Grains of Sand

Reading: Hebrews 5-8 No one is indispensable. We think we are. We act like we are. We’d like others to consider that we are—and appreciate us accordingly. I chuckle over the times I’ve announced that I was moving on and people have told me that they don’t know what they will do without me. Funny how life goes on so smoothly after I’ve left! I should either be insulted by their insincerity, or have my ego battered and bruised at the discovery that I really am NOT indispensable, or I should, as I do, laugh and say “You see—you got along just fine.” But there is one Person who is indispensable and I’m so glad He’s on the job right this moment. “…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 8:25, NIV). This verses refers specifically to salvation. Jesus never retires from the job of saving a repentant sinner. He never goes on holiday...

Reading: Hebrews 7 After explaining the earlier reference he made to Jesus becoming a priest as had been Melchizedek (see previous post), the writer to the Hebrews describes why Jesus is a superior priest. The old system with an inherited priesthood limited to the tribe of Levi and attached to the Law, was not perfect. And its imperfections and limitations prevented it from meeting the people’s need for restoration and reconciliation with the God against whom they had sinned. When Jesus came, the perfect answer to the dilemma came with Him. “ Such a high priest meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people, He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law appo...