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18 For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness 19 (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.

The Law of God is perfect. It is good. It is right. But it was not able to make us whom we are intended to be, not because of a flaw in the Law, but because of our weakness. No human, other than Jesus Himself, lived a life of perfection. The Law does not help us in becoming perfect, it simply models perfection. Through Jesus, the perfect one, we can draw near to God. Through His flesh we are made pure. Don’t think that by following the Law you become better, by following Jesus you become perfected by His blood, not by your blood sweat and tears. Trust Him, and only Him, today.

6 Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits.

Don’t fall back into the trap of thinking you have to be “good enough” to be worthy of following Jesus. That’s something that should have been settled in your life when you became a Christian. None of our rituals add to our salvation. The future is secure and God has spoken to us clearly about this. Let’s move on to more important things, like how do we share this gospel with more and more people! Don’t look back, keep moving forward. How can you grow deeper in your faith if you struggle with the most elemental things like even attending church consistently? Jesus is calling you to more…

7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.

We ask for things of God, and He wants us to. Jesus also cried out to God. Who can forget Jesus’ quotation of Psalm 22 “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me!?” And yet, God had not forsaken Him. Jesus’ laments in the garden and from the cross were heard by God, they were just not answered right away. Jesus had to wait 3-days to show His vindication to the world. We do must wait, sometimes days, sometimes years, yet we wait. Faith compels us to wait. Wait on the Lord, shouldn’t we trust Him?

14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

It is one thing to know something with your mind, it is another to know something through experience. That’s the kind of knowledge Jesus has. God didn’t want to just know our struggles with His mind, He came to this earth and lived as a man so we can know that he knows us, really knows us. He’s not just a distant God sitting on His throne shouting commands, He understands. When we need it, we receive grace from a good God who understands what we need. Trust Him today.

12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.

Don’t let apathy change who you are. If you believe in Jesus, you are here to share Christ with others. Sure, the world has it’s problems and we’re all in this boat together, but Jesus is the answer. Don’t let this world make you retreat into inaction. Christians should be the first ones energized to spread the word. Is your heart getting hard? Do you care about whether fewer people are participating in the life of the church? Not just notice, but care enough to make a positive difference? What does that say about us if we are content to complain about people not coming to Jesus, and yet, it’s been days, weeks, or months since the last time we personally invited someone? Are our hearts heard? Repentance and revival are the only answers.