My Father, today marks 30 consecutive days that I have come to sit at Your feet! You have enabled me to do this! I had been somewhat consistent before but there were many gaps. Thank You, Father, for Your patience with me. Thank You for loving me. Thank You, for never giving up on me. Bless our time together, Father, may I hear what You have to share this day.

Hebrews 2:9-10 (<<click here)

“… by God’s grace Jesus tasted death for everyone.”

Wow! Could more be packed into so few words?! Lord, my mind is a swirl just trying to figure out how to write it all out! Oh, my!

Lord, the Father’s grace – His unmerited, undeserved favor has been freely given. And by that grace You, Lord Jesus, came – in the flesh! – to live amongst us, so that You would be placed into the position where You could take what we did deserve – death. Romans 6:23 Death – the indisputable penalty for sin – for thumbing our nose at God – for in defiance doing what we want – for turning our back on You.

But there is also a very interesting use of words here. Lord, You “tasted” death. It is a irrefutable, historically documented fact that You died but…You only “tasted” death. For three days You laid in that cold, dark tomb…no pulse, no breath, no brain activity. But that was it! Three days was enough – it was a “taste” but it was enough! Praise God it was more than enough! Death had You firmly in its grasp…but no more. It only had a “taste” of victory until You were wrenched from its hands!

Jesus, You “tasted” death as You “swallowed it up in victory!”  ”O death, where is your victory?…where is your sting?”  “…for sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:54-57, Isaiah 25:8, Hosea 13:14

And the last bit of today’s passage states “…for everyone.” No restrictions, no exclusions! Everyone is every one! Our petty  divisions do not factor in from any angle – all are included, all are forgiven, all are loved. Praise be to God! What more needs said?! Amen!!

Feb 19th, Fri, 5:59 am