God draws us to himself through many different circumstances. Some of us come seeking healing. Some of us come needing the burden of shame and guilt lifted. Many come desiring fellowship and community. No matter why we come to faith, all of us come to God through Jesus Christ.
At some point in our growth, we must move from the infant stage of a focus on our needs to a focus on Jesus. Now, maybe you are very mature, and you moved from this stage quickly. I didn’t. Through various, very painful, trials I realized that I was stuck continually seeking healing from my past. Most of my pain grew out of wrong beliefs and unbelief.
As the Lord walked with me through grief and healing from a church wounding, I saw my folly as Jesus Christ became more and more of a real person to me. I saw more clearly his pain because his friends fell asleep in the garden as he prayed desperately “for this cup to pass from him”. The heartbreaking rejection of Judas surely cut. Jesus was betrayed by the kiss of his friend! Surely, my continual asking for forgiveness for past sins must make him shake his head as he presses 1 John 1:9 into my heart.
I know how I would feel, if a friend who wronged me, continually brought up how they wronged me, questioning my faithfulness and justice. I wouldn’t consider them a real friend, but that’s because I am human. Thankfully, Jesus is not merely human, but also, “he is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth,” (Col. 1:15).
I was created in him and for him. He will never leave me, nor forsake me. Today, I will meditate on the person of Jesus Christ.
Meditation: The Person
Adapted from Hebrews 3:1; 4:15-16, 7:24-27, 10:11-14, 19-22.
Christ’s Priesthood
Therefore, holy brother, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the apostle and high priest of our confession, Christ Jesus.
For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Because he continues forever, He has an unchangeable priesthood.
Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
For such a high priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens;
He does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for his own sins and the for the people’s, for this he did once for all when he offered up himself.
And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.
But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God.
For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.
Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the holiest place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which he consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, his flesh, and having a high priest over the house of God,
Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
Flourishing Faith 