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| Grandpa and Grandson at the RioT |
Day 27 and all is well. We are motoring along through the New Testament and the downward ride is smoothing out. At least I hope it is for all of us. The goal of reading God’s word and getting through a significant amount of it as a start to our new year is really a great thing. I am confident that you are seeing wonderful treasures in the word and are, with me, looking forward to every day’s reading.
Today we finished our reading in the book of Hebrews. This book, specifically written to Jewish believers, is full of quotes from the Old Testament. In its pages, we see a very clear argument for the better nature of everything that Jesus is and does; and we see the encouragement to keep on growing into a mature stance before the Holy and Living God.
Here is what I got from my reading today.
I love the photo above, because it mixes two loves that I have. The first is to be with one of my grandchildren, like the little guy next to me. The second is to be in and around soccer stuff, like the entrance tunnel for the Rio Tinto Stadium for Real Salt Lake. What a privilege it is to go to a game, watch the play of my favorite team and enjoy lots of victories at the stadium they call “The Fortress.” Then to have the added privilege to go to the stadium, when there isn’t a game, and have access because of my job as the team’s chaplain, is icing on the cake.
Today’s reading gives us a similar picture of wonderful access through Jesus Christ, our High Priest. God the Father said of Jesus, “You are a priest forever.” In our reading the writer of Hebrews clarifies by saying that Jesus is not like all the other priests that have come before. He is better, since He conquered death, lives forever, and thus, is “always [living] to intercede” for us. He is our access to the Father and through Him we are able to be saved “completely.”
Because of Jesus being the everliving High Priest, we can enjoy a stance that no other person can give us. In the Spanish that I learned in Uruguay, there was a saying when somebody had an acquaintance that could get things done for them that could not be done by normal means (unfortunately, many of the normal workings of government and society had this subset of extra hoops one had to jump through to get things done). The saying was, “Tengo una palanca.” The phrase means, I have a lever, but its idea is better stated as, I have a way to get it done (a foot in the door). As crude as it may seem, Jesus is our lever, our way to get the ultimate thing done, the ONLY way to get sin taken care of. Jesus is our palanca, our lever, our High Priest, our Savior, our access to righteousness, to heaven and eternal life.
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| Grandson on the field at the RioT |
His work did what our work could never do. Just like in this picture. Jesus took us from outside of the holy ground and gave us entrance into the blessings of His kingdom. He took us from being spectators in the stands to approved (adopted) members on the field! What a different perspective that gives to all of us. We no longer are those who watch it all go by, rather we are those whose needs are met and who have privilege before a Holy God to stand in His presence. All because of what Jesus has done and who He is.
May we all see the incredible benefit that our Holy, Blameless, Pure, Set apart, Exalted above the heavens Savior has given us who believe. Access eternal with confidence before God. There is none like Jesus.
I hope you are reading and finding wonderful truths in God’s word. Tomorrow, we venture into the book of practical Christianity, James. Until then, blessings!
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