Hebrews

Thanking Jesus

dwm

Hebrews 1

¹Thank You, Jesus, that in the past Your Father has spoken to the fathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways.

²Thank You that at the end of these days He has spoken to us by You, His Son. Thank You that You are the appointed heir of all things. Thank You that God also made the worlds through You.

³Thank You that You are God’s Son and are the radiance of His glory, the very image of His substance.  Thank You for holding all things together by the word of Your power. Thank You that by Yourself You made purification for our sins and then sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high. ⁴Thank You, Jesus, that You have become so much better than the angels, as You have inherited a more excellent name than they have.

⁵I am grateful that Your Father did not say to any of the angels at any time,  “You are My Son.

Today have I become Your Father.”

and again,

“I will be to You a Father, and You will be to Me a Son.”

⁶I appreciate that when Your Father brought You, the firstborn, into the world He said, “Let all My angels worship Him.” ⁷I am thankful that of the angels He said, “Who makes My angels winds, and My servants a flame of fire.” ⁸I thank my God that of You, His Son, He said, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Your Kingdom.

⁹You have loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness above Your fellows.” ¹⁰I appreciate that He also said to You, “You, Lord, in the beginning, laid the foundation of the earth. The heavens are the works of Your hands. ¹¹They will perish, but You continue.  They all will grow old like a garment does. ¹²As a mantle, You will roll them up, and they will be changed; but You are the same. Your years will not fail.” ¹³I am thankful to Your Father that to none of the angels did He tell at any time, “Sit at My right hand, until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet.”

^1[1]Thank You that all of the angels are serving spirits, sent out to do service for my sake along with all of those who will inherit salvation.

Hebrews 2

¹Thank You that You will help me to pay greater attention to the things that I have heard.  Thank You that I will not drift away.

²For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience receives a just recompense; ³thank You that I will not neglect so great a salvation—which at the first was spoken through You, Lord, and was confirmed to me by others who heard.

⁵I am so grateful that God did not subject the world to come to angels.

⁶Thank You that one has somewhere testified, saying, “What is man, that You think of him?

Or the Son of Man, that You care for Him?

⁷You made Him a little lower than the angels. You crowned Him with glory and honor. ⁸You have put all things in subjection under His feet.”I am so thankful that God subjected all things to You. He left nothing that is not subject to You.

Even though now I do not see all things subjected to You, yet. ⁹But I thank You, Jesus, that I see You Who have been made a little lower than the angels because of the suffering of death.  Thank You that You were crowned with glory and honor that by Your Father’s grace You should taste of death for everyone including me.

¹⁰Thank You that it became Your Father, for Whom are all things, and through Whom are all things, in bringing many of us children to glory, to make You the author of our salvation perfect through sufferings.

¹¹I am thankful that both Your Father Who sanctifies and we who are sanctified are all from one.  Thank You that for this cause Jesus, You are not ashamed to call us brothers, ¹²saying, “I will declare Your name to My brothers. In the midst of the congregation I will sing Your praise.”

¹³Again, “I will put My trust in You.” Again You say, “Behold, here I am with the children whom You, O God, have given Me.”

¹⁴Since then we children have shared in flesh and blood, thank You, Jesus, that You Yourself also shared in our humanity, that through death You might bring to nothing him who had the power of death, that is, the devil. ¹⁵Thank You that You offer freedom to all of us who through fear of death are all our lifetime held in slavery.

¹⁶Thank You that most certainly, You do not give help to angels, but You give help to me and others of the seed of Abraham.

¹⁷Therefore, thank You that You were obligated in all things to be made like us Your siblings that You might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God.  Thank You that You made atonement for our sins. ¹⁸For in that You Yourself have suffered being tempted, thank You that You are able to help me when I am tempted.

Hebrews 3

¹Therefore, Jesus, with my holy brothers and sisters as partakers of a heavenly calling, thank You that I consider You, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession.

²Thank You that You were faithful to God Who appointed You, as also was Moses in his entire house. ³I am thankful that You have been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as You Who built the house have more honor than the house.

⁴For every house is built by someone; but I am grateful that You Who built all things are God.

⁵I am thankful for Moses indeed who was faithful in his entire house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were afterward to be spoken. ⁶But I am even more grateful for You, O Christ, Who are faithful as a Son over Your house.  Thank You that I am part of that house as I hold fast my confidence and glory in my hope firm to the end.

⁷Therefore, thank You that the Holy Spirit says that   today I will hear Your voice. ⁸Thank You that I will not harden my heart, as in the rebellion, like as in the day of the trial in the wilderness, ⁹where my fathers tested You by proving You, and seeing Your works for forty years.

¹⁰Thank You that I am not part of that generation with which You were displeased, and said, that they always err in their hearts, and did not know Your ways.

¹¹Thank You that I am not one of those that You swore in Your wrath that they will not enter into Your rest.

¹²Thank You that there will not be in me an evil heart of unbelief, in falling away from You, the living God. ¹³Thank You that I will exhort others day by day, so long as it is called “today.” Thank You that I will not be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

¹⁴Thank You that I have become a partaker of You, O Christ, as I hold fast the beginning of my confidence firm to the end. ¹⁵Thank You that today I will hear Your voice and not harden my heart, as in the rebellion.

¹⁶Thank You that when I heard, I did not rebel as did all those who came out of Egypt by Moses ¹⁷with whom were You displeased forty years. Thank You that I was not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness.

¹⁸Thank You that I am not among those whom You did swear that they would not enter into Your rest. Thank You that I am not disobedient. ¹⁹Thank You that You see that I am able to enter in because of belief.

Hebrews 4

¹Thank You that I do not have to fear, therefore, because I will not come short of Your promise of entering into Your rest.

²Thank You indeed that I have had good news preached to me, even as those in the wilderness did. Thank You that the word I heard did profit me, because I mixed it with faith as I heard it.

³Thank You that I have believed and do enter into that rest. Thank You for saying that You swear in Your goodness that I will enter into Your rest because the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

⁴I am grateful that You have said somewhere about the seventh day that You rested on the seventh day from all Your works.  Thank You that You have also promised that I will enter into Your rest.

⁶Thank You, therefore, that it remains that some of us, including me, should enter therein even though some to whom the good news was before preached failed to enter in because of disobedience.

⁷Thank You that You again define a certain day, today, saying through David so long a time afterward (just as has been said), that today as I hear Your voice, I do not harden my heart.

⁸I appreciate knowing that if Joshua had given them rest, he would not have spoken afterward of another day.

⁹Thank You that there remains, therefore, a Sabbath rest for us, Your people. ¹⁰Thank You that we who have entered into Your rest have ourselves also rested from our works, as You, Jesus, did from Yours.

¹¹Thank You, therefore, that I do give diligence to enter into Your rest. Thank You that I will not fall after the same example of disobedience.

¹²Jesus, thank You that Your word is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow. Thank You that it is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of my heart. ¹³Thank You that there is no creature that is hidden from Your sight, but all things are naked and lay open before Your eyes.

¹⁴Thank You, then, that I have a great high priest, Who has passed through the heavens, You, Jesus, God’s Son. Thank You for helping me to hold tightly to my confession. ¹⁵Thank You that You are not a high priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of my infirmities. Jesus, thank You that You have been in all points tempted like I am, yet without sin. ¹⁶Thank You, therefore, that I can draw near with boldness to Your throne of grace, that I may receive mercy, and may find grace for help in my time of need.

Hebrews 5

¹I thank You, Jesus, that every high priest, being taken from among mankind, is appointed for people in things pertaining to You.   Thank You that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. ²Thank You that the high priest can deal gently with those who are ignorant and going astray, because he himself is also surrounded with weakness. ³I appreciate that because of this, he must offer sacrifices for sins for the people, as well as for himself. ⁴ Thank You that nobody takes this honor on himself, but he is called by God, just like Aaron was.

⁵I also appreciate so much, Christ, that You did not glorify Yourself to be made a high priest, but it was Your Father Who said to You that You are His Son. Today He has become Your Father.

⁶Thank You that God says also in another place, that You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.

⁷Jesus, thank You that in the days of Your flesh You offered up prayers and petitions with strong crying and tears to Him Who was able to save You from death. Thank You that You were heard for Your godly fear. ⁸Thank You that though You were a Son, yet You learned obedience by the things which You suffered. ⁹Thank You that You became mature and became to all of us who obey You the author of eternal salvation. ¹⁰I am thankful that You are named by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

¹¹Thank You that I have many words to say about You even though some are hard to interpret.  Thank You that I have not become dull of hearing. ¹²Thank You that I am not among those who although by this time they should be teachers, they again need to have someone teach them the rudiments of the first principles of Your oracles, Jesus. Thank You that I have come to need solid food, and not milk.

¹³I appreciate the fact that everyone who lives on milk is not experienced in the word of righteousness, for he is a baby. ¹⁴But I thank You that solid food is for me who am full grown.  Thank You that by reason of my senses I can discern good and evil.

JESUS, THANK YOU THAT BECAUSE OF WHO YOU ARE…

I am purified from my sins.

I am served by God’s angels.

I am not one who drifts away.

I am not a neglector of so great a salvation.

I am included with those for whom You tasted death.

I am being brought to glory.

I am one with God.

I am not an embarrassment to God.

I am free from the fear of death.

I am of the seed of Abraham.

I am being helped when I am tempted.

I am a partaker of a heavenly calling.

I am one who holds fast my confidence.

I am one who glories in my hope firm to the end.

I am a person without a hard heart.

I am a guest in God’s rest.

I am a person without an evil heart of unbelief.

I am an exhorter of others.

I am not hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

I am a partaker of You, my Christ.

I am one who does not rebel when I hear Your voice.

I am obedient.

I am able to enter in because of belief.

I am not coming short of God’s promise.

I am profited by God’s word.

I am mixing God’s word with faith.

I am believing and entering into God’s rest.

I am diligent to enter into God’s rest.

I am being pierced by God’s word which divides my soul and spirit.

I am holding tightly to my confession.

I am touched by Your feeling of my infirmities.

I am drawing near with boldness to God’s throne of grace.

I am receiving mercy.

I am finding grace in my time of need.

I am a listener.

I am an eater of spiritual solid food and not just milk.

I am full grown.

I am a discerner of good and evil.

 

Hebrews 6

¹Thank You, therefore, that You are letting me leave Your teaching of the first principles, O Christ.  Thank You that I can press on to perfection—not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, of faith toward You, our God, ²of the teaching of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. ³This will I do, as You permit.

⁴Thank You that I am among those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift. Thank You that I was made a partaker of Your Holy Spirit. ⁵Thank You that I have tasted Your good word, O Jesus, and the powers of the age to come. ⁶Thank You that I have not fallen away. Thank You that it is not impossible to renew me again to repentance.  Thank You that I do not crucify You, the Son of God, for myself again, and put You to open shame.

⁷I am thankful for the land which has drunk the rain that comes often on it, and brings forth a crop suitable for us for whose sake it is also tilled.  Thank You that the land receives blessing from You. ⁸I also appreciate that if it bears thorns and thistles, it is rejected and near being cursed, whose end is to be burned.

⁹Thank You, Jesus, that You are persuaded of better things for me, and things that accompany salvation, even though I speak like this.

¹⁰Jesus, thank You that You are not unrighteous, so as to forget my work and the labor of love which I show toward Your name, in that I serve the saints, and still do serve them. ¹¹Thank You that I will show the same diligence to the fullness of hope even to the end. ¹²Thank You that I will not be sluggish, but imitators of others who through faith and patience inherited Your promises.

¹³Thank You that when You and Your Father made a promise to Abraham, since You could swear by none greater, You swore by Yourselves, ^[2]4saying, “Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.” ¹⁵Thank You that having patiently endured, Abraham obtained the promise.

¹⁶I am grateful, Jesus, that men indeed swear by a greater one, and in every dispute of theirs the oath is final for confirmation. ¹⁷Thank You that in this way You, being determined to show more abundantly to me an heirs of the promise the immutability of Your counsel, interposed with an oath. ¹⁸Thank You that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for You O God to lie, I may have a strong encouragement. Thank You that I have fled for refuge to take hold of the hope set before me.

¹⁹ Thank You that I have this hope as an anchor of my soul.  Thank You that my hope is both sure and steadfast. Thank You that I can enter into that which is within the veil.²⁰Thank You that as a forerunner, Jesus, You entered for me, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

Hebrews 7

²I appreciate also the fact that Abraham divided a tenth part of all the spoil with Melchizedek.  Thank You first of all that Melchizedek is by interpretation, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace. ³Thank You that he is recorded as without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life.  Thank You that he was made like You, Jesus, the Son of God. Thank You that Melchizedek remains a priest continually.

⁴Thank You now that I can consider how great this man was, to whom even Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth out of the best spoils.

⁵I appreciate indeed that of the sons of Levi who receive the priest’s office have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brothers, though these have come out of the body of Abraham. ⁶But I appreciate even more how that Melchizedek,  whose genealogy is not counted from them, has accepted tithes from Abraham, and has blessed him who has the promises.

⁷Thank You that without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater. ⁸Thank You, Jesus, that here people who die receive tithes, but there You receive tithes of Whom it is testified that You live. ⁹Thank You that we can say that through Abraham even Levi, who receives tithes, has paid tithes, ¹⁰for he was yet in the body of his father when Melchizedek met him.

¹¹Thank You that perfection did not come through the Levitical priesthood for under it the people have received the law. Thank You that there was further need for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be called after the order of Aaron. ¹²Thank You that the priesthood changed and that there was of necessity a change made also in the law.

¹³Jesus, I am grateful that You of Whom these things are said belong to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar. ¹⁴I appreciate that it is evident that You, Lord, have sprung out of Judah, about which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood. ¹⁵Thank You that this is yet more abundantly evident because after the likeness of Melchizedek You arise as another priest. ¹⁶I am so thankful that You have been made, not after the law of a fleshly commandment, but after the power of an endless life. ¹⁷Thank You, Jesus, that it is testified that You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek. ¹⁸Thank You that the previous commandment was canceled because of its weakness and uselessness. ¹⁹Thank You for revealing to me that the law made nothing perfect. Thank You for bringing in a better hope through which I draw near to You our God.

²⁰Thank You,  Jesus, that You were not made priest without the taking of an oath ²¹even though there have been those indeed who have been made priests without an oath. Thank You that You took an oath by Him that says of You,

“I, the Lord, swore and will not change My mind, ‘You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.’”

²²I am so glad, Jesus, that You have become the collateral of a better covenant. ²³Many, indeed, have been made priests, because they are hindered from continuing by death. ²⁴I am so grateful because You live forever and Your priesthood is unchangeable.

²⁵Thank You, therefore, that You are also able to save me to the uttermost as I draw near to God through You, seeing that You live forever to make intercession for me. ²⁶You are such a high priest Who fits my needs. Thank You that You are holy, guiltless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens. ²⁷Thank You that You do not need, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices daily, first for their own sins, and then for the sins of the people. I appreciate that You did this once for all, when You offered up Yourself. ²⁸For the law appoints men as high priests who have weakness, but I am thankful that the word of the oath which came after the law appoints You, a Son, forever Who have been perfected.

Hebrews 8

¹Now in the things which I am saying, the main point is this. I am thankful to have such a high priest as You, Who sat down on the right hand of Your Father’s throne of majesty in the heavens. ²Thank You for being a servant of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which God, Your Father, pitched, not man.

³For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore, thank You that it is necessary that You, this high priest, also have something to offer.

⁴I am glad that You are not on earth because You would not be a priest at all, seeing there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; ⁵who serve as a copy and shadow of Your heavenly things. Thank You that You warned Moses when he was about to make the tabernacle, for You said, “See, you shall make everything according to the pattern that was shown to you on the mountain.”

⁶ Jesus, thank You that now You have obtained a more excellent ministry, by so much as You are also the mediator of a better covenant, which on better promises has been given as law.

⁷I am thankful that the first covenant was not faultless, so that a place has been sought for a second. ⁸Thank You for finding fault with them and saying “Behold, the days come,” You say Lord, “that You will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah; ⁹not according to the covenant that You made with their fathers, in the day that You took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; for they did not continue in Your covenant, and You disregarded them.”  Thank You for saying that Lord.

¹⁰Thank You for making this covenant with the house of Israel. I appreciate You saying that after those days You will put Your laws into our minds, You will also write them on our hearts. You will be our God, and we will be Your people.

^1[3]It thrills me that there will be a day when I will not teach my neighbors, or my brothers, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for all will know You, from the least of us to the greatest of us.

¹²Thank You that You will be merciful to our unrighteousness and will remember our sins and lawless deeds no more.

¹³Thank You that You say, “A new covenant,” and that You have made the first old. Thank You that the old grows aged and is near to vanishing away.

Hebrews 9

³I also appreciate that after the second veil was the tabernacle which You called the Holy of Holies  ⁴that had a golden altar of incense, and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which was a golden pot holding the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant. ⁵I am so grateful that cherubim of glory overshadow the mercy seat above the ark. Thank You that I do not have to speak about this now in detail.

⁶Thank You that these things having been thus prepared, the priests went in continually into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the services. ⁷I also thank You, Jesus, that the high priest alone went into the second tabernacle, once in the year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people.

⁸Thank You that the Holy Spirit is indicating this, that the way into the Holy Place was not yet revealed while the first tabernacle was still standing; ⁹which is a symbol of the present age, where gifts and sacrifices are offered that are incapable, concerning the conscience, of making the worshipper perfect. ¹⁰Thank You that these fleshly ordinances, being only made with meats and drinks and various washings, were imposed only until a time of reformation.

¹¹Thank You, my Christ, that You came as a high priest of the coming good things, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation. ¹²Thank You that You did not come through the blood of goats and calves, but through Your own blood and entered in once for all into the Holy Place, having obtained eternal redemption.

¹³Thank You that the blood of goats and bulls, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled, sanctified to the cleanness of the flesh. ¹⁴Thank You so much more that Your blood, O Christ, Who through Your eternal Spirit offered Yourself without blemish to God, cleanses my conscience from dead works to serve You, the living God.

¹⁵For this reason I rejoice that You are the mediator of a new covenant, since a death has occurred for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant. Thank You that we who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

¹⁶I understand the fact that where a last will and testament is, there must of necessity be the death of him who made it. ¹⁷I acknowledge also the fact that a will is in force where there has been death, for it is never in force while he who made it lives. ¹⁸Therefore, I appreciate that even the first covenant has not been dedicated without blood.

¹⁹Jesus, thank You that when every commandment had been spoken by Moses to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the

book itself and all the people, ²⁰saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you.”

²¹Moreover, I appreciate that Moses sprinkled the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry in the same way with the blood. ²²I understand and accept that according to the law, nearly everything is cleansed with blood, and apart from the shedding of blood there is no remission.

 

²³It was necessary, therefore, that the copies of the things in the heavens should be cleansed with these sacrifices; but I am overwhelmed with gratitude that the heavenly things themselves are cleansed with better sacrifices than these.

 

²⁴Thank You, O Christ, that You have not entered into holy places made with hands, which are representations of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in God’s presence for us. ²⁵Thank You that You do not have to offer Yourself often, as the high priest enters into the holy place year by year with blood not his own. ²⁶I am grateful that You did not have to have suffered often since the foundation of the world.

 

But now, once at the end of the ages,  I thank You that You have been revealed to put away sin by the sacrifice of Yourself. ²⁷Inasmuch as it is appointed for people to die once, and after this, judgment, ²⁸I  thank  You, our Christ, that You have been offered once to bear the sins of many.  Thank You that You will appear a second time, without sin, to us who are eagerly waiting for Your salvation.

 

Hebrews10

¹Thank You, Jesus, that the law, having a shadow of the good to come, not the very image of the things, can never with the same sacrifices year by year, which they offer continually, make perfect those of us who draw near. ²Thank You that they did not ceased to be offered, because we worshippers, having been once cleansed, would have had no more consciousness of sins.

 

³Thank You that in those sacrifices there is a yearly reminder of sins. ⁴Thank You that it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins. ⁵Therefore, Jesus, I appreciate that when You came into the world, You said, “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but You prepared a body for Me. ⁶You had no pleasure in whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin.”

 

⁷Then You said, “‘Behold, I have come (in the scroll of Your book it is written of Me) to do Your will, O God.’”

 

⁸Thank You for previously saying, “Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You did not desire, neither had pleasure in them” (those which are offered according to the law). ⁹Thank You for having said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will.”

 

Thank You for taking away the first, that You may establish the second, ¹⁰by which we have been sanctified through the offering of Your body, O Jesus Christ, once for all.

¹¹Every priest indeed stands day by day serving and often offering the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins, ¹²but I praise You that when You had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, You sat down on the right hand of Your Father God. ¹³Thank You that from that time You are waiting until Your enemies are made the footstool of Your feet.

¹⁴For by one offering You have perfected forever us who are being sanctified.

¹⁵I am thankful to the Holy Spirit Who also testifies to us saying,

¹⁶that this is the covenant that You will make with us:

“After those days,” say You Lord,

“I will put My laws on their heart,

I will also write them on their mind.”

 

Thank You for also saying,

¹⁷“I will remember their sins and their iniquities no more.”

¹⁸Now, I thank You that where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.

¹⁹Therefore, Jesus, thank You that I have boldness to enter into the holy place by Your blood, ²⁰by the way which You dedicated for me. Thank You that it is a new and living way, through the veil, that is to say, Your flesh. ²¹Thank You that I have You as a great priest over the house of God. ²²Thank You that I draw near with a true heart in fullness of faith, having my heart sprinkled from an evil conscience, and having my body washed with pure water. ²³Thank You for helping me hold fast the confession of my hope without wavering. Thank You that You Who promised are faithful.

²⁴Thank You for helping me consider how to provoke my fellow Christians to love and good works. ²⁵Thank You that I do not forsake assembling myself together with other Christians, as the custom of some is. Thank You that we can exhort one another; and so much the more, as we see the Day approaching.

²⁶Thank You that I do not sin willfully after I have received the knowledge of the truth.  Thank You that there remains a sacrifice for sins for me. ²⁷Thank You that there is not for me a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which will devour the adversaries.

²⁸I understand that a person who disregarded Moses’ law died without compassion on the word of two or three witnesses. ²⁹ I think how grateful I am because I will not receive much worse punishment by being judged unworthy. Thank You that I have not trodden You, the Son of God, under foot. Thank You that I have not counted the blood of the covenant with which I was sanctified as an unholy thing. Thank You that I have not insulted Your Spirit of grace.

³⁰I appreciate knowing You Who said, “Vengeance belongs to Me,” and, “I will repay.” Again, “I will judge My people.”

³¹I agree that it is a fearful thing to fall into Your hands, O living God.

³²Thank You for helping me remember the former days, in which, after we were enlightened, we endured a great struggle with sufferings; ³³partly, being exposed to both reproaches and oppressions; and partly, becoming partakers with those who were treated so.

 ³⁴Thank You for helping us have compassion on those in their chains, and joyfully accepting the plundering of our possessions.  Thank You for letting us know that we have for ourselves a better possession and an enduring one in the heavens.

³⁵Therefore, thank You for helping us not to throw away our boldness, which has a great reward. ³⁶Thank You for endurance so that, having done Your will, Jesus, we may receive the promise.

³⁷Thank You that in a very little while, You Who come will come, and will not wait.

³⁸Thank You that the righteous will live by faith. Thank You that I will not shrink back and that Your soul has pleasure in me.

³⁹Thank You that I am not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the saving of my soul.

JESUS, THANK YOU THAT BECAUSE OF WHO YOU ARE…

I am pressing on to perfection.

I am enlightened.

I am a taster of the heavenly gift.

I am a partaker of the Holy Spirit.

I am a taster of Your good word and of the powers of the age to come. I am not one who falls away. I am one who can be renewed again to repentance. I am not a crucifier of You, my Christ.

I am not one who puts You to open shame. I am one of whom You are persuaded of better things that accompany salvation.

I am a servant of the saints. I am not sluggish.

I am an imitator of others who through faith and patience inherited

God’s promises.

I am strongly encouraged. I am a refugee of hope. I am anchored in my soul. I am entering into that which is within the veil. I am saved to the uttermost.

I am drawing near to God through You.

I am a person with God’s laws placed in my mind.

I am a person with God’s laws written on my heart.

I am one of God’s people.

I am a person whose sins and lawless deeds are not remembered.

I am cleansed in my conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

I am rejoicing that You are the mediator of a new covenant.

I am receiving the promise of eternal inheritance.

I am now represented in God’s presence by You.

I am perfected forever by Your offering.

I am sanctified.

I am bold to enter into the holy place by Your blood.

I am drawing near with a true heart full of faith.

I am sprinkled in my heart from an evil conscience.

I am washed in my body with pure water.

I am holding fast by confessing my hope.

I am not wavering.

I am a person who provokes others to love and good works.

I am not a willful sinner.

I am not fearful of judgment.

I am not being judged unworthy.

I am counting the blood of the covenant as a holy thing.

I am sanctified.

I am not an insulter of God’s Spirit of grace.

I am compassionate to others who are suffering.

I am waiting for You to come.

I am living by faith.

I am not one who shrinks back to destruction.

I am faithful to the saving of my soul.

Hebrews 11

¹Now I thank You that faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen. ²Thank You that by this, the elders obtained testimony. ³Thank You that by faith, we understand that the universe has been framed by Your word, Jesus, so that what is seen has not been made out of things which are visible.

⁴Thank You that by faith, Abel offered to You a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had testimony given to him that he was righteous.  Thank You that You testified with respect to his gifts; and through it he, being dead, still speaks.

⁵Thank You that by faith, Enoch was taken away, so that he would not see death, and he was not found, because You translated him. Thank You that he has had testimony given to him that before his translation he had been well pleasing to You his God.

⁶I appreciate that without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to You, for any of us who comes to You must believe that You exist, and that You are a rewarder of those who seek You.

⁷Thank You that by faith, Noah, being warned about things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared a ship for the saving of his house, through which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

⁸Thank You that by faith, Abraham, when You called him, obeyed to go out to the place which he was to receive for an inheritance. I am glad that he went out, not knowing where he was going. ⁹Thank You that by faith, he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a land not his own, dwelling in tents, with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise. ¹⁰I rejoice that he looked for the city which has the foundations, Whose builder and maker are You, our God.

¹¹Thank You that by faith, even Sarah herself received power to conceive and she bore a child when she was past age, since she counted You faithful Who had promised. ¹²Therefore, I thank You that as many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as innumerable as the sand which is by the sea shore, were fathered by one man, and him as good as dead.

¹³Even though these all died in faith, not having received the promises, thank You that they saw them and embraced them from afar. Thank You that these saints confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. ¹⁴Thank You for those who say such things and make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own.

¹⁵Thank You indeed that they were not thinking of that country from which they went out even though they would have had enough time to return. ¹⁶Jesus, thank You that I also desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Thank You that You are not ashamed of me, to be called my God, for You have prepared a city for me.

¹⁷Thank You that by faith, Abraham, being tested, offered up Isaac. Yes, thank You that he who had gladly received the promises was offering up his one and only son; ¹⁸even though it was said to him, “In Isaac will your seed be called.” ¹⁹Thank You that Abraham concluded that You are able to raise up even from the dead.  Thank You that figuratively speaking, Abraham also did receive Isaac back from the dead.

²⁰Thank You that by faith, Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come.

²¹Thank You that by faith, Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.

²²Thank You that by faith, Joseph, when his end was near, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel; and gave instructions concerning his bones.

²³Thank You that by faith, Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that he was a beautiful child, and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment. ²⁴Thank You that by faith, Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, ²⁵choosing rather to share ill treatment with Your people, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a time. ²⁶Thank You that Moses accounted Your reproach, O Christ, greater riches than the treasures of Egypt.  Thank You that he looked to the reward.

²⁷Thank You that by faith, Moses left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing You Who are invisible. ²⁸Thank You that by faith, he kept the Passover, and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch them. ²⁹Thank You that by faith, they passed through the Red Sea as on dry land. Thank You that when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were swallowed up.

³⁰Thank You that by faith, the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been encircled for seven days. ³¹Thank You that by faith, Rahab the prostitute, did not perish with those who were disobedient, having received the spies in peace.

³²What more shall I say, Jesus? For the time would fail me if I thanked You for Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets; ³³who, through faith subdued kingdoms, worked out righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, ³⁴quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, grew mighty in war, and caused foreign armies to flee.

³⁵Thank You that women received their dead by resurrection. Thank You that others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.

 

³⁶Thank You that others were tried by mocking and scourging, yes, moreover by bonds and imprisonment. ³⁷Thank You that they were stoned, sawn apart, tempted, and slain with the sword. Thank You that they went around in sheep skins and in goat skins; being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated ³⁸(of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts, mountains, caves, and the holes of the earth.

³⁹Thank You that even though these all, having had testimony given to them through their faith, did not receive the promise, ⁴⁰You, Jesus, have provided some better thing concerning us. Thank You that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

Hebrews 12

¹Therefore, I am overwhelmed with gratitude as I see that You have  surrounded me by so great a cloud of witnesses. Thank You that I can lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles me, and run with patience the race that is set before me. ²Thank You that I can look to You, Jesus, the author and perfecter of my faith, Who for the joy that was set before You endured the cross, despising its shame, and have sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

³Thank You that I can consider You Who have endured such contradiction of sinners against Yourself. Thank You that I do not grow weary and faint in my soul.

⁴Thank You that I have not yet resisted to blood, striving against sin. ⁵Thank You that I have not forgotten Your exhortation which reasons with me as with a child,

“My child, do not take lightly My chastening, nor faint when you are reproved by Me;

⁶For whom I, your Lord, love I chasten, and scourge every son whom I receive.” ⁷Thank You that is for discipline that I endure. Thank You that You deal with me as with a child, for what child is there whom his father does not discipline? ⁸Thank You that I am not without discipline, of which all have been made partakers. Thank You then that I am legitimate and Your child.

⁹Furthermore, thank You that I had a father of my flesh to discipline me, and I paid him respect. Thank You much more rather that I am in subjection to You, the Father of spirits, and I live. ¹⁰I appreciate that my father indeed, for a few days, punished me as it seemed good to him.  I appreciate even more that You punish for my profit, that I may be a partaker of Your holiness.

¹¹All chastening seems for the present not to be joyous but grievous; yet I thank You that afterward it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to me because I have been exercised by it.

¹²Therefore, thank You for lifting up my hands that hang down and my feeble knees. ¹³Thank You for making straight paths for my feet, so that which is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.

¹⁴Thank You that I follow after peace with all people, and the sanctification without which no man will see You, Lord.

¹⁵Thank You for helping me to look carefully lest I be one who falls short of Your grace, Jesus. Thank You that no root of bitterness will spring up to trouble me, and I be defiled by it. ¹⁶Thank You that I will not be a sexually immoral person, or a profane person, like Esau, who sold his birthright for one meal. ¹⁷Thank You that I know that even when he afterward desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for a change of mind though he sought it diligently with tears.

¹⁸Thank You that we have not come to a mountain that might be touched, and that burned with fire, and to blackness, darkness, storm, ¹⁹the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which those who heard it begged that not one more word should be spoken to them. ²⁰Thank You that they could not stand that which was commanded, “If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” ²¹Thank You that so fearful was the appearance, that Moses said, “I am terrified and trembling.”

²²Thank You, Jesus, that we have come to Mount Zion, and to Your city, O living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable multitudes of angels, ²³to the general assembly and Your assembly, O Firstborn, who are enrolled in heaven. Thank You that we have come to Your Father, our God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, ²⁴to You, Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better than that of Abel.

²⁵Thank You that I will see that I do not refuse You Who speak.

For if others did not escape when they refused You Who warned on the Earth, how much more I appreciate that I will escape by not turning away from You Who warn from heaven, ²⁶Whose voice shook the earth then. But now I thank You because You have promised that yet once more You will shake not only the earth, but also the heavens.

²⁷Thank You that I understand this phrase, “Yet once more,” signifies the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that have been made. Thank You that those things which are not shaken shall remain.  ²⁸Therefore, receiving a Kingdom that can not be shaken, thank You for giving me grace, through which I serve You acceptably, with reverence and awe. ²⁹Thank You for being our God. Thank You also for being a consuming fire.

Hebrews 13

¹Thank You that brotherly love will continue. ²Thank You that I will not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for in doing so, I may entertain angels without knowing it.

³Thank You that I will remember those who are in bonds, as bound with them; and those who are ill-treated, since I am also in the body.

⁴Thank You that You will hold marriage in honor among all, and are helping us to keep the marriage bed undefiled. Thank You that You will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.

⁵Thank You for giving me freedom from the love of money. Thank You for making me content with such things as I have. Thank You for saying that You will in no way leave me, neither will You in any way forsake me. ⁶So I thank You that with good courage I can say, “You Lord are y helper. I will not fear. What can man do to me?”

⁷Thank You for our leaders, men who spoke to us Your word. Thank You that I can consider the results of their conduct and imitate their faith.

⁸Jesus Christ, it is so wonderful that You are the same yesterday, today, and forever.

⁹Thank You that I will not be carried away by various and outlandish teachings. Thank You that it is good that my heart gains strength by grace, not by rules of diet, which have not spiritually benefited those who were so governed by them.

¹⁰I am so thankful that we have an altar from which those who serve the holy tabernacle have no right to eat. ¹¹Thank You that the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned outside of the camp.

¹²Therefore, Jesus, I also thank You, that You sanctified us through Your own blood by suffering outside of the gate.  ¹³Thank You, therefore, that we can go out to You outside of the camp, bearing Your reproach.

¹⁴Even though I do not have here an enduring city, thank You that I seek that which is to come.

¹⁵Jesus, through You, I am grateful that I can offer up a sacrifice of praise to You my God continually, that is, the fruit of my lips which proclaim allegiance to Your name. ¹⁶Thank You for helping me along with other Christians to not forget to be doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices You are well pleased.

¹⁷Thank You for helping me obey my leaders and submit to them, for they watch on behalf of my soul, as those who will give account, that they may do this with joy, and not with groaning, for that would be unprofitable for me.

¹⁸Thank You for helping me to pray for those who are persecuted that they have a good conscience, desiring to live honorably in all things. ¹⁹Thank You for strongly urging us to do this, that restoration may come sooner.

²⁰Now, thanks be to Your Father, the God of peace, Who brought You, Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, again from the dead with the blood of an eternal covenant. ²¹Thank You for making me complete in every good work to do Your will, working in me that which is well pleasing in Your sight, through Yourself, Jesus Christ, to Whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

²²Thank You for exhorting us to endure the word of exhortation, for this letter to us is in few words.

²³Thank You that we know that our brother Timothy was freed with whom, if he came shortly, the writer would have gone with him to see those to whom he was writing.

²⁴Thank You for the privilege of greeting all of our leaders and all the saints.

Thank You that the Italians greet us.

²⁵Thank You that Your grace is with us all. Amen.

JESUS, THANK YOU THAT BECAUSE OF WHO YOU

ARE…

I am a person who believes that God exists and that He rewards me         as I seek Him.

I am a stranger and a pilgrim on this earth.

I am seeking a country of my own.

I am desiring a better heavenly country.

I am not an embarrassment to God.

I am having a heavenly city prepared for me. I am choosing to share ill treatment with God’s people rather than

to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a time.

I am looking to the reward.

I am surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses.

I am laying aside every weight and entanglement.

I am running my race with patience.

I am looking to You, my Christ.

I am not weary or faint in my soul.

I am enduring God’s discipline.

I am God’s legitimate child.

I am in subjection to my heavenly Father.

I am alive.

I am a partaker of God’s holiness.

I am exercised by chastening.

I am lifting up my hands that hang down.

I am letting God make straight paths for my feet.

I am being healed.

I am a follower of peace with all people.

I am a follower of sanctification.

I am looking carefully so that I will not fall short of Your grace.

I am not growing a root of bitterness.

I am not sexually immoral or profane.

I am arriving at Mount Zion, the living city of God, the heavenly

Jerusalem.

I am receiving a Kingdom that cannot be shaken.

I am receiving grace to serve God acceptably.

I am in reverence and awe of God.

I am hospitable to strangers.

I am entertaining angels without knowing it.

I am remembering those in prison and those ill-treated.

I am in the body.

I am keeping the marriage bed undefiled.

I am free from the love of money.

I am content with what I have.

I am not forsaken by God.

I am helped by the Lord.

I am not fearful.

I am not carried away by various and outlandish teachings.

I am strengthened in my heart by grace.

I am sanctified by Your blood.

I am bearing Your reproach.

I am seeking an enduring city to come.

I am continually offering up to God a sacrifice of praise which is the             fruit of my lips.

I am doing good and sharing.

I am obeying my leaders.

I am praying for those who are persecuted. I am being made complete in every good work to do God’s will.

I am enduring words of exhortation.

[1] I am thankful that God also testified with them, both by signs and wonders, by various works of power, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will.

[2] I am thankful for this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of Your Father, God Most High, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him.

[3] Now indeed, I appreciate that even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service, and an earthly sanctuary. ²Thank You that a tabernacle was prepared and that in the first part were the lampstand, the table, and the show bread; which You called the Holy Place.