Hebrews 10:22-23 (The Message), "So let's do it—full of belief, confident that we're presentable inside and out. Let's keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word."
Hebrews 10:22-23 (HCSB), "let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, our hearts sprinkled [clean] from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful."
I really like the way The Message presents this passage, "So, let's do it..."
When my second son was 2, he and his older brother received a nerf baskeball goal for Christmas. My oldest son, 3 at the time, didn't have any problem making baskets, but the 2-year old just couldn't do it. Finally, as we were cleaning up after lunch, we looked into the living room to see the 2-year-old push the goal next to the sofa. He then picked up the nerf basketball and put it on the sofa. He climbed up on the sofa, picked up the ball and walked over to the goal. Now looking down on the goal he shoved the ball through the net and said, "I can do it!"
We can do it too. We have a clena conscience provided by the purification of a loving savior. All we have to do is "hold on to the confession of hope without wavering." Christ promised that he would be with us always. That His sacrifice was enough. And, as our high priest, He is faithful to keep His word to us.
Take Refuge that we can go forth "full of belief, confident that we're presentable inside and out." God is with us, Christ is interceeding for us, we are loved and we can do it!
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Hebrews 9 - By His Blood
Hebrews 9:12-14 "He entered the holy of holies once for all, not by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who are defiled, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of the Messiah, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works to serve the living God?"
Once again, we are reminded that Christ gave himself for us. His blood cleanses our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. As Matthew Henry writes, "The depth of the mystery of the sacrifice of Christ, we cannot dive into, the height we cannot comprehend. We cannot search out the greatness of it, or the wisdom, the love, the grace that is in it. But in considering the sacrifice of Christ, faith finds life, food, and refreshment."
We can find solace and rest knowing that Christ satisfied the price for our sins once and for all. He made a way for us that we could never do on our own. The sacrifices of the old covenant purified the flesh, but Christ's blood purifies the soul.
Take Refuge in the blood of Christ -- the sacrifice that was required to cover our sins.
Once again, we are reminded that Christ gave himself for us. His blood cleanses our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. As Matthew Henry writes, "The depth of the mystery of the sacrifice of Christ, we cannot dive into, the height we cannot comprehend. We cannot search out the greatness of it, or the wisdom, the love, the grace that is in it. But in considering the sacrifice of Christ, faith finds life, food, and refreshment."
We can find solace and rest knowing that Christ satisfied the price for our sins once and for all. He made a way for us that we could never do on our own. The sacrifices of the old covenant purified the flesh, but Christ's blood purifies the soul.
Take Refuge in the blood of Christ -- the sacrifice that was required to cover our sins.
Hebrews 8 - I Will Be Their God
Hebrews 8:10 (HCSB), "'But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days,' says the Lord: 'I will put My laws into their minds, and I will write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.'"
'"
The author of Hebrews here refers to the covenant that God made with Abraham in Genesis 17:7-8 and reaffirmed to the nation in Zechariah 8:8. Although this covenant is addressed to the "house of Israel", each of us who have accepted Christ as our saviour are also included when God says "My people." We are heirs with Christ and as such, God also covenants with us that He will be our God and we will be His people.
It's like a father who introduces his child to someone for the first time and says, "this is my child". There is a sense of belonging to be "God's people." Likewise, there is also implied a sense of responsibility when God says, "I will be their God." God is that father -- ready and willing to introduce his child and proudly proclaim, "this is my child".
Additionally, God promises to put His laws on our minds and on our hearts. As it says in The Message, "This new plan I'm making with Israel isn't going to be written on paper, isn't going to be chiseled in stone; This time I'm writing out the plan in them, carving it on the lining of their hearts. I'll be their God, they'll be my people." God loves us so much and cares for us so much that He wants us to know him intimately with our innermost being. Knowing in our mind and trusting in our heart that He is there for us no matter what.
Take Refuge. God has made His claim over you and stand ready to be your God.
'"
The author of Hebrews here refers to the covenant that God made with Abraham in Genesis 17:7-8 and reaffirmed to the nation in Zechariah 8:8. Although this covenant is addressed to the "house of Israel", each of us who have accepted Christ as our saviour are also included when God says "My people." We are heirs with Christ and as such, God also covenants with us that He will be our God and we will be His people.
It's like a father who introduces his child to someone for the first time and says, "this is my child". There is a sense of belonging to be "God's people." Likewise, there is also implied a sense of responsibility when God says, "I will be their God." God is that father -- ready and willing to introduce his child and proudly proclaim, "this is my child".
Additionally, God promises to put His laws on our minds and on our hearts. As it says in The Message, "This new plan I'm making with Israel isn't going to be written on paper, isn't going to be chiseled in stone; This time I'm writing out the plan in them, carving it on the lining of their hearts. I'll be their God, they'll be my people." God loves us so much and cares for us so much that He wants us to know him intimately with our innermost being. Knowing in our mind and trusting in our heart that He is there for us no matter what.
Take Refuge. God has made His claim over you and stand ready to be your God.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Hebrews 7 - Always
As we see the many aspects of Jesus' role as the High Priest throughout the book of Hebrews, I feel a special assurance in verse 25 of chapter 7. "Therefore He is always able to save those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them." Jesus is ALWAYS there to intercede on our behalf.
Jesus did not take up this role lightly. He accepted the responsibility to always be there for us and to be the intermediary before the Father. This was not a role that could be filled from time to time as needed. It is a constant, never ending responsibility.
Have you ever failed to carry on with a task that was assigned to you which would always be yours to do? 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, "Rejoice always! Pray constantly. Give thanks in everything, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." Do ever stop rejoicing? Do ever stop praying? Do you ever find yourself experiencing problems or trials that you don't give thanks for? It is part of the human nature to eventually give up. We are human, after all. But Jesus, fully human and fully God did not. He has not stopped saving those who come to God through him and he will not stop saving them.
Take Refuge that we ALWAYS have an intecessor in Jesus Christ, our High Priest
Jesus did not take up this role lightly. He accepted the responsibility to always be there for us and to be the intermediary before the Father. This was not a role that could be filled from time to time as needed. It is a constant, never ending responsibility.
Have you ever failed to carry on with a task that was assigned to you which would always be yours to do? 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, "Rejoice always! Pray constantly. Give thanks in everything, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." Do ever stop rejoicing? Do ever stop praying? Do you ever find yourself experiencing problems or trials that you don't give thanks for? It is part of the human nature to eventually give up. We are human, after all. But Jesus, fully human and fully God did not. He has not stopped saving those who come to God through him and he will not stop saving them.
Take Refuge that we ALWAYS have an intecessor in Jesus Christ, our High Priest
Hebrews 6 - Hope
1 Corintians 13 ends with "Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love." Faith, hope and love are the three greatest representations of God's grace. Hope is the grace that keeps us looking to the future for a better life and a better way. We find that future in Jesus, if we seek him, place our faith in him, allow ourselves to hope through him and love him -- giving up ourselves to him.
Hebrews 6:19 says, "We have this [hope]-like a sure and firm anchor of the soul-that enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain." Like the anchor of a ship that will hold it steady in uncertain times, Jesus Christ, as our hope, provides the assurance that no matter what comes our way He is there to support us.
The author of Hebrews explains that Jesus is our High Priest having earned that role through a blameless life culimnating in suffering and sacrifice. As our High Priest, he has the right to go to the Father and offer himself in our place. In doing so, he provides us with the hope that we too can one day be with him in glory.
Take Refuge in the hope we have which is Jesus!
Hebrews 6:19 says, "We have this [hope]-like a sure and firm anchor of the soul-that enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain." Like the anchor of a ship that will hold it steady in uncertain times, Jesus Christ, as our hope, provides the assurance that no matter what comes our way He is there to support us.
The author of Hebrews explains that Jesus is our High Priest having earned that role through a blameless life culimnating in suffering and sacrifice. As our High Priest, he has the right to go to the Father and offer himself in our place. In doing so, he provides us with the hope that we too can one day be with him in glory.
Take Refuge in the hope we have which is Jesus!
Hebrews 5 - Suffering
How many times have you complained about your suffering and the trials you have faced? We often look at ourselves and grouse about how bad we have it. Look at the description of Jesus in Hebrews 5 and how He responded to suffering.
Hebrews 5:7-9 (HCSB), "During His earthly life, He offered prayers and appeals, with loud cries and tears, to the One who was able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence. Though a Son, He learned obedience through what He suffered. After He was perfected, He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him"
Christ, though the Son of God whose rightful place was with the Father in Heaven, learned obedience through suffering. God, the Father, could have saved him from death, but the Father knew that the Son must be the sacrifice for our sins. While Jesus' prayers were heard because of his reverence for the Father, Jesus always sought the Father's will. Even in Gethsemane when he prayed, "... My Father! If it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will." (Matthew 26:39 - HCSB). Even as he asked for mercy, he knew that it was more important for him to suffer and seek the Father's will.
Through his suffering, our sins are covered. He learned obedience and taught obedience by looking to the Father and seeking His will above all. Jesus was fully human, tempted and tested by all things human. Let us learn from his obedience.
Take Refuge in a Saviour willing to give up his right and his will and who chose suffering, even unto death, for you and me so that we might one day be with Him in glory.
Hebrews 5:7-9 (HCSB), "During His earthly life, He offered prayers and appeals, with loud cries and tears, to the One who was able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence. Though a Son, He learned obedience through what He suffered. After He was perfected, He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him"
Christ, though the Son of God whose rightful place was with the Father in Heaven, learned obedience through suffering. God, the Father, could have saved him from death, but the Father knew that the Son must be the sacrifice for our sins. While Jesus' prayers were heard because of his reverence for the Father, Jesus always sought the Father's will. Even in Gethsemane when he prayed, "... My Father! If it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will." (Matthew 26:39 - HCSB). Even as he asked for mercy, he knew that it was more important for him to suffer and seek the Father's will.
Through his suffering, our sins are covered. He learned obedience and taught obedience by looking to the Father and seeking His will above all. Jesus was fully human, tempted and tested by all things human. Let us learn from his obedience.
Take Refuge in a Saviour willing to give up his right and his will and who chose suffering, even unto death, for you and me so that we might one day be with Him in glory.
Hebrews 4 - The High Priest
Hebrews 4:14-15 (HCSB), "Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens -- Jesus the Son of God -- let us hold fast to the confession. For we do no have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tested in every way as we are, yet without sin."
The same verses in The Message say, "Now that we know what we have -- Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God -- let's not let it slip through our finders. We don't have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He's been through weakness and testing, experienced it all -- all but sin."
Jesus came to earth as the sacrifice to pay the price of death required for our sins. He came knowing what he had to do and he did it without seeing immediate results for his actions. He was fully human and experienced the same temptations and weaknesses as are common to man. Yet he did not sin!!!!
In the Jewish culture, the role of high priest (among others) was to offer sacrifice for himself, the priesthood and all of the nation of Israel. He had both daily offerings to make as well as the annual offering on The Day of Atonement or Yom Kippur when he entered the Holy of Holies.
Hebrews 7:26-27 says of Jesus, "For this is the kind of high priest we need: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He doesn't need to offer sacrifices every day, as high priests do - first for their own sins, then for those of the people. He did this once for all when he offered Himself."
Take Refuge the Jesus is your High Priest. Blameless and able to stand before God on your behalf.
The same verses in The Message say, "Now that we know what we have -- Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God -- let's not let it slip through our finders. We don't have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He's been through weakness and testing, experienced it all -- all but sin."
Jesus came to earth as the sacrifice to pay the price of death required for our sins. He came knowing what he had to do and he did it without seeing immediate results for his actions. He was fully human and experienced the same temptations and weaknesses as are common to man. Yet he did not sin!!!!
In the Jewish culture, the role of high priest (among others) was to offer sacrifice for himself, the priesthood and all of the nation of Israel. He had both daily offerings to make as well as the annual offering on The Day of Atonement or Yom Kippur when he entered the Holy of Holies.
Hebrews 7:26-27 says of Jesus, "For this is the kind of high priest we need: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He doesn't need to offer sacrifices every day, as high priests do - first for their own sins, then for those of the people. He did this once for all when he offered Himself."
Take Refuge the Jesus is your High Priest. Blameless and able to stand before God on your behalf.
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