Awed by Jesus, my High Priest

 

Someone once told me that she never reads the OT. She said, “I am a NT girl.” This morning, reading Hebrews again blessed me with a heart full of worship and praise, and I felt sorry for anyone who is not reading the OT and connecting it with the rest of the story in the NT.

For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever. (Hebrews 7:26–28)

A priest mediated between the divine and human realms. Functions included teaching God’s precepts, performing sacrifices and rituals, receiving tithes, pronouncing blessings, and distinguishing between clean and unclean. Now Jesus is called our high priest:

The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever.’ This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant. The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:21–25)

Because Jesus lived and died and rose again, He is my High Priest. He did what God promised He would do to change His people, something the law could not do or any efforts to keep it:

I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.” (Hebrews 8:6–12)

The OT shows that without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. Thus God sent His Son and Christ has entered not into holy places made with hands, but into heaven itself, to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own. He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. (Hebrews 9:22–28)

So I eagerly wait. I know that my High Priest forgave and accepted me, enables me to love Him and obey Him, and to not turn away from Him. His blood is called the “blood of the eternal covenant” and God will “work in us that which is pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ.” I am in awe that Jesus Christ bought this blessing in the salvation purchased at Calvary. My security is in Him, the High Priest that was modeled by the OT priests, imperfect as they were and imperfect as any effort I could attempt to be righteous without Jesus, my forever Priest.

PRAY: The richness of what is recorded in Your Word, Jesus, is almost too much for my feeble mind to fully grasp. I’m so thankful that You also give understanding and let me have glimpses of Your glory, so undeserved on my part yet such a great gift of grace rooted in Your love and mercy. 

King over the flood . . .

Normally my devotional time is between me and God. I’m listening to Him, wanting to know His thoughts for each day. Normally I try to interpret what I read in a sound way, not taking verses out of context, or applying them against what the author intended for his readers. Normally God speaks to me with words of correction, or instruction, words that I need to meditate upon for the day and apply to my life. Today, He says something that is outside the normal.

Perhaps this is because the people of Florida, Texas, Mexico, and a host of other places have been on my mind almost 24/7. At first, the news was overwhelming, and it still is, but now I’m using it for prayer. I’m also encouraged by the way people affected by the hurricanes are helping one another. While a few are behaving as if they are the only ones that are suffering, many are joyful to be alive and using whatever resources they have left to encourage their neighbors.

That said, this morning’s devotional readings took me to these verses. This is out of context, yet God is saying to me that ‘this is the kind of God I am.’ If any of His children are reading this, may they also draw near to Him and be encouraged:

The coastlands have seen and are afraid; the ends of the earth tremble; they have drawn near and come. Everyone helps his neighbor and says to his brother, “Be strong!” The craftsman strengthens the goldsmith, and he who smooths with the hammer him who strikes the anvil, saying of the soldering, “It is good”; and they strengthen it with nails so that it cannot be moved. But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my friend; you whom I took from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest corners, saying to you, “You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off”; fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:5–10)

Certainly, the catastrophe created by Harvey, Irma, and other storms in North America and around the world are God-sized problems. People are resourceful and determined, yet many of them are realizing they cannot do this without enormous help, even saying that God will help them because they know where their help comes from.

“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:1–2)

My prayers ask for His abundant help. People need divine wisdom for this, plus grace toward others, and encouragement for their desperation and hopelessness. They need divine patience as rescue and recovery moves slowly. Authorities need wisdom as they oversee the efforts, and workers need safety and the ability to work efficiently, in unity, and quickly.

Another verse is cited in today’s devotional. It is about salvation from sin, yet as I read it, God said to me that this is how God loves people, how He is willing to go to bat for sinners who need saving and also for sufferers who have no power, water, or a home left to live in. These words are His words to me too as I call on Him to care for the millions who need prayer — my prayers but also His intercession for them:

“Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.” (Hebrews 7:25)

^^^^^^^^

Jesus, I am deeply touched that You promise to help and strengthen Your people. You not only move me to constant prayer for those who are overwhelmed by their losses, but You are praying too — for those who draw near to God through You. May many people discover that You are with them to strengthen and help them, to uphold them with Your righteous right hand. May the help You give be evident, acknowledged, and received with thanksgiving.

No coincidences, becoming like Jesus, and intercession

For those who doubt that God has a sense of humor, read the last line of yesterday’s post and then read this opening from today’s devotional reading by Oswald Chambers: “The circumstances of a saint’s life are ordained of God. In the life of a saint there is no such thing as chance.”

As I laughed and kept reading, again God surprised me. My hubby and I are in a situation where we need to intercede for our daughter. Chambers says, “God is bringing you into places and among people and into conditions in order that the intercession of the Spirit in you may take a particular line.”

Lest I ramble on about the amazing and often amusing ‘coincidences’ of God, this one takes a more serious note in the light of today’s Scripture:

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. (Romans 8:28–29)

These verses were impressed upon me as a baby Christian. God made it clear that all that happens to me is designed by Him to shape me into the image of Jesus Christ. Not only is that a lofty and marvelous goal, it makes sense of life. When God says “all things” He means just that. The good, the bad, the mysterious, and everything else are His opportunities for that purpose.

Chambers says that this ‘everything’ includes situations in the lives of those around me. God brings me into relationships and experiences with others for the same reason. He intends that I am like Christ to the people who need Him. His love and grace may be shown in words, prayers, or actions, yet I need the discernment of the Holy Spirit to know what I must do. Do I pray and say nothing? Do I speak? Do I speak softly, or with louder enthusiasm? Am I to be stern as Jesus sometimes is, or do I use humor as God often does?

Chambers ends with a thought-provoking word: “Your intercessions can never be mine, and my intercessions can never be yours, but the Holy Ghost makes intercession in our particular lives, without which intercession someone will be impoverished.”

While I might not cause someone to be impoverished (not everything is my fault), God has give me the power of the Holy Spirit and the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ that I might be to others an encouragement in their journey, a refreshing place in their struggles.

Today’s Word and Chambers words are spot on what I needed to hear. Yeah, God.

Notes: 

Thankfully, God used today’s circumstances for His purposes in our lives.

He will also influence USA voters tomorrow to put in place the person He wants for the purposes He plans. I’m Canadian so cannot vote in the US, but I do urge Americans to listen for the Lord’s leading and vote. Above all, pray for those in leadership. God listens and He also can turn like a river the hearts of kings!

Intercession requires focus

There is a poster in my kitchen that says, “Be the kind of woman that when you rise in the morning, the devil says, ‘Oh no, she’s awake.’”

This poster is not meant to be cute. It is my reminder of who I am and the task God has given me to do. It is a bit of a repeat of the time I was complaining about prayer and how long it took and how much work I had to do. The Lord answered me: “This is your work.”

Because Jesus lives in me and because His Spirit governs my life, intercession ought to be the most normal work that I do. This is because it is His work also.

Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. (Romans 8:34)

And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:27)

It ought to be normal because Christ lives forever to intercede, and the Holy Spirit intercedes as well. The flesh or the natural man does not pray for others, but “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)

That kitchen poster is my reminder that the Liar wishes to stop me from praying. Daily temptations also remind me. If I fall into sin, God is far more interested in restoring me to a forgiven and cleansed relationship with Him than He is in answering my prayers. This is why He is continually interceding for me . . .  and this is the reason that I should pray without ceasing; those I pray for need to be in a forgiven and cleansed relationship with Him also.

Many things can divert my attention from prayer, even the burden of prayer itself. This can weigh me down and push me out of the presence of God, which robs me of any desire to worship — yet worship is vital for intercession. If I cannot worship, I cannot pray in the will of God.

The desire to do His will sometimes pushes me to run ahead of God instead of worshiping Him. We all seem to be creatures of ‘do something’ instead of those who wait. If the pressure to take action keeps me away from worship, it eventually will drive me toward despair. I cannot worship God and intercede according to His will from a position of despair and hopelessness.

The greatest illustration of this is the crucifixion. I can imagine the disciples being so distressed that they prayed God would stop this from happening. Even though Jesus told them this was the Father’s will, it made no sense to them. They were fearful and not able to intercede, only run for their lives.

Yet getting into the heart of God means knowing how to pray when disaster comes, daring to ask if this is part of His plan. The death of His Son seems the worst that could happen, but for God and for us, it was the greatest act in history. How then can I pray about calamities, illness, misfortune, or anything that runs contrary to human comfort? What do I know about the plan of God?

This is why we pray “Thy will be done” at the end of many prayers. Yet this can become mechanical. I need to mean it with all my heart. That is a far greater challenge, and the devil knows it. He wants me out of that worshiping and yielded mode so I am praying for life to be pleasing and comfortable for everyone, without any burdens on me or on them, and without the sacrifice of praise.

The Good Shepherd prays...

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies . . .” (Psalm 23:5)

The shepherd goes ahead of the sheep anticipating their needs, but also making sure that where they go is safe and part of his plan for them. Otherwise, the sheep will wind up in places of danger.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd. He operates often out of sight to keep His people safe. This does not mean we will never face danger. However, unlike sheep, whatever we experience has purpose. In the battle for our faith, the Lord gives us what we need to minister to others. Peter is a good example. Just before the crucifixion, Jesus said to him, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:31–32)

That Jesus prays for me is both humbling and overwhelming. Prayer is part of His plan that I be fed and cared for. One recorded prayer gives clues to His priorities. These quotes are from John 17. . .

Joy: “These things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.”

Protection: “The world has hated them . . . I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.”

Set apart by truth: “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”

A mission: “As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.”

His commitment to us: “And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.”

Unity: “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.”

Seeing Him: “Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.”

 Knowing Him: “O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

And from Hebrews 7, more about His intercession and commitment . . .

Continual salvation: “He continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.”

Once for all forgiveness: “For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.”

In the old covenant, “the law appointed men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.” (Hebrews 7:24–28) And this is why I love the Shepherd . . . because He first loved me and will never stop caring for His sheep.