, ushers in the new
covenant, which is perfect,eternal, and freeing.
That means that we can approachGod with confidence, not fear.

(11:00):
And of course, Christmas is theperfect season to reflect on
this grace.
God with us, Emmanuel, enteringour world in humility and
awe-inspiring love.
Spiritual maturity is anotherbeautiful and challenging focus
in Hebrews.
The author gently but honestlycontrasts spiritual infants who

(11:22):
still need milk with maturebelievers who are ready for
solid food.
This isn't meant to shameanyone.
It's an invitation.
God isn't rushing us, but he isinviting us to move forward.
He wants us to grow, tostretch, to move beyond a
surface-level faith into aliving, breathing relationship
with Him.
Hebrews reminds us thatmaturity doesn't mean knowing

(11:45):
more facts about God.
It means trusting Him moredeeply and responding to Him
more faithfully.
Spiritual maturity shows up inthe way we engage with
Scripture.
Instead of skimming for quickcomfort, we begin to wrestle
with God's Word, letting itchallenge us, correct us, and
shape us.
We learn to sit with hardpassages, to pray through

(12:06):
questions, and to listen for theHoly Spirit's guidance.
This kind of growth doesn'thappen overnight.
It unfolds slowly throughconsistency, humility, and a
willingness to let God work inus.
And there's somethingawe-filled about realizing that
the same God who spoke theuniverse into existence is

(12:28):
personally shaping our heartsthrough His Word.
Hebrews also makes it clearthat maturity is deeply
practical.
It shows up in everydaychoices, not just spiritual
moments.
It's reflected in how we speakto our loved ones when we're
tired, how we handle stress whenplans fall apart, and how we
respond when we're misunderstoodor disappointed.

(12:51):
Mature faith learns to pausebefore reacting, to choose grace
over frustration, and to trustGod even when emotions run high.
These small, unseen decisionsare often where real spiritual
growth happens.
During the Christmas season,especially, this kind of
maturity takes on a beautifulform.

(13:11):
Ordinary tasks, preparing ameal, wrapping gifts, sending
cards, hosting guests, or evenstanding in a long checkout line
become opportunities to reflectChrist.
When done with love, patience,and gratitude, these moments
become acts of worship.
Hebrews reminds us that faithisn't confined to church

(13:32):
services or quiet time alonewith God.
It is woven into the rhythm ofeveryday life, transforming the
ordinary into something holy andjoy-filled.
But your faith also carries asense of awe.
It recognizes that growthitself is a gift.
The more we grow, the more werealize how deeply God loves us

(13:56):
and how faithfully He is workingwithin us.
There is wonder in knowing thatGod is not finished with us,
that He is patiently shaping ourhearts, refining our character,
and drawing us closer toHimself.
Hebrews reassures us that thiskind of faith is alive, active,
and deeply rooted in hope.

(14:17):
In the end, spiritual maturityin Hebrews is not about
perfection, it's about progress.
It's about continuing to sayyes to God one step at a time,
trusting Him to lead us forward.
As we grow, our lives quietlybecome testimonies, living
invitations for others to seethe beauty, joy, and awe of

(14:41):
walking closely with Christ.
Hope also runs throughout thisletter.
Chapter 6 encourages believersto hold fast to the hope set
before them.
This is not just wishfulthinking, it's confidence in
God's faithfulness.
Even in holiday busyness, hopein Jesus brings stability,

(15:02):
peace, and delight.
The shepherds, Mary and Joseph,experience hope at His birth,
and the same joy is alive for ustoday.
God's discipline is also a signof love.
Challenges refine and shape us,not punish us.
With this perspective, we canface struggles with gratitude,

(15:24):
trust, and awe, knowing God isshaping us to reflect his glory.
Finally, Hebrews points us tothe ultimate joy.
Chapter 12 urges us to look tothe joy set before us as Jesus
did through the cross.
Life with Christ has struggles,but every act of obedience,

(15:46):
every act of love, and every actof faith matters.
This Christmas we celebrate notonly His birth, but the joy,
hope, and awe His presencebrings now, making even the
smallest of ordinary momentsextraordinary.

(16:08):
If this episode has touched yourheart in one way or another, I
want to invite you personally tocome hang out with us.
You know, you don't have tostudy alone.
You can always jump into ourBible study circle at
EssentialfaithJourney.com.
That'sEssential Faith Journey.com (no

(16:29):
spaces).
This is a place where wereflect, rejoice, and grow
together.
It's a space for questions,insights, encouragement, and
practical application.
Whether you work from home,homeschool, or simply want
meaningful connections, this isyour chance to deepen your
faith, marvel at the wonder ofJesus, and live joyfully for
Him.
Okay, hope to see you there.

(16:53):
Thank you for tuning in today.
And remember, just like settingbiblical boundaries, it's okay
to say no to things that don'tserve you well, like that third
piece of cake at the churchpotluck.
If you were blessed by thisepisode, be sure to share to
share it with a friend and leavea review so that we can reach
even more listening like you.
Check the show notes for allthe links.

(17:13):
Join us next week as wecontinue to discover how to
live on purpose in Christ.
Until then,keep leaning into Him and walking in His Wisdom.
See you next time.

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127 | How to Keep Your Faith Alive During the Holidays: Hebrews Will Encourage Your Soul

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