“My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.“
I John 2:1-2 NKJV
Most of us can draw to mind situations in which someone, trying to offer encouragement to a suffering soul, says something like, “I know what you’re feeling.” We know that sometimes that person can definitely identify with what the other person is feeling in that they have been through similar circumstances. And, although everyone’s experience is unique, they can draw from their similar experience in order to truly empathize with what’s going on in the other individual.
However, we also all know times in which the person saying that they understand, has absolutely no clue what the person to whom they are offering comfort, is experiencing. Sadly, when that is the case, rather than bringing comfort, they sometimes make it worse for the one who is suffering.
Yesterday we discussed the fact that our salvation was God‘s idea. As well, His plan for our salvation came into being even before The Fall. That plan involved preparing for Himself the perfect Lamb Who would take away the sins of the world.
Today we turn to look at the fact that this perfect Sacrifice, also has become the perfect High Priest for us. Make no mistake, Jesus, our High Priest, is well aware of what we are experiencing.
“Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.“
Hebrews 2:14-18 ESV
Yes, Jesus, our High Priest, truly knows our struggles and is therefore able to minister comfort to us.
“Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! He is the Father who is compassionate and the God who gives comfort. He comforts us whenever we suffer. That is why whenever other people suffer, we are able to comfort them by using the same comfort we have received from God. Because Christ suffered so much for us, we can receive so much comfort from him. Besides, if we suffer, it brings you comfort and salvation. If we are comforted, we can effectively comfort you when you endure the same sufferings that we endure.“
2 Corinthians 1:3-6 GW
Indeed, Jesus learned how to remain obedient through His struggles, and obtain comfort, by turning to the Father.
“While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God. Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. In this way, God qualified him as a perfect High Priest, and he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him. And God designated him to be a High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.“
Hebrews 5:7-10 NLT
Jesus’ suffering—and the obedience He demonstrated throughout His suffering—qualified Him as our perfect High Priest!
In our opening scripture John explains that even when we sin, especially when we sin, our High Priest is our Advocate; He intercedes for us.
Child of God, when Jesus sees you struggling, and says, “I know what you are feeling,” you can be sure that He does; and not only that, He can help you make it through!
We’ll talk more about this tomorrow.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.“
Ephesians 1:3-10 ESV
The writer of Hebrews offers a walk through the Hall of Fame of Faith of those who maintained their faith through all sorts of contrary circumstances (Hebrews 11).
Just before the Hall of Fame tour, he urges the reader to stay the course, not to fall from the walk of faith.
“Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. For, "Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him." But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.“
Hebrews 10:35-39 ESV
After the Hall of Fame tour the writer turns to giving instruction as to how all believers can stay the course until the end of this life’s journey.
“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.“
Hebrews 12:1-2 NKJV
Indeed, we are able to stay the course by looking at Jesus, the designer and builder, the source and the means of our salvation.
Today we consider that the Lord, knowing all things, had a plan for our return to Him, even before The Fall.
Paul was in dire straits because of his preaching of the gospel. In encouraging his spiritual son, Timothy, he talks of the wonderful plan of God and the fact that our salvation was the result of God’s purposes and will, not the result of anything we did, or could do.
“Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.“
2 Timothy 1:8-12 ESV
Yes, it was the Lord’s will and plan that we be restored to sonship.
“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. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.“
Romans 8:29-30 ESV
So, out of God’s own heart, before we even sinned, He prepared a perfect Lamb to be the sacrifice for our sins.
“All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.“
Revelation 13:8 NKJV
In our opening scripture we see Paul instructing the church at Ephesus that Christ was God‘s master plan. Indeed, He made the plan before the foundation of the world, a plan to bring us back to Himself, a plan to be able to pour the blessings of heaven in us and make us His children.
Child of God, let us be encouraged, knowing that God not only desired our salvation, but made a plan for it, a plan that called for the ultimate Sacrifice.
“And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.“
I Peter 1:17-21 NKJV
Now, God’s plan for us doesn’t stop with sonship. His plan also made a way for our victory, a way to receive all that He has for us.
We’ll talk more about this tomorrow.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
In preparation for our discussion over the next several days please read and meditate on the following scriptures:
“Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.“
2 Timothy 1:8-12 ESV
“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.“
Hebrews 12:1-2 NKJV
“Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.“
Hebrews 2:14-18 ESV
“Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.“
Hebrews 4:14-16 ESV
“For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people. And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was. So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, "You are my Son, today I have begotten you"; as he says also in another place, "You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek." In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.“
Hebrews 5:1-10 ESV
Sadly, in the United States of America, we have an epidemic of fatherlessness. Indeed, we see the resulting degradation in our society as children are often left to “wing it” in finding their way to living a productive, godly life. [I am in no way ignoring the influence of mothers—many of whom struggle to support their family and see to their children’s needs; but for our purposes here, we are looking at the impact of an absent father.]
No, make no mistake. Our heavenly Father is not an absent parent. Our Father not only provided for our salvation through Jesus Christ, but has also provided for our sanctification, eventually leading to our glorification.
In the coming days, we will discuss how the Lord as Author and Finisher of our faith, has by no means left us to wing it on our own. Indeed, He has gone to unimaginable lengths to provide for our salvation, as well as the means to have a victorious walk all the way Home.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!