Coffee With The Lord

This is an extended post in preparation for Holy Week and Easter in “coffee with the Lord” today…

This morning I read Leviticus 16 about the exacting protocol that had to be followed in the Old Testament on the annual Day of Atonement to atone for the sins of the High Priest as well as the people of Israel.  Every year they would go through this ritual carefully so that their sins could be forgiven and they would become acceptable to a holy God.  As I read about it, I tried to imagine what all of this must have been like – extremely demanding, repetitive, tedious, (and I could go on).  Then I thought about “the new and living way” that Jesus inaugurated when He became the sacrifice for our sin on the cross and fulfilled all that the “Day of Atonement” prefigured!!  (You should read it for yourself!)

Hebrews 9 and 10 in your Bible, however, talks about what Jesus did for us…

^”When these things were all in place, the priests regularly entered the Holy Place as they performed their religious duties. But only the high priest ever entered the Most Holy Place, and only once a year. And he always offered blood for his own sins and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance… This is an illustration pointing to the present time. For the gifts and sacrifices that the priests offer are not able to cleanse the consciences of the people who bring them. For that old system deals only with food and drink and various cleansing ceremonies—physical regulations that were in effect only until a better system could be established. So Christ has now become the High Priest over all the good things that have come. He has entered that greater, more perfect Tabernacle in heaven, which was not made by human hands and is not part of this created world. With his own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever… For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins.

“For Christ did not enter into a holy place made with human hands, which was only a copy of the true one in heaven. He entered into heaven itself to appear now before God on our behalf.  And he did not enter heaven to offer himself again and again, like the high priest here on earth who enters the Most Holy Place year after year with the blood of an animal. If that had been necessary, Christ would have had to die again and again, ever since the world began. But now, once for all time, he has appeared at the end of the age to remove sin by his own death as a sacrifice… Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people.” (From Hebrews 9:6-28 NLT)

“And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can now boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, ²² let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. (Hebrews 10:19-22 NLT)

As we approach Holy Week (especially Good Friday and Easter) I just want to thank God personally (and urge you to do the same) for THE “NEW AND LIVING WAY” THAT JESUS OPENED UP FOR US “ONCE FOR ALL” when He offered up Himself for our sins on the cross!  Now, because of the resurrection he “ever lives” to “intercede” on our behalf as “our Great High Priest!”

When Jesus confronts you and calls you – and you respond to Him your entire life changes dramatically… His call is “follow me!” – cease your own pursuits, desires and wishes and become a devoted, obedient Christ-follower.

I was reminded of that this morning during my Bible reading… Here’s Mark’s record of what happened to Simon (Peter), Andrew, James and John… “As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will send you out to fish for people.’  AT ONCE THEY LEFT THEIR NETS AND FOLLOWED HIM.  When he had gone a little farther, he saw James, son of Zebedee, and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets.  Without delay he called them, and THEY LEFT THEIR FATHER ZEBEDEE IN THE BOAT WITH THE HIRED MEN AND FOLLOWED HIM.” (Mark 1.16-20 NIV)

Now it’s entirely possible that the call of Jesus may include a vocational change … for many people it has.  But it doesn’t necessarily have to.  In fact this is what Paul, the apostle said in 1 Corinthians 7.17-24:  “EACH PERSON SHOULD LIVE AS A BELIEVER IN WHATEVER SITUATION THE LORD HAS ASSIGNED TO THEM, JUST AS GOD HAS CALLED THEM… Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you – although if you can gain your freedom, do so.  For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord’s freed person; similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ’s slave… Brothers and sisters, EACH PERSON, AS RESPONSIBLE TO GOD, SHOULD REMAIN IN THE SITUATION THEY WERE IN WHEN GOD CALLED THEM.” 

In other words your vocation may not change… BUT FOR SURE, IT WILL CHANGE AVOCATIONALLY!  In other words, some may continue to “support their habit” by fishing (or some other legitimate vocation) but their life pursuit – their mission, purpose and calling in life will become “fishing for people” (casting the net to bring lost people to Christ).

Hey, He’s calling now… Follow Me!!  (And, believe me NOTHING is more important than doing that!)

I don’t know what the Lord has done for you – what He has accomplished on your behalf.  It may be an incredible story of His power and grace.

But, you may be one of those people who does not find it easy to talk publicly about what has happened to you.  On the other hand, sharing personal experiences with others may not be difficult for you at all.  In either case there is great value in “giving the Lord credit for what He has done!”  It honors Him, it encourages others, it gives them hope, and it acknowledges WHO ought to receive the credit for the victories in your life…

David, the psalmist said, “I proclaim Your saving acts in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips… I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and your saving help. I do not conceal your love and your faithfulness from the great assembly…”

In the same Psalm he testified and said… “I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry.  He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.  He put a new son in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.  Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in Him… Many, Lord my God, are the wonders you have done – the things you planned for us!  None can compare with You!  Were I to speak and tell of your deeds they would be too many to declare!”  (From Psalm 40)

So here’s a word of encouragement…  If you are timid or reticent, please speak up anyway!… We need to hear what God has done for you!  If you’re not inhibited at all… please give God the credit for what He has done.  Where?  “In the great assembly” (and to anyone God gives you the opportunity to share it with today).  Here’s one person who will be listening…