He Meets Our Need

Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. 

Hebrews 7:26 NIV

A few months ago I bought some hiking boots. They were low ankle style and a very good price. Since then I have used them several times and they don't quite meet my needs. Because they are a low ankle design I gather a lot of little rocks and things inside my shoes as I hike along. I think I need some hiking shoes that protect my ankles a bit more. I know this is a bit of a stretch, but, knowing Christ is not something we try and find out he doesn't quite meet our needs. He meets all our needs.

The author of Hebrews takes a great deal of time to explain the importance of Christ as our High Priest. I think it is very important that he reminds us that Christ meets our need. We don't come to him and suddenly realize he isn't enough. He is holy. He is our holiness. He is blameless, pure, set apart of sinners (us) and he is exalted above the heavens. His death on the cross, his intercession at the right hand of the Father, meets our need. 

Our need is to be reconciled with the Father, our Creator. Christ not only brings us back, but, he also keeps us. We are now part of the family, brought back home. He ever lives to intercede for us. He is right now...

Completely and Always

but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

Hebrews 7:24-25 NIV

The fact that Jesus' priesthood is permanent leads to two wonderful truths. First, that he is able to save us completely and secondly, that he ever lives to intercede for us. 

The completeness of his saving work assures us that whatever the depths of sin his death on the cross covers us. The completeness of his salvation also deals with time because he lives forever as our High Priest. The past, the present, and the future are all cover by his grace. 

The comfort of knowing that he is always interceding on our behalf encourages us to press on and never give up. You see, there is no time where he steps away and comes back and is surprised to find us is the mess we are in.  Right now he is interceding for you. 

Set Your Heart and Mind Right

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 

Colossians 3:1-2 NIV

Twice a year I have to reset my clocks and watches for day light savings time. I wish they were all like my phone that does it automatically, but no, most I must do myself. 

I guess we all wish our hearts and minds would reset themselves automatically, but no, it's something we must consciously do ourselves. That is the purpose of having daily devotions, going to church and  studying the Bible; to reset our hearts and minds on things above. We know we are going to work (at home or away). The thing is live with heaven in mind. Know that Christ is seated at the right hand of God, interceding on your behalf. It's not really thinking, "I can't wait to get to heaven" so much as how can I live for Christ hear and now, today, and bring heavens reign into my life. 

Lord, help us to live for you today. Reign in us today. Bring your glory, your grace, mercy and forgiveness through us today into this dark world. Praise be to you in us today!

You Can Forgive

Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgement.

James 2:12-13

I think this a difficult topic because we would like grace to be a complete pass with no strings attached to it. But, James is clearly saying that if you are not merciful, there is no mercy for you. 

Jesus had taught the disciples in Matthew 6:14-15, "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." 

When you have unresolved issues of forgiveness in your heart they are attached to your inner being, whether you acknowledge them or not. Sometimes we like to just push things to the side and try not to notice them or deal with them, like a pile of bills on your desk that you refuse to open. Just because I refuse to deal with does not negate their presence or affect on you. 

Think about this; the model prayer that Christ taught his disciples has a postscript that flat out states that if we won't forgive someone who sins against us, we won't be forgiven. Because Christ first forgave us (See Colossians 3:13). I know that some people can be "impossible" to deal with, but, we are not being asked to spend Thanksgiving with someone who has sinned against us, we are being told to forgive them. Whatever God does after we forgive them is up to God. 

What is your burden?

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior,
   who daily bears our burdens. 
Our God is a God who saves;
   from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death.
Psalms 68:19-20 (NIV)

God does not bear our burdens, occasionally. We don't have to wait in line or make a request via email, fax or in writing. He started working in our lives before we knew we needed him and before we even asked! He daily bears our burdens.

His work in our lives is on a daily basis. Salvation's work is every day. It isn't a once at the altar, once at the pearly gates deal. Salvation is God working in us every day. Maybe I don't see, understand or like what God is doing, but he is still working. Christ Jesus always lives to intercede for us. 

What is your burden today? What is the death that God is leading you to escape? He is Sovereign which means he has ultimate power over everything. He works everything out for the good of those love him. Look to God because he is looking after you.

Father, open our eyes to see your salvation working in our lives. Praise be to you in us today!

GO AHEAD AND ASK

"Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus". Hebrews 10:19

When I was around twenty I was blessed to be able to attend Capernwray Bible School in England. The head of the school befriended me and I spent a good amount of time hanging out with him. For a while I was struggling with something and I didn't want to talk to him because I knew he would cut straight to the chase. Finally I went to talk with him about what I was struggling with and when I told him he said, "I knew it, I was just waiting for you to come talk to me." There was no condemnation, just help.  

Sometimes we act like that with God. We try to fix ourselves before we go to God. When we get tired of just messing it up more, we go to him and he simply says, "I know, I've just been waiting for you to come to me." 

Is there something you have been trying to fix or make right before you really seek God? Whatever it is, he knows and he is just waiting for you to call upon him. 

Father, thank you for being so patient and loving. Thank you that you do not condemn us, you sent your One and Only Son to die for us! Praise be to you in us today!

ONCE IS ENOUGH

"But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away  with sin by the sacrifice of himself. Just as man is destined to die once, and after that comes judgement, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him." Hebrews 9:26b-28

I think the point is not sinless perfection on our part (see I John) but the completeness of our salvation and the removal of sins guilt and control. 

There is a story of a wealthy man who was purchasing a Rolls-Royce car. At that time Rolls-Royce did not list it's horsepower. The buyer asked what the horsepower was and the only answer he received was, "Adequate." He even wrote to the company's main offices and each person's answer was always, "Adequate."  

The message is that no matter the depth of our need of his forgiveness, mercy and grace, Christ's death covers the need. A matter of fact, his grace is more than adequate it is all sufficient. Christ's death was enough. 

Jesus, thank you for dying for our sins and sacrificing yourself in our place. Thank you that you will come again! Praise be to you in us today!

THE POINT: CHRIST IS

"The point of what we are saying is this: We do have a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man." Hebrews 8:1-2 

You have a need. I have a need. We need someone to represent us to God Almighty. We need our sins forgiven. We need someone to be interceding on our behalf. 

Christ died for our sins; past, present and future. Christ sits at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven. Do you realize what that means? It means where the battle is being decided, we have the advantage. Christ, is representing us. That doesn't mean everything is easy. It does mean that Christ will keep us in his will and his way. And in the end, he will give us victory. 

Remember Job. Satan had to ask permission to do him any harm. Job suffered great losses to learn that God alone is Creator and Ruler, Righteous and Holy. God blessed him more in the end of his life than before, but, he did go through quite a battle. 

So, remember whom you have in heaven. Humbly and thankfully call on him. 

Thank you Jesus for being our High Priest and meeting our needs in yourself! Praise be to you in us today!

CHRIST GETS IT

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin." Hebrews 4:15 

Have you ever heard a leader say that leadership should be on a higher level than the people they are serving? Well, I get that they should be a strong experienced believer with a special call upon their lives, but, when they start thinking they actually are more spiritual than everyone else, that's when problems usually begin. 

You see, that is the difference with Jesus. He is God. He is above everything yet, he came down and was like us to sympathize with us and minister to us. He understands temptation at its' deepest level. The temptation that he endured assures us that he understands whatever we are going through when we are tempted. 

Jesus gets that you are tempted by whatever tempts you.

He gets that it beats you up. 

He gets that the enemy condemns you for even being tempted, but that being tempted is not sinning. 

What ever you are feeling, he understands.

That is why we hold firmly to the faith we profess (verse 14)! We hold on to him because in him we have the victory. 

Jesus, thank you for being our High Priest that sympathizes with our weaknesses. Help us to hold on to you especially when we are tempted so that we, like you, will not sin. Praise be to you in us today!