More than Conquerors
As we come together this morning, Father, may I be focused on you and attentive to Your words…and may that be the case not just here and now but throughout our day together. Amen.
Hebrews 9:1-15 (<<click here)
Lord, for my mind to wrap itself around this passage I need to go back to the very beginning. Adam and Eve were very clearly told, in fact it explicitly states in Genesis 2:16-17,
“But the Lord God warned him, ‘You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden – except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.’”
They disobeyed and sin entered the world and according to God’s word, being irrevocably true, with sin came death. Paul’s statement in Romans 6:23 makes it clear. “For the wages of sin is death…” So for Adam and Eve’s sin to be forgiven death was required. Their death was not instantaneous but blood had to be shed. To cover their new found nakedness blood was shed – a life was sacrificed – and so it began.
So for thousands of years because sin was inevitable (and will be until Christ returns) life – blood – was forfeit for forgiveness. And that was the case still when Jesus first came to live amongst us.
Over time God set up a structured system by which sins could be forgiven. It may have provided the necessary forgiveness but it dealt basically in the realm of the physical and ceremonial. By its very nature it could not get to the core of the problem – the conscience. And there was no permanence to it – every time they sinned another sacrifice was needed. In addition every year it was necessary to offer a sacrifice for the community as a whole.
But in God’s timing Jesus came to live amongst us. He became the perfect, once and for all, sacrifice. And His sacrifice went way beyond the ceremonial and physical – it went to the very core of our being. His blood not only covers us but His very presence fills us. The conscience can be brought under control.
Lord Jesus, thank You for all You do. We no longer need live defeated lives. In You we are victorious, “In You we are more than conquerors.” Romans 8:37 NIV
Apr 5th, Tue, 6:45am
A band that I really like is Rend Collective – here’s a great song by them if you’d like to check it out!
The Fault in Us
I’m so glad to be in Your presence this morning, Father. This is the one place in my life where it is real. I realize that You see and know everything, so that gives me the opportunity to be straight up with You. No pretense, no hypocrisy, just transparency and the freedom that comes with it.
Father, I would ask that You would help me this morning. Help me to listen – help me hear. Help me learn. Help me take action. This is my prayer each and every day. Your love for me gives me every reason to love You, too.
Hebrews 8:7-13 (<<click here)
Lord, I have already journaled on this passage but something else has come to mind. Portions of this passage were troubling and the light bulb finally came on in my brain! I was struggling with “fault” being found in the first covenant and with what the verse says,
“When God speaks of a ‘new’ covenant, it means he has made the first one obsolete. It is now out of date and will soon disappear.” v.13
My mind was grappling with how there could be fault in the first covenant. God is perfect, right? So what was the deal? Well, it finally dawned on me (duh!). God, of course, is perfect and the fault is not in Him. The fault was found in us. We, humanity, are the problem! Verse 8, clearly states it, “God found fault with people…” We “did not remain faithful to [God’s] covenant…” v.9
The old covenant sought to direct us in the way we should live but we rebelled. So with the new covenant, Lord, you went straight for the heart. “…I will write [my laws] on their hearts.” v .10 When we cease our rebelling and submit to You, Your law is now in us – You are in us. You are there to help us, to teach us, to correct us.
Lord, thank You for all You do for me. The text of a great hymn comes to mind, “I once was lost, but now am found, was blind but now I see.” Amen.
Apr 2nd, Sat, 6:50am
Beware Trojan Horses!
Father, I come before You today full of determination. But even as I do so I once again have the full realization and readily acknowledge that I can only be victorious when You are in the driver’s seat of my life.
You would think that after all this time that my defenses would be so shored up as to be impenetrable…but Trojan horses are never to be trusted. I have by no means fallen to our great enemy but a few of his fiery darts have found his mark. My shield of faith was not held in its proper position and I have suffered because of my laxness.
Father, I may have been wounded but I am not down! You have dressed my wounds and have helped shore up my defenses once more. I am keeping my “eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects my faith.” Hebrews 12:2 That is the only way that I can be victorious.
I am gladly dependent upon You, Lord. You are faithful. You will never let me down. You will never give up on me. I give this day – and every day – to You. My I keep my eyes fixed on You. Amen!
Apr 1st, Fri, 6:28 am*
*A point of clarification for some who have wondered: The date listed here is the actual date on which I wrote in my journal. I am posting roughly 6 weeks after that.
LIFE!
Father, I am grateful that I can come before You this morning with “clean hands and a pure heart.” Psalm 24:4 And I wholeheartedly acknowledge that it is only because of Your love and mercy that I can do so. I pray that I will clearly hear Your voice in our time together this morning and then throughout the day. Amen.
Hebrews 8:1-13 (<<click here)
Lord, with Your coming and giving of Yourself in total sacrifice You have established a new covenant with us, one that is put “in our minds” and written “on our hears” v.10. That is a personal, interactive covenant. That surely is the case but why, then, do we want to make it cold and impersonal? We take something that is alive and we do our best to paralyze it. Many have taken this life giving, invigorating covenant and have just sucked the life out of it by making it a list of do’s and don’ts. We externalize it and when we do it that way, we undermine Your work in us and through us.
Your plan, Your desire, is just the opposite! Jesus, You are the Living Word not a dusty tome. You are LIFE! And You infuse us with that life. In doing so we come to life. We are able to become who we were created to be. We are less motivated by rules and regulations and the fear and punishment for failing to fulfill them and instead are motivated by love! Your great love for us results in us having a greater love for You. And when that takes place we begin to desire to follow Your directive not out of obligation but out of that love.
Lord, this day may I be a living expression of Your new covenant!
Mar 31st, Thurs, 6:33 am
Draw Near
Thank You, Father, for being with me yesterday. And I can think of no better place to be than with You! Your presence in worship was impacting in both services. I also appreciate the opportunity to be with family the better part of the day and the situations in which You allowed me to find myself as I interacted with people I care about. What a privilege to be used by You to touch people, to love them as You would have me to.
Hebrews 7:15-28 (<<click here)
“…once for all…” v.27
At least for me, Lord, Hebrews is not a book of which I can take little bites. I have to bite off big chunks! It seems that core concepts permeate large passages. Jesus, “You are a priest forever…once for all…” v.21,27 You have taken care of everything! What we could not do, You did. Where we are weak- You are strong! Where we are sinful to the core – You are sinless, righteous and holy! Where we could only obtain short lived forgiveness – You provided eternal forgiveness, “once for all”!
Lord help me to “draw near to” You, v.19 for You are my hope and salvation. I plead that I will continue to crave interaction with You. The peace I find in our relationship brings great comfort through all of life’s ups and downs.
Mar 28th, Mon, 5:48 am