Sunday morning, getting ready for worship time. I’m curious to see how today goes. Apparently, our pastor is planning to preach, in spite of his car-totaling wreck on Friday. He was in the hospital briefly, but went home with a possible sprained shoulder.
We had a wonderful day yesterday, for Christi’s birthday. My parents came to town (my Dad’s birthday is Wednesday), and we all went to Zio’s Italian restaurant for lunch. We had a great lunch, then some of us went to Half-Price Books (Steph, my parents, and I), and the other three (Christi, Rachel, and Justin)(yes, I use the Oxford)…well, I’m not sure where they went, but we all met at home later. Then we had pie. Lemon yogurt/jello pie. It was delicious. We sat around and talked for a while, then Mom and Dad had to leave. Rachel and Justin stayed a while longer, wherein we talked some more, tried in vain to think of something fun to do (we wound up starting “The Office” series over on Netflix), and eventually went across the street to Fogata’s for dinner. The nice people at Fogata’s sang “Happy Birthday” to Christi, and gave her a free desert. Good times. Great times!
Today’s Bible readings:
Hebrews 9; Ezekiel 17-18; Proverbs 26:13-22
Father, teach me something from your word today.
The writer of Hebrews describes the setup of the Holy Places in the temple. He then makes it clear that, as long as this arrangement was in place, the sacrifices offered are imperfect. By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing (which is symbolic for the present age). According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation. (9:8-10) There’s a very important “but” in verse 11. But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. So, then, Christ, the perfect High Priest, has entered the true “holy places,” and secured our eternal salvation with his perfect sacrifice. Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. (v. 15) The holy place that Christ has entered is not one made with human hands. Rather, he has entered into heaven itself, “to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.” (v. 24) Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. (vv. 25-26) “Once for all…to put away sin.” This is the Gospel, folks. Here is an old hymn by Phillip P. Bliss:
Free from the law, O happy condition,
Jesus has bled and there is remission,
Cursed by the law and bruised by the fall,
Grace hath redeemed us once for all.
Once for all, O sinner, receive it,
Once for all, O brother, believe it;
Cling to the cross, the burden will fall,
Christ hath redeemed us once for all.
Now we are free, there’s no condemnation,
Jesus provides a perfect salvation.
“Come unto Me,” O hear His sweet call,
Come, and He saves us once for all.
Once for all, O sinner, receive it,
Once for all, O brother, believe it;
Cling to the cross, the burden will fall,
Christ hath redeemed us once for all.
“Children of God,” O glorious calling,
Surely His grace will keep us from falling;
Passing from death to life at His call;
Blessed salvation once for all.
Once for all, O sinner, receive it,
Once for all, O brother, believe it;
Cling to the cross, the burden will fall,
Christ hath redeemed us once for all.
Verses 27-28 assure us that, since Christ has come once to deal with sin, the second time, he will come to fully redeem us who are waiting for him. And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. (Verse 27 has also been used to refute the belief in reincarnation.)
Praise the LORD! Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! (Psalm 106:1)
In today’s reading from Grace For the Moment, Max Lucado gives us a definition of worship. “Worship is a voluntary act of gratitude offered by the saved to the Savior, by the healed to the Healer, and by the delivered to the Deliverer.” I like that definition. It’s not definitive, as there are many good definitions of worship, but it is definitely a good one. Max also cautions us against trying to make a “science” out of worship.
Father, I praise you for the perfect sacrifice of Jesus, that was made “once for all.” We don’t have to “get saved” over and over again. He has done it once, and that is all that is needed, because it is perfect. We look forward to the time when you will return to ultimately save us. We pray for the strength to live a life worthy of that return. We know that it is impossible to do without your Holy Spirit, so we pray for the indwelling power of the Spirit in our lives. This is starting to sound like a “church prayer.” But, Father, you know that my words are sincere and that I am not just parroting words that I have heard before.
My worship to you is, indeed, a voluntary act of gratitude that I offer to you, for you are, indeed, my Savior, my Healer, and my Deliverer. I praise you, Lord, and worship you daily. And now, we depart to go to a worship celebration where we will worship you with others of like mind. I pray that this morning’s worship will be a delight to you, as we sing songs of praise and hear your word spoken to us. I especially lift up Joel this morning, and ask you for extra strength for him. I pray for rapid healing for whatever was hurt in his body in the wreck on Friday.
Jesus died, “once for all.” Glorious news. I hope you will find time to worship him today.
Grace and peace, friends.
Spaces of Beauty, Grace, Prayer, and Mercy 