Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession. (Hebrews 3:1 CSB)

‍

Consider Jesus. When I read those words in Hebrews 3 it was as if they were on a neon flashing sign. I stopped cold in my tracks.  

‍

I immediately thought of the time I’d spent watching and considering the bull moose that had wandered through the yard earlier in the day. I dropped everything to watch its every move. I considered the way it pulled away the dead grasses to get at the fresh greens coming up below. I noticed each tilt of its head and appreciated the beauty of the deep brown velvet covering its growing antlers. I marveled at the beauty of the developing paddles and tried to imagine what this bull would look like in a few months. I was captivated.

‍

Maybe you’re not as captivated with moose, but you may have a special person in your life that you consider deeply. I’ll be honest, after 35 years of marriage, I don’t look as deeply into my husband’s eyes as I used to with the same consideration and captivation as when we were dating and learning all the new things about one another – though he can still make my heart leap when he walks into a room! But my grandbabies are another story. I’m considering their every move. I can’t get enough of them – their facial expressions, their new movements, new words, everything about them.

‍

So, when I read the words “consider Jesus,” I was convicted. When was the last time I considered Him in the same way that I considered that moose or my grandkids? For me, I’ve grown up knowing Jesus, and in some ways, that familiarity has become like the way I consider my husband – way too passive, way too common, far too infrequent, much too shallow.

The writer of Hebrews goes on to say more about Jesus and give us more to consider. Jesus is called an apostle. This may sound a bit unusual, but in the Greek the word apostle (apóstolos) means “sent one; messenger.” Jesus was sent by God. He was not only the messenger, but Jesus was also the Message.  

‍

Jesus is also called the High Priest. We don’t live in a sacrificial system any longer, but the Jews were used to offering sacrifices in the temple before the high priest; it was their system for the forgiveness of sins. UNTIL Jesus. Then, everything changed. Jesus is the perfect High Priest. He is our mediator. We no longer need a high priest because Jesus has made peace with God. Our response now is to accept His gift of grace.

‍

The list goes on of things to consider about Jesus – He is worthy of all glory!

‍

So, as I was convicted, I responded by simply stopping and spending time just considering Jesus. I asked God to quiet my heart and give me eyes to see afresh the wonder of who He is. Then, I spent sweet time simply considering and praising and worshipping.

‍

When was the last time you stopped to simply consider Jesus? I challenge you to make time today.