Daily Encouragement

July 12, 2009 - The Need For New Priest

Meditation on Hebrews 7

The Old Testament time had a priesthood system under Aaron, the brother of Moses. But Jesus the superior high priest was in the order of Melchizedek who was the king priest for Abraham. Abraham offered a tithe to Melchizedek and was blessed by him. Therefore Abraham's descendants, the tribe of Levi who ministered in the old priesthood system under Aaron had already paid tribute to Melchizedek through Abraham. (v. 1-10)

When God indicated that Jesus was a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek, He hinted that the old system was not perfect and therefore needed a new priest who is eternal and unchangeable. And who is "also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them." (v. 24-25 NKJV) "For such a high priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens, who does not need daily, as those high priests (explanation: from the old system), to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people's, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself." (v. 26-27)

So Jesus has been the new priest from the tribe of Judah. He was confirmed by the oath of God who said, "You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek." (v. 14-17, 20 ref. Psalm 110:4)

All believers need to thank God that this understanding and merciful high priest is able to save us to the uttermost. Our eternal salvation is secure in Him!

July 13, 2009 - A New And Better Covenant

Meditation on Hebrews 8

God had made a covenant with the Israelite to assure them His love and protection. But they did not continue in it. So God made a new one with them through the mediation of His Son, the eternal high priest. This better covenant is the fulfillment of the prophecy that said, "I will put My laws into their minds, and I will write them on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be My people. …, For I will be merciful to their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more." (v. 10, 12 NASB)

Though man may be faithless, God remains faithful to us.(2 Timothy 2:13) This new and better covenant through Jesus applies not only to Israel but also to all people who put their trust in Him. For the Scriptures says, "And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to a promise." (Galatians 3:29) Therefore now we can rely on what God has pledged through this new covenant mentioned above. And each of us will also have a new heart to obey God.

Let us rejoice in this new and better covenant relying only on Jesus Christ who has forgiven our sins and causes us to remember His law of love.

July 14, 2009 - No Fear For Judgment

Mediation on Hebrews 9

"And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment." (v. 27 NASB) God's word tells us the universal fact that no one can escape judgment after death. But believers in Christ need not worry to face God. For Christ our high priest has offered himself as our sacrifice for sins.

In the Old Testament time, the human priests had to enter the tabernacle continuously to offer sins for himself and for men. The earthly tabernacle and the furniture in it were a copy of the tabernacle in heaven which Christ later entered for us just once with his own blood. (v. 1-7) That is sufficient. For our high priest is the eternal son of God. With the shedding of His blood for us, our sins are forgiven. His blood has also established the new covenant between God and man. (v. 20)

Therefore we do not fear judgment from God but rather wait eagerly for the return of Jesus. (v. 28)

July 15, 2009 - Hold On To Your Faith

Meditation on Hebrews 10

When you face difficulties in your Christian life and struggle in your faith, the writer of Hebrews encourage you to hold on with hope, (v. 23) and do not cast away your confidence. (v. 35) You can do it because you have a perfect high priest who has offered for you a perfect sacrifice. This is a new sacrifice which replaces the old system. It sanctifies the believers, removes sin, conquers the enemies, and perfects the saints forever. Furthermore, it will put God's laws in your minds and hearts as He has promised in Jeremiah 31:33-34

Drawing from this passage let me suggest how to hold on if you have been slacking as follows:

1. Draw near to God with a trust that He can cleanse your conscience.

2. Put your mind in His hope for you.

3. Join back your Christian group to stir one another in love and good projects.

4. Get up out of your bed every Sunday to worship the Lord and get someone to call you for that if you can't get up. (v. 22-25)

Here is a serious warning for you: If you do not hold on to your faith, your judgment from God will be the worst. And do not think that you can get away with it. (v. 26-31)

That warning is from God's words. Let us take heed.

July 16, 2009 - What Does Faith Mean?

Meditation on Hebrews 11

Hebrews 11:1 gives us the definition of faith: "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." (NASB) The biblical meaning of faith is quite different from our ordinary expression about faith. When we say we have faith in something we usually imply our wishes that something will happen. And we may not have any conviction that it will happen. But here "faith" in God's word carries the idea of assurance and conviction of what God has promised shall come to pass for sure even though we cannot or have not seen it. God shows us in the following verses what faith means in the lives of many biblical characters.

Let us just take one of the examples, Enoch: "By faith Enoch was taken up so he would not see death; and he was not found because God took him up; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God." (v. 5) In Genesis 5:21-25, it was recorded that Enoch walked with God for 300 years before God took him. So from the interpretation of Hebrews, we know that walking with God is equivalent to pleasing to God. We can safely say that faith in God is demonstrated by pleasing to God.

Does your life please God? In other word, does our life make Him happy? If it does, you are walking with God. That means that you have faith in Him.

July 17, 2009 - Run With Endurance

Meditation on Hebrews 12

It is fairly easy to start something new in life. But we may discover that it is quite difficult to continue what we have started. Many people may drop out in their walk with God. Lots of people started to serve God in a new ministry but soon they discontinue. The word of God tells us that Christian life is like running a race. We must run with endurance. The word, "endure" has appeared several times in Hebrews 12. We are to fix our eyes on Jesus who endured the cross and hostility by sinners so we can endure discipline by our heavenly Father and not grow weary and lose heart.

What is the purpose of God's discipline that we must endure? It is that we may share His holiness and yield perfect fruit of righteousness. (v. 11) Moreover, our heavenly Father wants to train us to be strong and unshakable. So when He shakes the heaven and earth, we will still remain like His unshakable kingdom. For our God is a consuming fire. (v. 18-29)

May we pray and accept His grace now that we may not drop out in the Christian race.

July 18, 2009 - Christian Relationship

Meditation on Hebrews 13

The word of God instructs us concerning all kinds of relationship. All Christians should learn carefully our proper behavior in these following relationships: love toward brothers and sisters, remembering the prisoners, faithfulness in marriage, contentment as far as money is concerned, be submissive to the church leaders, be looking out for the cults, be discerning of what you eat and listen.

Concerning our relationship with God, Christians are to rely on the invariability of Jesus (v. 8) and offer praises to God with our lips and doing good for others.

Verses ten to thirteen teach our relationship with the world. Like Jesus, we should be willing to suffer reproach for separating ourselves from it. Outside the gate, I believe is referring to outside the Jewish system which belongs to the world. Christians should not belong to it.

Let us evaluate all our relationships in the light of God's word today.