Hebrews 10:11-14

Hebrews 10:11-14 Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

Today, to please God, do you offer up sacrifices to him or do you trust in his Son, Jesus Christ, and his sacrifice? The latter is the heart of Christianity. Is it our goodness or his righteous? Is He the door or do we make our own way? Unless we know for sure where our perfection lies, where salvation comes from, we will always struggle in our spiritual walk, and we will negate and silence the voice of God inside us. Freedom from sin and the guilt of sin comes when we know and accept Christ as our Savior. Outside of that kind of faith, we are lost in our own works, our own ideas of salvation. But when this priest (Jesus) had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. By one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

We do not fight to get into the kingdom but enter by grace through Christ's work. We cannot live halfway in the kingdom and halfway out. We are either totally God's child or we are not his at all. If the blood of Jesus Christ covers us, it cleanses us. King David was a man after God's own heart. God loved David so much that He allowed Jesus Christ to come through his genetics. And since Jesus is David's progeny, David's sits IN JESUS on a throne forever. As a prototype of all Christians, David possessed a contrite spirit: a tender, listening heart. Although he often failed God, he held onto his enduring trust in God. Even as a young man, standing before Goliath, David did not look at his own weakness, but at God's strength. Later in his life when he thought he might be stoned by his own men, David found strength in the LORD his God. (1 Samuel 30:6)

As with David, we who are IN CHRIST do not look at our own weakness, we look at God's strength. All things are possible with God. (Mark 10:27) Even though David experienced success as a wealthy king, he also endured constant turmoil and struggles. Weaknesses of the flesh, rebellion in the family, and enemies in and out of Israel, often stressed his life. But through it all, David' loved God with a contrite heart and died in faith. Do you have that faith in God today? Are you willing to stick with God regardless of the vicissitudes in life? As with David, we sometimes make our own problems, and some are out of our control. In spite of everything, will we willingly trust God with our lives? Saving faith believes God no matter what and never gives up. Saving faith pursues God regardless of life's troubles or our disappoints in ourselves or others, for we know he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. Faith rejects imperfection and lives in perfection, for FAITH always trust sin the Eternal One, Jesus Christ, and his perfect life and sacrifice for sin.

Jesus said, "Come to me, my burden is light. I will keep you, provide for you." Come unto me remains his eternal call. Even in the courtyard when Peter denied Jesus Christ, Jesus viewed him with compassion. He knew Peter would deny him and eventually run away, fearing his life would be taken also. In spite of Peter's infidelity, Jesus' fidelity stayed strong towards him. He loved Peter and would never give up on him. After the resurrection, Jesus gave Peter a task that He gave no other man: "Peter, feed my sheep, make them strong, so they will know my voice and come to me." This was Peter's responsibility, yet he failed miserably on the day of Christ's death on the cross. My friend, God calls each of his ambassadors for a specific purpose here on Earth. As with Peter, we will sometimes fail, but Jesus never gives up on any of us. He still tells each of us, "Follow me, do my will." Therefore, let us daily dedicate ourselves anew to him. Since we have been made perfect in Christ, let us live this life of perfection in THE SPIRIT for his purposes: to defeat his enemies, to overcome the world, to bring new life to his body. Most of all, let us finish the race by faith as David did and as Paul did when he declared, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." (2 Timothy 4:7)