Study Desk

Do you remember what God said to you when He called you His sons? "My son, listen when the Lord punishes you. Do not give up when He tells you what you must do.

Do not give up when you are punished by God. Be willing to take it, knowing that God is teaching you as a son. Is there a father who does not punish his son sometimes?

If you are not punished as all sons are, it means that you are not a true son of God. You are not a part of His family and He is not your Father.

For a little while our fathers on earth punished us when they thought they should. But God punishes us for our good so we will be holy as He is holy.

There is no joy while we are being punished. It is hard to take, but later we can see that good came from it. And it gives us the peace of being right with God.

None of you should fall into sex sins or forget God like Esau did. He had a right to get all Isaac had because he was the oldest son. But for one plate of food he sold this right to his brother.

The sound of a horn was heard and God's voice spoke. The people cried out to Moses to have God stop speaking to them.

But instead, you have come to the mountain of Jerusalem. It is the city of the living God. It is the Jerusalem of heaven with its thousands of angels.

You have gathered there with God's children who were born long ago. They are citizens of heaven. God is there. He will judge all men. The spirits of all those right with God are there. They have been made perfect.

Jesus is there. He has made a way for man to go to God. He gave His blood that men might worship God the New Way. The blood of Jesus tells of better things than that which Abel used.

Be sure you listen to the One Who is speaking to you. The Jews did not obey when God's Law was given to them on earth. They did not go free. They were punished. We will be punished more if we do not listen to God as He speaks from heaven.

When God says, "Once more," He means He will take away everything of this world that can be shaken so the things that cannot be shaken will be left.

Since we have received a holy nation that cannot be moved, let us be thankful. Let us please God and worship Him with honor and fear.

For our God is a fire that destroys everything.

Marriage should be respected by everyone. God will punish those who do sex sins and are not faithful in marriage.

Keep your lives free from the love of money. Be happy with what you have. God has said, "I will never leave you or let you be alone."

Remember your leaders who first spoke God's Word to you. Think of how they lived, and trust God as they did.

Let us give thanks all the time to God through Jesus Christ. Our gift to Him is to give thanks. Our lips should always give thanks to His name.

Remember to do good and help each other. Gifts like this please God.

Obey your leaders and do what they say. They keep watch over your souls. They have to tell God what they have done. They should have joy in this and not be sad. If they are sad, it is no help to you.