But when Christ came as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation), he entered once for all into the Holy Place, not with the blood of goats and calves, but with his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, with the sprinkling of the ashes of a heifer, sanctifies those who have been defiled so that their flesh is purified, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to worship the living God! (Hebrews 9:11-14)
Good day to you, dear Friend! Praying that all is well with you and yours. I would invite prayers to some of our shut-ins whom Nellie and I visited yesterday, taking Holy Communion to them; Wilene Tate, Belle Witt, and Kathleen Bowman, who is still in assisted care awaiting a walk-through to be discharged home. These are very sweet ladies whom I have enjoyed visiting and praying with. Prayers for our nation; prayers for one another; prayers for ourselves.
The writer of Hebrews continues to marvel at all that Jesus was able to do for our sake. Following last week's epistle theme, Jesus is our high priest, the bridge between God and humanity, and the "high priest of the good things that have come." Knowing they are too numerous to list, he is thankful for the new life that Christ brings to those who surrender to Him. He also acknowledges that Jesus is now in the one true Holy Place, which is Heaven, because of the blood sacrifice He made with His own blood; whose blood continues to work through the Holy Spirit to "purify our conscience from dead works to worship the living God." What a marvelous thing. In simpler terms, all the bad we always seem to remember has truly died because of Christ's blood and has lifted us to the worship of the living God. Our God is a God of Life, not death and in death remain those things we committed in word, thought, and deed, never to be resurrected again.
All new and old believers have received a clean slate of life. From the slate that had in red letters CONDEMNED, that slate has been thrown away and we have a new, clean slate on which we can write our praises to the living God. And God has written our names on that slate that is the Book of Life. So, we give up the old way of living, to live as redeemed, sanctified, new creatures of the Lord, seeking to make big and positive differences in the lives of those around us.
PRAYER; Loving Father, how awesome is Your love. Please help me bury my past. Put to death that which continues to torment us and plague us with thoughts of worthlessness, and grant to us a new spirit, a right attitude towards You and Your love. Set our feet firmly on the path of life in abundance. This we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Your smile of joy may give away that you have nothing to hide anymore!
Eradio Valverde
