Coffee With The Lord

Every time I read portions of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy in the Old Testament I am blown away by the laws, regulations, ceremonial requirements and sacrificial system that governed God’s people!  Frankly I don’t know how well I would have done in keeping them all!  Without a merciful, loving God and promises of forgiveness I’m pretty sure I would have failed!  The Old Covenant was rigorous and demanding!

That’s why when I read the following words this morning from the book of Hebrews in the New Testament I rejoiced (and I admit it… I breathed a grateful sigh of relief)!

“But now Jesus, our High Priest, has been given a ministry that is far superior to the old priesthood, for he is the one who mediates for us a far better covenant with God, based on better promises!  If the first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no need for a second covenant to replace it… ‘The day is coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah…  This is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their minds, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people… I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.’” (from Hebrews 8:6–13 NLT)

That is what I needed (and I’m pretty sure that it is what you need as well)… A “new covenant!”  A covenant that transforms me!  A covenant that gives me a desire to do what pleases God!  A covenant by which God accepts me as his very own – His child!  A covenant in which God obligates Himself to forgive my sin when I acknowledge them and ask for forgiveness! (1 John 1:8-9)

Every time I think about it, I’m blown away by what Jesus said at the last supper when He celebrated the Passover with his disciples… “He took the cup after supper saying, ‘this cup is the new covenant in my blood.’”  Then he went to the cross and sealed it by dying there for my sin and yours!  What a wonderful Savior!

Here’s two Proverbs that I read this morning from the Bible… they expressed perfectly one of the reasons why I read my Bible every day…

“Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom!” and “If you cease to hear instruction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge.” (Proverbs 19:20 &27 ESV)

I don’t know about you, but I’ve discovered I need to be reminded of important things!  The Bible is filled with essential “life principles” that I need to be reminded of!  As a “child of God” I need to hear my Heavenly Father say, “Now Son, don’t forget this – it’s important!”  Any wise teacher will tell you that a secret to remembering important things – essential things – is reinforcement.  I need the reminder and reinforcement that God’s word provides every day!  I have it written in the front of my Bible… “This book is my all-sufficient guide for faith (that’s my relationship with God) and daily living! 

Hey, I need instruction!  I desire wisdom!  If I cease to hear the instruction found in God’s word on a regular basis I’ve found that l stray little by little from what it teaches!  THE BIBLE?  IMPORTANT STUFF – ESSENTIAL STUFF!  READ IT DAILY!

There are some things you just can’t do for yourself (or things that aren’t advisable for you to try).  These are things for which you need a qualified person … someone who is appropriately certified, someone who knows what they’re doing.  For example, “do it yourself heart surgery” is NOT recommended!  It is usually not recommended that you serve as your own attorney is difficult court cases.

When it comes to you or I standing before God as guilty sinners we need a Divinely qualified priest!  Jesus is that priest according to the writer of Hebrews in your Bible!  You cannot deal with your own sin!  You can’t forgive yourself at the Heavenly tribunal!  You can’t take the divine pen and write “acquitted” (the Bible word is “justified”) over the official record of your transgressions!  Jesus can!!  He’s qualified as our “Great High Priest”!

I read the following words in my Bible this morning and had a bit of a personal praise and thanksgiving spell!!  I’m so grateful that Jesus is Divinely qualified to deal with my past – present – and future failures and sin!! 

“He is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede [a “plea” offered on behalf of another] for them.  Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.  Unlike 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!  For the Law appointed as high priests men in all their weakness; but the oath (God’s oath), which came after the Law, appointed the Son (Jesus), who has been made perfect forever!  (Hebrews 7:25–28 NIV)

I’m glad He’s my “Great High Priest!”  I’m glad that at the “Heavenly tribunal” He’s my lawyer and pleads my case!  I’m just glad He’s my Savior!  Aren’t you?!