November 11, 2016
Since Jesus has become our Great High Priest and has accomplished all that is necessary for those who trust in Him to approach the Father, “let us draw near.” Christ has removed the barrier of separation between us and God. Why stand off afar? Draw near. And let your approach be with “full assurance,” not doubting. Knowing that your hearts have been cleansed by the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus and your bodies are being washed, sanctified by the work of the Spirit, come near to God with full confidence. Jesus has done this for you, so… draw near.
November 10, 2016
To those who have received the free gift of salvation that comes through faith in Christ, the Holy Spirit bears inner witness that God has not only forgiven their sins, but has decided to remember them “no more.” Do you struggle with the memory of past sins and failures? If you have given your life to Christ, then all your sins are forgiven and forgotten. Therefore, it is not the Spirit that keeps bringing them to your mind, but your own flesh giving in to Satan’s accusations. As you grow in the Lord, you will learn the difference between the Spirit’s conviction and Satan’s accusation. The first is meant to give you life and freedom from condemnation, the second is meant to kill and enslave. Give your life to Christ and yield to the Spirit’s witness who says, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1).
November 9, 2016
Christ did not enter into the Most Holy Place in the man-made temple in Jerusalem. For the temple was only a type, a “copy” pointing to its reality in heaven. No, Christ entered into the very presence of the Holy God as our Great High Priest and Mediator. Now, He is both our Representative and our King. The Temple in Jerusalem, with all its careful practices and detail, were always only meant to point to Him and His holy office for its fulfillment.
November 8, 2016
After warning Israel that each individual would be judged for their own sin and that death would be the result, God revealed His heart. He found no pleasure in having to carry out judgment. He warned them, so that they would turn and live. He did not want to them to suffer death. This was the message he gave the prophet Ezekiel to preach, yet Israel would not hear. This is why God sent His Son, that we might turn from our sins in repentance and turn to Him through Christ. For God is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9).
November 7, 2016
God spoke through Ezekiel propounding a “riddle” (Ez. 17:1) concerning the future of Israel and the nations of the world. In this parable the “trees” represent kingdoms, with the cedar symbolizing Israel from which a “sprig” (Ez. 17:22) is taken and planted anew by the Lord. The “trees of the field” represent the other nations of the world. At this future time those nations that appear “high” and “green,” the Lord will bring “low” and make them “dry up.” However, that tree which is from the sprig of the cedar, that has appeared low and dried up, the Lord will cause to be raised up high and become alive again to flourish. The Lord will do this, and the nations will bear witness, so that all may know He is the Lord. And who does this “sprig” that God will raise up and cause to flourish represent (See Isa. 53:2)? Is this not the Messiah, Christ Jesus, whom God raised up from the grave to be alive forevermore, offering resurrection life to all who would believe?
November 6, 2016
The word of the Lord came to the prophet Ezekiel describing the way He had taken Israel as His bride when she was still weak and in the wilderness. As Boaz “spread the corner” (Ruth 3:9) of his garment over Ruth, so the Lord took Israel as His wife and redeemed her as His own. Yet, she did not remember their wedding “covenant” at Sinai. Instead of returning His love and commitment, she “played the whore” (v.15) with the idolatrous nations surrounding her. So God removed His protection and gave her over to those same nations for judgment. However, God does not “retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love” (Micah 7:18). He sent His only begotten Son to be as a Boaz Redeemer that He might purchase for Himself a bride from both Jew and Gentile those that would believe on Him.
November 5, 2016
Melchizedek, whose name means “King of Righteousness,” was the king of Salem (or “Shalom – Peace”), whom Abraham paid a tithe (Gen. 14). Quoting Psalm 110:4, the author of Hebrews spoke of the perpetuity of Melchizedek’s priesthood, showing that it predated the Levitical priesthood, and continues on after it to eternity. Though Jesus was born into the royal line of Judah and not the priestly line of Levi, His priesthood is superior because His priestly claim preceded Levi’s and is in every way superior to his. So then, what was the purpose of the Law and the Levitical priesthood? It was a foreshadowing and a tutor (Gal. 3:24) preparing the people of God for its fulfillment in Christ Jesus. In Him, the threefold office of Prophet, Priest and King are united. Christ is our Great High Priest after the order of Melchizedek, forever standing before the Father making intercession for us.
November 4, 2016
Ezekiel saw a vision that exposed the sin and idolatry of God’s people and the resulting departure of God’s glory. He witnessed the glory of the Lord moving out from the Holy of Holies, out of the Temple, and departing out through the Eastern gate to the top of the Mount of Olives. The holy God will not share His glory with another. “Ichabod–– the glory has departed” (1 Sam. 4:21). His glory and grace departed, so that His judgment and wrath might fall. Even so, Ezekiel saw God’s glory pause at the threshold of the Temple and at the Eastern gate, giving His people time to repent, but they did not. Yet someday, the glory of the Lord will return (Ezek. 43), the Messiah will come back through the Eastern gate to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
November 3, 2016
The author of Hebrews explained that the basic teachings about Christ had to be covered again with them, because they were not growing in their understanding of God’s Word. There are believers like this in every generation. They receive the Word, but don’t grow in it. Hebrews does not question their belief, but it does accuse them of spiritual dullness and failure to listen to God’s Word. People who don’t grow in God’s Word are subject to every wind of doctrine and false teaching. Like spiritual babes they only want milk and not the meat of Christian teaching. They are encouraged to grow up in their understanding, so that God’s Word affects their discernment of right and wrong.
November 2, 2016
Because of the mediatorial work of Christ, we are able to approach God’s throne with confidence. Christ is our Advocate and our Great High Priest, who continually stands before the Father on our behalf. We can have confidence that every prayer prayed in Jesus’ name is heard by the Father.