Hebrews 12:22-29
New International Version
22 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23 to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. 25 See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”[a] 27 The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our “God is a consuming fire.”[b]
Saturday - June 12
Cain killed Abel and his response to God makes it seem like he thought he could get away with it. The sin that blinded him was already present in his heart. It consumed and devoured him. It caused him to think of his brother as an adversary rather than someone to love and encourage. So, Abel’s blood cried out in condemnation against Cain’s sin. But the blood of Jesus is different. It speaks a “better word.” That is the word of forgiveness. In Christ there is no condemnation, no wrath, and no judgment. His death removes our blindness to sin and replaces it with the sight of God’s mercy, love and forgiveness. That word is a kingdom that cannot be shaken!