Advent December 13, 2006
Step Right Up to God in Prayer
Light: "In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation." (Psalm 5:3)
"By day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is with me--a prayer to the God of my life." (Psalm 42:8)
Reflection: Do you see the theme in today's scriptures? They remind us that all day long we can boldly come before our God. And yet we take this privilege for granted. Before Christ's resurrection, when a priest approached God, it was nothing like what we now experience in coming before Him.
If you've ever tried to read through the Bible in a year, some of the details in the construction of the temple may have kept you from completing your goal. The tabernacle was a holy place, built exactly the way God commanded (see Exodus 40:1-8 and Hebrews 9:1-14). You may have wondered, "Why on earth do I need to read specifics about the dimensions, veils, colors, jewels on the breastplate, and the amount of flour in each loaf of bread?" There is a reason. Keep plugging on.
In the holy place rested an altar of incense, a lampstand, a table for the shewbread. Walled off by a thick veil, which horses could not pull apart, was the holiest of holies. This housed the Ark of covenant box containing the Ten Commandments, manna, and Aaron's Rod. But all that is history. When Christ rose, that four-inch thick veil split from the top to the bottom so that now, through faith in Him, we can come before God with bold confidence.
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful (Hebrews 10:19-23).
Jesus Christ replaced the old with the new. In revealing the Old Testament details, we see how Christ is the New Testament fulfilled. Christ is our High Priest and He is the Sacrifice. He is the Bread of the Presence. He is Mercy. He is the Lampstand, the Altar of Incense, the Veil, and the Tabernacle.
Now we can come directly to God in prayer, anytime, anyplace. What a privilege! What if our lifestyle were one of constant communion with God? What if each day began and ended with talking to Jesus? What are we missing by not using our personal prayer hotline to God? Maybe this next year can be a year of talking to Him with a sincere heart and the full assurance of faith that He see, hears, and loves us.
Response: Dear God, I come before you with confidence through Jesus Christ. Thank you for Your forgiveness. I draw near to you with a sincere heart and the full assurance of your saving grace. Lord, jog my memory to pray all day so we're in constant fellowship
Light: "In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation." (Psalm 5:3)
"By day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is with me--a prayer to the God of my life." (Psalm 42:8)
Reflection: Do you see the theme in today's scriptures? They remind us that all day long we can boldly come before our God. And yet we take this privilege for granted. Before Christ's resurrection, when a priest approached God, it was nothing like what we now experience in coming before Him.
If you've ever tried to read through the Bible in a year, some of the details in the construction of the temple may have kept you from completing your goal. The tabernacle was a holy place, built exactly the way God commanded (see Exodus 40:1-8 and Hebrews 9:1-14). You may have wondered, "Why on earth do I need to read specifics about the dimensions, veils, colors, jewels on the breastplate, and the amount of flour in each loaf of bread?" There is a reason. Keep plugging on.
In the holy place rested an altar of incense, a lampstand, a table for the shewbread. Walled off by a thick veil, which horses could not pull apart, was the holiest of holies. This housed the Ark of covenant box containing the Ten Commandments, manna, and Aaron's Rod. But all that is history. When Christ rose, that four-inch thick veil split from the top to the bottom so that now, through faith in Him, we can come before God with bold confidence.
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful (Hebrews 10:19-23).
Jesus Christ replaced the old with the new. In revealing the Old Testament details, we see how Christ is the New Testament fulfilled. Christ is our High Priest and He is the Sacrifice. He is the Bread of the Presence. He is Mercy. He is the Lampstand, the Altar of Incense, the Veil, and the Tabernacle.
Now we can come directly to God in prayer, anytime, anyplace. What a privilege! What if our lifestyle were one of constant communion with God? What if each day began and ended with talking to Jesus? What are we missing by not using our personal prayer hotline to God? Maybe this next year can be a year of talking to Him with a sincere heart and the full assurance of faith that He see, hears, and loves us.
Response: Dear God, I come before you with confidence through Jesus Christ. Thank you for Your forgiveness. I draw near to you with a sincere heart and the full assurance of your saving grace. Lord, jog my memory to pray all day so we're in constant fellowship
posted by Pete Houpt @ 9:12 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home