This week, I want to consider five important points the Hebrews writer made in Hebrews 12:15-17.   Here is the passage.

Hebrews 12:15-17 (ESV)
¹⁵ See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; ¹⁶ that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. ¹⁷ For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.

The first point comes in the form of an admonition, warning us not to fail to obtain the grace of God.  This is not something that we should do haphazardly.  He begins with the words “See to it.”  This comes from the one Greek word episkopeō.  You might recognize this word.  We get the word “bishop” from a form of it.  It means “to oversee” or “look diligently.”  The writer is admonishing us to carefully watch or to be vigilant when it comes to not failing to obtain the grace of God.

We all know that grace has to do with God’s unmerited favor.  Here, it has to do with the outworking of God’s goodwill.  In other words, to all the benefits we receive as a result of the fellowship we are honored to enjoy with Him, especially those of a spiritual nature.  These gracious blessings we have access to in Christ are not ours automatically.  Though we receive them by grace, God expects us to put Him first in our lives if we want Him to continue to supply them to us.

Matthew 6:33 (ESV)
³³ But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

He also expects us to ask Him for them.  We must remember that our heavenly Father is a giver of gifts, but He wants us to show our dependence on Him through the avenue of prayer.

Matthew 7:7–8 (ESV)
⁷ “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  ⁸ For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.

Something else we must do to obtain the grace of God is to live according to His will.  This is necessary, not only to receive blessings from Him now, but also to enter His kingdom in heaven.

Matthew 7:21–23 (ESV)
²¹ “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²² On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ ²³ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

These passages make it clear that we can miss out on the grace of God by failing to seek after it diligently.  If we want the salvation that comes by God’s grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8), along with the many benefits and blessings that we can enjoy right now by the outworking of His goodwill, we must live accordingly.  If we truly want to obtain the grace of God, we must all “see to it.”   

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.