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23 Earlier there were a lot of priests, for they died and had to be replaced. 24 But Jesus' priesthood is permanent. He's there from now to eternity 25 to save everyone who comes to God through him, always on the job to speak up for them. 26 So now we have a high priest who perfectly fits our needs: completely holy, uncompromised by sin, with authority extending as high as God's presence in heaven itself. 27 Unlike the other high priests, he doesn't have to offer sacrifices for his own sins every day before he can get around to us and our sins. He's done it, once and for all: offered up himself as the sacrifice. 28 The law appoints as high priests men who are never able to get the job done right. But this intervening command of God, which came later, appoints the Son, who is absolutely, eternally perfect. (Hebrews 7:23-28 The Message Bible)
Happy and Blessed Tuesday, dear ConCafe People! May the Lord shine His light on you, Friend, so that you may radiate His love to everyone is my prayer for you! Prayers for you and yours. Pray for one another, prayers for your own needs. We are prayer people who pray for victories in those places where it seems only defeat stands a chance; prayer people see light where darkness seems almost overwhelming; and who see hope where hopelessness has taken up residence; Jesus says, "Move out devil!"
We all have what we may call our favorite preacher or priest. It may be someone from your childhood or from you formative years, and it may be someone who is absent from our world because they have crossed over into the Church Triumphant. This past two weeks have made many of us reflect on two brothers who died; The Rev. Dr. William J. "Billy" Abraham, a retired Elder from our conference, The Rio Texas Conference, who taught for over 30 years at Perkins School of Theology at SMU, and lately had been leading the Methodist Studies Department at Truett Seminary at Baylor in Waco, TX; and The Rev. Larry Howard, a long time pastor and former district superintendent who retired in 2010. He died on Saturday. My list would have included both of these dear brothers and others, who gave of themselves for our sake. October being Pastor's Appreciation Month is a good time to reflect on the men and women who give of themselves to serve us and bless us. The writer of Hebrews as he or she writes the first verses is remembering the list of priests who died and who were replaced, but celebrates the reality of Jesus' priesthood which is permanent; who upon His death enter the heavenly realm where He assumed the duties of being the final high priest, the ultimate bridge between God and us. Hebrews say that Jesus is there forever with the purpose of saving all who come to God through Him, and it is Jesus who speaks on our behalf. He is our high priest who perfectly fits our needs; He is completely holy, un-compromised by sin, Who holds all authority which allows Him full access to God in Heaven itself; and unlike the other high priests, Jesus does not have to offer sacrifices for His own sins and takes time to speak on our behalf each each day, because He was our sacrifice. In the old days, it was the law who appointed men as high priests who never quite got the job done right; but it was the intervening command of God, who appointed His Son, Who is perfect, absolutely and eternally.
We thank God for the men and women who have blessed our lives with their ministry. And we pray that God continue to raise up new church leaders and pastors who will take the reins of the church in the coming years; but we should recognize the role that Jesus has now as our personal high priest who does all for our behalf. As we pray, we pray in His name and it is He Who presents those to God. Christ speaks on our behalf when we ask for forgiveness of our sins and makes the case before God on our behalf. Christ is the always on-duty, call-returning, ever present, ever-caring, ever-loving priest who serves us. And His job is not to please us but to please and serve God; and God is best served when we respond to Jesus' invitation to change and to work for the better in all matters here on earth. And our response to Him is to be like Him; to be there for others, to point others to Him so that they can find their way to life and that in abundance. Like Bartimaeus of yesterday's gospel lesson, many are those who need to see just what is there for their good thanks to Jesus; we need just to point the way to the Lamb of God who takes away our sin and introduces us to God who will one day give us eternal life.
PRAYER: Loving God, we thank You for Jesus, our high priest and Savior. We know Jesus to be the light and the way to life; help us to find it for ourselves, and so that we may lead others to You; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Lead someone to life today through your loving example.
Receive my blessings of peace and joy,
Pastor Eradio Valverde
