Daily Meditations

Hebrews 10:26 The dangers of deliberate sin We are now deliberating on a troubling passage that stretches from verse 26-31, and it follows on directly from the instruction to those who have given up “ meeting together.”  One simple cause of this is that there are “believers” who know their own sinful state, the repetitive sins that trouble them daily and the battle to feel worthy, or maybe there is just one problem in their past that the enemy uses for the same result. They have decided that it is best not to associate with God’s people, to keep away from anything that pinches their consciences and makes them face their never-ending battle with sin. A “Go it alone, do it my way” policy to religion is easier to live with and there are no public ramifications. We should remember the stark warnings that were given in Hebrews 6:4-8 and that these are part of a number of warnings contained in this letter: -  1.       Hebrews 2:1-4     ...

Hebrews 10:25 Don't give up meeting together! We have probably all met people who claim to be followers of Christ, who say that they believe in God and the Bible and that they have real faith, but they don’t go to church. They may be loosely linked with some kind of fellowship group or help out at a charitable event but church? No! Many have said to me, “I find God best when I’m walking in the countryside or contemplating in my garden. I don’t need church.”   What often irks these people is the shallowness of some churchgoers, the squabbles and politics that often drive congregations and the idea of being lectured from the pulpit. Christianity has become so complicated and the pursuit of truth so individual that there are many who prefer their own version of the faith to that which is taught by the Bible. That is, if they can find a church that comprehensively teaches the Scriptures! What they miss of course, is the thrill of exploring the Word, the excitement and joy of singing Go...

  Hebrews 10:24 Spurring one another on Most of this book, thus far, has been taken up with amazing doctrines, uncovering mysteries and principles that stretch back through centuries of human history. The author has unlocked some of the doors that keep Jews and Gentiles apart and he has also carefully guided us on a journey into the spiritual realms where we discover the interaction between heaven and earth and between God and His people. At the heart of all of this is Yeshua, Jesus our Lord, who we identify with because He bridged the gap, He is both heavenly and spiritual but also human, like us. Yes, Jesus is at the heart of it all, this glorious inheritance we have is in Him and through Him and because of Him, our great High Priest, and the only mediator between us and the Lord our God. He is so closely aligned to His Father that their thoughts, words and deeds are indistinguishable, but there is one great difference; God is so glorious and powerful that He is beyond the imagin...

Hebrews 10:23 He who promised is faithful We examined the “ hope set before us”  in Hebrews 8:18-19 where it is likened to an  “anchor for the soul, firm and secure.”  This hope is able to enter the sanctuary behind the curtain. In other words, our hope is not a far-fetched, vague anticipation of what is to come; it has flesh and blood and is fully realised in the person of Jesus Christ.  We have now been instructed that He is our sacrifice, it is His blood that washes our consciences clean, the curtain was symbolic of His body and through Him we may enter the holy presence of the Lord God. Jesus is also our High Priest both on earth and in heaven, as such He has cleansed our guilty consciences, sprinkled our sinful hearts and washed us with the purity of His Word. In other words, this statement encompasses all of the eternal truths contained in the previous verses. Jesus is our hope, it is His sacrifice on our behalf that gives us confidence to enter the heavenly re...

Hebrews 10:22b Bodies washed with pure water There are two further considerations when we consider our suitability for an audience with the Lord God. He makes the rules, and in this matter He insists we come before him having been ceremonially prepared. When the priests of Israel attended for ceremonial duties in the Tabernacle / Temple they too must be ritually cleansed. Firstly, they were made clean by the blood of a sacrificial offering, it was unthinkable to approach the glory of the living God without first ensuring that sins had been atoned for. Secondly, they must attend the bronze basin or laver where they would wash themselves (Exodus 30:17-21). Only after fulfilling these ceremonial purifications could they enter into the Holy Place and perform their duties before the Lord.  In the same way, we must have  “our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and have our bodies washed with pure water .” Most believers find personal prayer and contemplation bef...

Hebrews 10:22a Let us draw near Having embraced the teachings of the previous verses we are now issued with an invitation;  “Let us draw near to God.”  Our sins have been removed and washed away by the blood of the Lamb. The entrance into the holy presence of the Lord has been opened, the dividing curtain on earth was just temporary for it symbolized the body of Christ. He has now ascended to the right hand of God Almighty as our High Priest and made a way for us to approach our Heavenly Father without shame or fear. How do we do this? With what kind of attitude do we trembling mortals approach the glorious throne of our Creator? The author of Hebrews has an answer ready for us, “you must come with sincere hearts and the full assurance that faith brings.” There it is!  The attitudes we adopt when approaching the throne of grace are sincerity and faith. In other words, we are genuine in our devotion, and we believe in what Christ has done for us and that it is solely ...