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Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Wednesday, 4 September 2024:
Hebrews 8:1-7 – They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things.
[Hebrews 8:1–2 introduces an idea that becomes quite important in Hebrews 9–10, namely, that Christ’s priestly ministry occurs in the true tabernacle of God in heaven. It is not that the old covenant tabernacle and temple were actually false means of approaching the Lord. Rather, as we will see, they were but copies and shadows of the real thing that depend on the real thing for their effectiveness (v. 5). And once the High Priest enters the real, eternal tabernacle, there is no reason to abandon Him to go back to the old order. Looking to the old covenant tabernacle, John Owen makes this application: “It was an institution of God, that the people in all their distresses should look unto and make their supplications towards the tabernacle, or holy temple, 1 Kings 8:29–30. — And it is unto the Lord Christ alone, who is both the true tabernacle and the minister thereof, that we are to look in all our spiritual distresses.”
When we are troubled, we are to run to Jesus, who even now is ministering in the heavenly temple. To attempt to solve our problems and find lasting comfort on our own is foolish indeed, but Christ will calm our distresses when we rest in Him. He brings peace to our hearts and gives us wisdom for our problems when we ask Him.] Ligonier Ministries
Earthly priests can’t give you the relationship with Jesus that only Jesus can give. Salvation doesn’t come from religious activity and following rules, it comes from a genuine love relationship with Jesus, first that He loved us and, in so doing, enabled us to truly love Him and to follow Him out of love because our heart’s desire is to be one with Him. Obedience is an act of love, not a transaction, a payment of acts of contrition to pay a sin debt which has already been dealt with by the blood of Christ.
Hebrews 8:9, 10 – …not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt. For they did not continue in my covenant, and so I showed no concern for them, declares the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people….
We cannot obey God without the empowerment of the Holy Spirit that enables love and writes God’s commands on our hearts. Those who are not born again lack the Holy Spirit and cannot obey. Unsaved people can do “good deeds” but not in genuine, selfless love for Jesus.
The Law being written on our hearts reveals two important things. First, we are reminded that the essentials of the Law are not merely outward observances but are matters of the heart. Second, we know that since God will have to do the writing, we cannot do it ourselves. Thank God that by His grace He has changed our hearts.
Hebrews 8:11, 12 – And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, “Know the Lord,” for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.
In Jesus’s High Priestly Prayer in John 17, He professed, “This is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (John 17:3) If you have placed your faith in Jesus, you have already entered into eternal life, though it hasn’t been fully manifested in your life yet, because God has made Himself known to you and has, through Christ, removed the penalty of sin which has separated you from Him, covered over your unrighteousness with the righteousness of Christ, and empowered you with the Holy Spirit to have the ability to know God who is Spirit. Our relationship with God begins with His grace enabling us and grows with His grace enabling us – “For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.”
Through our relationships with other people, we understand to a degree how offenses cause barriers in relationships, particularly offenses which have permanent consequences. For genuine reconciliation to occur between two parties, for a relationship to be restored to original state, we understand that the offended party has to be willing to forgive, and the offending party must desire forgiveness and seek forgiveness. A confession needs to occur, and forgiveness must be given. However, for true reconciliation to occur, for the relationship to be like it once was, the offender must “forget” the offense, which doesn’t mean it isn’t remembered, it just means it is no longer considered, it is cancelled from the relationship equation. However, something else is still required. The offender must truly believe the offense has been disregarded. Otherwise, the offense will remain an artificial barrier to the fullness of joy and confidence which could and should be experienced in the relationship. We have been saved by grace, and we must trust in and walk in that grace to experience the fullness of joy which is ours already in Christ.
“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 4 September 2024: Don’t seek merely to be a good person today, seek Jesus. Obey Him out of love, not out of a desire for personal righteousness or out of duty. Search your heart today and consider why you do what you do. Where you find that your motivation isn’t truly love for Jesus and love for others, whom Jesus loves too, pray that God will soften your heart. Draw closer to Jesus. Seek the mind of Christ and to see all around you as He does. Deny self, take up your cross (suffer in forgiving love), and follow Jesus today. (Hebrews 8:1-7)
Defenders Bible Reading Plan 