Daily Meditations

Hebrews 10:17 Remembered no more! In ancient times it was not uncommon for men to join the schools of the prophets, as with King Saul, or to devote oneself to holy service at the feet of a priest, as with Samuel and Eli. Indeed, to be considered as a man or woman of God, as with Deborah, we would have to show exceptional devotion and live lives that were separate from the common people. We would be studious in our attention to the Law and learn from it that we might begin to discern the mind and heart of God. This way of life has overflowed into the journey of the various holy orders, and it is also adopted by Judaism where young men devote their lives to studying the Torah and Mishnah etc. We might even include the various Bible Schools and Theological Colleges which provide the means for men and women to enter church ministries today. In other words, we can be forgiven for thinking that to be used by the Lord in modern ministries we have to be special, to live lives of a higher order...

Hebrews 10:16 The role of prophets In Old Testament times, when the Lord God spoke and wished to make His purposes clear, He chose individuals and gave them His words. Prophets, seers, priests and national leaders all heard that voice and carefully recorded the words they were given so that these precious truths could be passed on. Such men and women were highly venerated and were elevated amongst the people as those who had become God’s mouthpieces. In this way we have the Scriptures, or what we call the Old Testament, and we too respect and admire the men and women who had such a close affinity with the Lord. But, in this verse, quoted from Jeremiah 31:33, the Lord gives prior warning that a day will come when the roles of individual prophets etc will come to an end, instead He will “ put His laws in men’s hearts and write them on their minds.”  This is talking, of course, about the coming of the Holy Spirit when it will not be necessary for individuals to hear and then carefully...

Hebrews 10:15 The Holy Spirit testifies Let us be absolutely clear here, whilst the Holy Spirit was not given to the church until Pentecost, in ancient times He was still a massive influence on God’s people and on individuals, especially those who were called to lead or to speak with the voice of the Lord. The truth is, we either follow the Spirit of truth and righteousness, or we obey the spirit of lies and deceit. It has ever been so. For instance, Peter writes,  “You must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”  2 Peter 1:20-21. Paul’s famous quote to Timothy encompasses the Old Testament, for the New had still not been written, when he writes , “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant ...

Hebrews 10:14 Perfect but being made holy Let’s emphasize straight away the difference between the fact that Christ has made us perfect through His sacrifice, but conversely, we are still being made holy! The first act is completed and stands forever, the second is an ongoing process. The first is what Christ has done for us, the second requires our co-operation with Him and is a journey of faith. Let’s examine each one in more detail. We all know that the death of Jesus Christ was a “once for all” moment in human history. He cannot and will not be crucified a second time, that is not necessary, the offering has been made, the blood that secures our salvation has been shed, the righteous demands of the Law have been met. This incredible event will never be repeated, that is why there is no second chance for men and women, we either believe in Him while we have the opportunity, or we die in our sins and face God’s righteous judgements. His salvation is eternal because its effects are un...

Hebrews 10:13 The footstool of Jesus Christ It could be argued that the author of Hebrews is a bit guilty of repetition, and yes, he certainly makes an attempt to drive his points home. That suggests that they are of considerable significance; if we simply skim over the words and think, “Well, I’ve heard all this before,” we miss the point. When the Lord repeats Himself, it is of the utmost importance. He wants us to understand, this is the Gospel, this is the spiritual significance of all that Christ has done, and it reverberates throughout the heavens and throughout the ages. These are the roots of our faith, they can never be undone, the enemy cannot counterfeit the work of Christ Jesus in the way in which He counterfeits so much through human religions. These vital transactions between the spirit world and the earthly one are established for all time, suddenly the reason and purpose for Israel becomes clear, suddenly the Old Testament of our Bibles becomes completely relevant, sudd...