the book of Hebrews' benediction

Hebrews 13:20-21

²⁰ Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus—the great Shepherd of the sheep—with the blood of the everlasting covenant, ²¹ equip you with all that is good to do His will, working in us what is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ. Glory belongs to Him forever and ever. Amen.

We must be equipped in order to do God’s will. None of us does God’s will on our own. None of our thoughts naturally agree with God and none are accidentally found in concert with His holiness.

Through Jesus Christ, God looks on us with favor. He is pleased with what He sees. This is not a statement about our faithfulness or our gratitude persuading His gaze. This is not an indication of our attractiveness or our worth. This is a statement of the grandeur attached only to the glory of the Son. How majestic is He that our Father would look on us with favor because of what He did. All glory belongs to Him forever and ever, Amen!

This is an everlasting covenant. This does not have an expiration date on it. This will take. This will hold true and be in effect with power forever before God. There will never come a day where you are forced out of the nest to fly without Christ’s nurture and the Holy Spirit’s assistance. You are not being coddled. You are not too cute to discipline. You are beloved and embraced in the joy of the Father, not merely some amiable acceptance, but His actual delight in you. This again is not about you or a statement revealing your inherent value. This is all the more a testimony of the worth, honor, and value inherent in Christ. He is so valuable that in Him we inherit His rewards.

God so loved the world that He gave Christ. Whoever believes in and on Him will never perish, but live before God forever. Because of and all for the sake of Christ!  In Christ is God's sovereignty and charity displayed in full.

“Lord command what you will and grant what you command!”