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Sunday 2 August 2015

Practicing faith

Chapter 11 gets away from priests and such, and gets down to individuals who practised their faith.

Interestingly, we find this about Moses, “Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt” (v. 26).  The writer knew the timelessness of the Christ -that silver (or is it golden) thread that can be recognised throughout all time.  

“The Christ is here all dreams of error breaking…” our beloved hymn 412 tells us.  The words of this hymn are by Rosa M. Turner, a Christian Scientist.  The Hymnal Notes say of the words that they “…seem to have been carefully moulded to this melody, to express its lovely mood of meditation and tenderness – of yearning aspiration.  It is altogether the song of those who know that they seek a country.”

That had me curious about Rosa.  JSH-online.com shows that Rosa was Miss and lived in Warwickshire, England.  There are many, many poems in the periodicals written by her; also a testimony; and many expressions of appreciation for the words of hymn 412.

A couple of things in the last two chapters.  “Ye have not resisted unto blood, striving against sin” (12.4).  Christianity is not for sissies, is it?

The note at the end of the book says, “Written to the Hebrews from Italy by Timothy”!!  I think I referred to the last verses as sounding like Paul.  Still does to me.  I have the vision of a pupil of Paul’s being given the assignment by him to write a paper on the problems he saw facing the Hebrews.  And his adding a note at the end before it was sent.  So there you have it.

Joyce Voysey

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