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11 Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. 14 For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. 15 The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: 16 “This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” 17 Then he adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” 18 And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary. 19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:11-25 NRSV)
There are countless things that I do that are more the result of muscle memory than deliberate planning. When I shower, it's a routine that I have had since the beginning of time; I shampoo, rub the shampoo into my hair, I guess that's called lathering, then I rinse. I seldom repeat. Then I add conditioner, and lather, leave in for the duration of the shower, use body wash, rinse, rinse the conditioner out and then wonder if I shampooed or if I used conditioner. Some of you will prepare your morning coffee, add to it what you will, drink it, and then wonder if you had your morning coffee. Or, whatever you do that is mindless. But I'll tell you what is not mindless; doing that which had profound meaning in your life. The priest to whom the writer of this passage refers, doing a day after day routine of "performing his religious duties; again and again." The sad thing, the author comments, is that these sacrifices can never truly take away sins. But when THE priest, the HIGh priest, Christ Jesus offered Himself for our sake, that was it - the full and final payment of our sin; then He entered into the presence of God and sat at God's right hand.
This profound truth is at the heart of our faith: we no longer need to live in the shadows of guilt and sin, for Christ’s sacrifice has secured our forgiveness and salvation. We can live free for we are forgiven. And best news? God has not only forgiven our sin, but has forgotten them as well. A friend told me of a story he heard about a little girl who, while in a dream statek could see and speak to God, and many times proved it to her pastor; finally, the pastor said, "Please ask God about my sin," which he named to the little girl. The next day, he asked the girl, "What did God say about my sin?" The little girl smiled and said, "God asked, 'What sin?'"
As believers, we are invited into a relationship with God marked by confidence and assurance. The curtain that once separated us from the Holy of Holies has been torn, granting us direct access to the Father. This new covenant offers us hope and the promise that our sins are remembered no more. How liberating it is to know that we can approach God with a true heart and full assurance!
However, this passage also emphasizes the importance of community in our faith journey. We are called not only to embrace our relationship with God but also to actively engage with one another. The writer encourages us to “provoke one another to love and good deeds” and to not neglect meeting together. In a world where isolation can easily creep in, we must intentionally connect with fellow believers, encouraging each other in our walk of faith.
PRAYER: Loving God, Thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ, whose sacrifice has made a way for us to enter into Your presence. Help us to grasp the depth of this grace and to live in light of Your forgiveness. Strengthen our hearts and our faith as we strive to hold fast to the hope we profess. Lord, guide us in our relationships with others. May we be instruments of encouragement, spurring one another on towards love and good deeds. Help us to foster a sense of community, never taking for granted the fellowship we have in Christ. In Christ Jesus' strong name we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: How can you deepen your relationship with God, embracing the confidence that comes from knowing your sins are forgiven? Let us be a community that builds each other up, reminding one another of the faithfulness of God and the hope we have in Christ.
I love you and I thank God for you!
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
