December 22, 2017. Hebrews 7-10.

 

Christ. Died. For. You. 

That is a pretty big deal.  When was the last time you thought about that fact?  It is something so powerful but with daily struggles and just ordinary life, it sometimes can fall to the back of your mind.  This passage reminds us of what an incredible act of sacrifice it was.

(Hebrews 9:11-12) 11 So Christ has now become the High Priest over all the good things that have come. He has entered that greater, more perfect Tabernacle in heaven, which was not made by human hands and is not part of this created world. 12 With his own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever.

Up until this point, people had to make sacrifices of goats and calves through a priest.  They would do this time and time again but their sins would never be truly forgiven nor their conscience clean. 

(Hebrews 9:14-15)14 Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. 15 That is why he is the one who mediates a new covenant between God and people, so that all who are called can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them. For Christ died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under that first covenant.

But Christ was a perfect sacrifice.  He traded His precious life to gain victory over sin and secure eternal life for all who believe.

The perfect sacrifice made by Jesus Christ is the greatest act of love.  It’s repercussions bring life and salvation.  That sounds like something that should be talked about on the daily basis.

(Hebrews 10:23-25) 23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. 24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

Christ followers should be united and rejuvenated in the death and resurrection of Christ.  Try using Christ as your motivation today, even in the small things.  See what great things happen because of it.  Remember the Perfect Sacrifice.