Daily experiences require decision-making that positively or negatively affect relationships.  The motives and goals that drive these decisions affect not only the decision maker, but it affects others (you, families, extended families, friends, community, and enemies).   Therefore, your decisions are extremely important.  Even if your decisions are based on the inadequate interpretation of information, the lessons that are learned from the undesirable results or consequences will move you to be more prayerfully, purposely, and diligently intentional to “do the right thing!”

Various concerns are articulated by relatives, students, colleagues, neighbors, and church folk.  Concerns discussed about jobs, relationships, timeliness, sensitivity, credibility, validity, integrity, authority, responsibility, reliability, acceptability, expectations, and communication – to name a few.  Fred B. Craddock, Professor of Preaching and New Testament, Emeritus of Candler School of Theology, Atlanta, Georgia, entitles this periscope in his commentary of Hebrew commentary in The New Interpreters Bible[1], “Life in Response to This Ministry of Christ.”  It is about warnings and encouragement based on previous performance.

When you are driving an automotive vehicle, there are at least three questions that should come to mind.  What car are you following?  Is the car that is moving in front of you going down the correct route for you?  Are you following an outdated road map – a map without the changed road configurations?   In the passage of scripture is read the phrase, “Let us.”  This phrase is a good metaphor for coaching you to “let us” drive down the paragraphs of this road map to discern the way.  Let us discern how this road map provokes the way through three pathways.  Going through this text, we are given an assurance through the adverb, “therefore.”  In the prior 9 chapters, the biblical Hebrew writer 1), causes the reader to remember our high priest, Jesus, and why Jesus is our high priest; 2), causes the reader to remember and understand why Jesus came as the perfect sacrifice, once and for all; and 3), causes the reader to review and remember the limitations of the law, the old covenant and the permanence of the new covenant, Christ.  In the message, three directions are offered:  approach with faith; hold fast to hope; and, provoke with love!

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