Worship in the Earthly Tabernacle: Hebrews 9:1-10

God definitely used this passage to remind me of something important today.

I am not redeemed by works, not redeemed by offering gifts and sacrifices of any sort. I am only seen righteous in God's eyes when I proclaim my faith my Jesus Christ and live out my life for Him.

No matter how hard I study, no matter how good my marks off, no matter how much volunteering and working I do... It means nothing unless all is used to glorify God. What's the most important is to have hope in what God will do with my life and how I can do everything to point back to the cross. God has poured out His grace and mercy so that I can have my education in the first place. May all praise just go back to You, Father, for the fact that all we need to do is believe.

This post is really....disconnected and does not flow haha but in all things I am glad to be reminded that it's by my faith in Jesus and in God that will save me. It is my trust and my dependence on God that will help me live a righteous life that is as sinless as possible. :)

The High Priest of a New Covenant: Hebrews 8:1-13

I can't imagine what it would have been like if I was living during the time of the Old Testament. So many laws to fulfill, prayer at certain times of the day, sacrifices to be offered each time we approach the throne of God, can't eat certain things... it definitely would have been a crazy time!

Praise be to Jesus. He is the new covenant who opened up a way to God. Life in Jesus means better promises.

Hebrews 8:6

But the ministry Jesus has received is a superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and it is founded on better promises.

Jesus is above all. I can forever repeat this but He has definitely influenced my life for the better. I can feel it in me, I can honestly see a difference in the me today than what I was... perhaps just a year ago. He indeed holds His promises. It is exciting to see what God has in store for me each day, what He has planned out for me... and each day I continue to point everything I do back to the cross, because without my saviour Jesus Christ I wouldn't be here. We wouldn't be here. We wouldn't have had a new life where we are free from sin and free to glorify Him all day, err day. :P haha

Hebrews 8:10-12

This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbour, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. or I will forgive their wickedness and will remember theirs sins no more."

Hearing this reminds me of the song "Lead me to the Cross" by Hillsong. One of the lines goes like this: everything I once held dear, I count it all as lost.

Nothing here on Earth should satisfy me than what faith in Jesus does for me. May I live a life as sinless as possible. May I have God reign over me. May I know more of You. Through You I am saved, and I thank You for that.

Jesus Like Melchizedek: Hebrews 7:11-28

What does the high priest do? It would be through him that we can talk and commune with God.
The Lord Jesus is the greate high priest.

Hebrews 7:24
but 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.

Isn't it amazing that Jesus will always be there, forever, as our mediator between the Holy God and us sinners?

Hebrews 7:26-27
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.

Holy. Blameless. Pure. Set apart. Exalted.

He sacrificed himself for me and for you. We are now free from the bondage of sin and can now live a life that can be used to completely glorify our Lord. Jesus meets our need as a mediator between us and God. Without him, who knows what God would be like... He can easily smite us for the sins and wrongdoings we commit everyday. However, God is loving and caring. He sent His only son to receive our punishment. I thank you God for Jesus. :)

Melchizedek the Priest: Hebrews 7:1-10

Hebrews 7:7
And without doubt the lesser person is blessed by the greater.

The first thought that comes to my mind: using the privileges, resources, materials, skills, talents, and my heart for God to help those who are in a less fortunate position than I am. Not only do I feel good myself for using all I have to its fullest advantage, but also giving the opportunity to the needy, the poor, and the suffering to experience a piece of God's love through me.

What's even better is that through my little actions they may come to know Christ! A blessing far greater than anything else of this world. :)

The Certainty of God's Promise: Hebrews 6:13-19

What greater love is there than the love of our God? He promised us a hope that will come and change our lives forever. God wanted to make it very clear that this hope of the world will always be there for us...and He was right. He fulfilled his promise.

Hebrews 6:17
Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath.

Jesus was the perfect man and the sinless man. Everything, every piece of Scripture (especially in the New Testament) brings it back to this Holy man. He was, is, and will be the hope of the world. Through His mighty sacrifice on the cross and His profound resurrection three days later, we have been forgiven for our sins and we do not have to face judgement from God. Jesus made a way for us.

Hebrews 6:19
We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.

Thank-you for You, Jesus, the great high priest who has given us the way to God. :)

Jesus the Great High Priest:: Hebrews 4:14- 5:10

In the song "Before the Throne" by Shane and Shane, the first verse goes like this:

Before the throne of God above,
I have a strong, a perfect plea,
A great high priest whose name is Love,
Who ever lives and pleads for me.

This great high priest is Jesus. It is through Him that we have the ability to be in God's presence and to receive His grace and mercy from our sins. Jesus was not much different than us. He was also tempted from worldly desires and those of the flesh but He lived without any sin. We struggle each day with this very issue but Jesus never gives up on us. Through Him, God continues to forgive us when we repent from our wrongdoings and loves us dearly as His own children.

Hebrews 4:15-16
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-- yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

The following verses taken form this passage describes Jesus in His perfection. As I approach God, I always pray and ask for forgiveness and that I may be a humble servant of His. I also ask that I may be submissive to God so that His perfect will is achieved. I pray for the strength to say no and avoid temptations and through this to further develop my obedience in Him. May I always look to Jesus for the constant reminder that I am a sinner and only through my faith in Jesus and God will I be saved and receive God's grace and mercy in my life.

Hebrews 5:7-9
During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.

A Sabbath-Rest for the People of God: Hebrews 4:1-13

The Sabbath is the day of rest. It is also God's day of rest. Let this be the day when we put down our work and dedicate the day to God. Let this be the day where we come with our whole heart and mind into the presence of the Lord and thank Him for all He has done.

Hebrews 4:9-11
There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will dall by following their example of disobedience.

P.S. Happy New Year! Out with the old and in with the new!