August 19 – Out of Darkness and Into Light

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” 1 Peter 2:9 (ESV)

The Apostle Peter's first letter was sent to those who had believed in Christ and were living in the area called Anatolia Asia Minor which is mostly in modern day Turkey. He wanted to remind them what a great privilege they had. By His mercy God established a people for His possession, a people to call His own.  God has been merciful to all of us just as He was to the people whom Peter was writing. Whatever our personal background we must all admit that without the love of God we would never come to see the true light. We were living in a darkness but by believing in Jesus we have seen a great light and we are now a people belonging to God with all the abundant blessings. We no longer are bound to the darkness that binds those of this world but we have been called to be in His marvelous light. Our response is that we praise Him as we continue to learn through what His light reveals to us, each day. Let us declare his praises and proclaim the excellencies He reveals to us today.

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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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February 28 – Perfect Intercession

“...but 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)

Our verse today reminds  us of the continuing nature of our Savior's ministry for us.  When Jesus died on the cross for us, that was to pay the price for us to come into God's family.  We were barred from being a member of God's family because of our rebellion and rejection of God and our sinful disobedience and we needed forgiveness.  So when we accept the forgiveness offered to us because of what Jesus did by dying for our sin of rejection, we become children of God.  Full members of God's family.  Our verse today reminds us that  Jesus is still working for us.  When we pray to God in the name of Jesus He knows it and Jesus prays for us.  That's what makes our prayers effective. Our verse also reminds us that the intercession of the Son of God is able to save us completely.  Jesus is involved in our Christian living as we pray to God in His name.  Let us continue to pray and remember that He is praying for us as well.  

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August 19 – Chosen Out of Darkness to Light

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)

We should never forget what great benefit there is in being a child of God. When the Apostle Peter wrote his first letter he emphasized what God has done for His people.  Yes, we have much for which to praise our Lord. Our verse tells us that we do have a wonderful relationship to God – we are God's special  possession because we are His by choice through His love and grace.  Let's think, though, of the last words in our verse for today, especially of the great change that came into our lives when God called us in to His marvelous light.  God knew that we were working in darkness not knowing what lay ahead of us.  He called us into His family with a glorious future ahead of us going on into eternity. As we live here, He lights our way so that we can see our path from day to day.  The promise today is that we are chosen by God Himself to belong to Him.  That is something for which we can certainly declare His praises. 

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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.