December 15 – Loving and Faithful Always

“For I said, “Steadfast love will be built up forever; in the heavens you will establish your faithfulness.”” Psalm 89:2 (ESV) 

These words are an expression of faith that we can be ours as well.  The “For I said,” were the words of the one who wrote this song who was known as Ethan, the Ezrahite.  This Ethan was known to be one of the wisest men in Israel approaching the wisdom of Solomon but not exceeding Solomon who was the wisest of all.  We can learn from and be like Ethan, because we can also express our confidence in the permanence of God’s love because that is His nature. God’s love is firm forever because He is firm forever. He who made the heaven and the earth has always been and He never changes. Our promise is God's faithfulness to His love for us is forever.  So we can trust, through faith, that His love for His own will never change.  It is all a part of the character of our God. He is always faithful, always loving because that is intrinsic to His character. So remember that He will be loving you today – always faithful to His promise. 

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July 22 – Our Plea Agreement

“...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)

In the times of the Old Testament after God had given His Law to the Children of Israel, it was their duty and practice to bring animal offerings of to the priests at appointed times.  This practice resulted in covering their trespasses and sins which were against God's Law – but covered only for a time.  This had to be done over and over, each time a person broke the Law of Moses.  When Jesus came to earth and after he lived a perfect sinless life, He too was sacrificed for sinners.  He was our willing sacrifice.  Jesus became our permanent priest.  We do not need to approach God through any earthly priest because Jesus Himself was offered once and for all and is in heaven taking up our defense before God the Father.  That is why He was willing to die on the cross so that we can go directly to him.  It is our promise that He is our defense attorney pleading for our forgiveness forever – and God the Father accepts this plea of Jesus as our sacrifice. Our forgiveness is granted directly and we are saved completely (once and for all) because Christ has saved all who come to God through Him.     

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June 28 – Once and For All

“Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently.  Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”  Hebrews 7:24-25  (NASB)

Yesterday's promise was about eternal life that comes from accepting Jesus.  He is a wonderful Savior and today we consider that He is a perfect Priest.  Our believing and receiving eternal life is only the beginning of what Jesus is doing for us.  In the Old Testament, God required people to approach Him through appointed priests.  The priests preformed the sacrifices and ceremonies that covered the sins of those who came to them.  It had to be done over and over because the covering and forgiveness was temporary and limited.  After Jesus died on the cross, was buried, and rose again to a new life, it proved his sacrifice was accepted by God as the final blood sacrifice for sin.  What Jesus did for us was to save us forever and what He is doing for us now is interceding for us always.  Jesus is the final Priest and the only one a believer has or needs.  We do not need to approach God through another person because Jesus always lives to make intercession for us.  We who believe and receive Jesus as Savior have a direct connection this is true for all who come to God through His Son Jesus.   

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October 1 – Permanently Unshakable

“For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake, But My lovingkindness will not be removed from you, And My covenant of peace will not be shaken,” Says the Lord who has compassion on you.” Isaiah 54:10 (NASB)

Our promise from God's Word today is in the writings of the prophet Isaiah as he records something God has said to His people. We too are God's people just as the children of Israel were in Isaiah's time.  When we look at the mountains we usually think of them as being quite permanent.  But God wants us to know that His love for us is more dependable than anything we might see in His creation.  The mountains might shake and be moved but God's love is unfailing and permanent.  He will always love us.  And, in our selected verse for today, God promises that His love and His promise are unshakable.  His love for us will never waver – not even a little bit.  It will not vary.  It will always be the same and will never be taken away from us no matter what happens in our lives.  Our loving God wants us to know this truth and He wants us to trust in it today.  Why all this?  Because the Lord God has compassion on each one of us.

Please share these daily posts if you have been blessed and encouraged by them. 

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June 28 – Only One Mediator

“...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)

If we remember yesterday's post, we recall how Jesus willingly took the path to the cross even though he could have called on the Father to send 62,880* angels to his defense.  Instead of taking this option, Jesus chose to fulfill  his purpose in obedience to His Father.  Today's verse reminds us what Jesus is doing for us today. Jesus did die for us but He is living today and our verse tells us that He lives forever. The same love that sent Him to the cross is still working for us. It is a promise that after we accept Jesus as our Savior,  He keeps Himself involved in our lives. When we pray to the Father in the name of Jesus because we need help, at the same time Jesus is interceding directly for us.  Jesus is the only priest a believer needs and his priesthood in perfect and permanent. His intercession for us is directly between us and God the Father. This intercession process is what makes our salvation complete forever. 

*Of course, the number is given here by Jesus to emphasize His power and authority as the Son of God.  But, how many angels make up this illustration? Until the middle of the first century, in the Roman army, 10 cohorts (about 5,240 men not including officers) made up a Roman Legion. Jesus said he could have asked the Father to send 12 legions to His defense which calculates out to nearly 63 thousand.