Good Both Ways

“May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip us with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” Hebrews 13:20-21

How do you eat your Snickers? Do you bite into the bar as whole, relishing the dense mixture of smooth, crunchy, and yummy, or do you enjoy the candy layer by layer, savoring each flavor as distinct and delightful? This question has no wrong answer, for either way you eat your treat, it brings enjoyment and nourishment.

That’s how it is with this verse. The ingredients are so good that part of me wants to pull it apart phrase by phrase and spend days digesting its meaning, but read and realized as one flowing thought, the combination of words bring encouragement and delight as we take it in.

“May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip us with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen”(Heb. 13:20-21).

Taken as a whole this verse is a blessing—a prayer for the bestowing of God’s grace and goodness on His people. It is a divinely-directed desire that the God who gave us peace equip us for His purpose and pleasure. The words remind us that we have a powerful and personal God who is excited about being involved in our lives, and, since on our own, we have neither the aptitude nor the attitude to do what God desires, we echo a hearty, “Amen!” at the end. This one sentence of scripture buoys up burdened hearts, adds meaning to mundane tasks, and heightens gratitude for a God who thinks so much of us that He thinks so much of us.

But considered layer by layer this verse is just as delicious—perhaps even more so, for the author of Hebrews can hardly write three words without pausing to pen an explanation or definition which adds depth and understanding. “May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus…” Even before time began, God planned to give us peace through Christ’s death and resurrection. Such power stuns us and brings us to bow before Him as “our Lord Jesus,” and, yet, this risen ruler relates to us not as a cool and distant sovereign, but as an intimate (and the ultimate) guide and caregiver—“our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep.” May this God, “equip you with everything good for doing his will.” One who has gone to such extremes to redeem you and relate to you will surely supply you with the talent, treasure, time, and truth you need to do His desire. “And may He work in us what is pleasing to him.” Lest we start to focus too much on “what we do”, let’s remember that “who we are” matters first, and let us be willing and wanting God to “work in us” to make our hearts like His. “Through Jesus Christ”—without Whom we would be nothing and without Whom the Father could not and would not want us. “To whom be glory for ever and ever”—Does this phrase mean glory be to Jesus Christ or to the Father? How about both, for in perfect unity they live as one—and will for all eternity. “Amen.” So be it. So be it!! I agree. You agree. We agree.

What a super sentence!! I think these verses are best unwrapped and savored both ways—bit by bit and as one big blessing.
And, yes, you have permission to eat two Snickers too!