Hebrews 8:10

"This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord.  I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts.  I will be their God, and they will be my people."

Let me preface this by saying that I read this at about 11 o'clock at night after trying to fall asleep since about 8:30 that same evening and being interrupted three times by loud noises and a fire alarm.  I was not in the best mood when I finally hit my pillow for the last time.

Because I was very upset that I was not able to fall asleep, I opened up to where I was reading and fell onto this passage: "I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts.  I will be their God, and they will be my people."  I felt my heart melt in this instant.  I found absolute rest in knowing that I was chosen by God to be his and only his.  He chose us because we were special and created in his image.  How powerful to know that God wants to be mine.  He wants to be my God and he wants me to write his word on my mind and on my heart.  He wants to develop this relationship with me that gives us both ultimate joy and peace that I cannot find anywhere else.

Interestingly enough, God promises two things through this passage.  First, to gives us a desire and motivation to read his word and carry out his will and to do good.  This concept of grace given to us by Jesus' resurrection allows for man kind to receive a second chance at being a better, more godly human being.  Second, God promises his enduring love.  The new covenant was rewritten in such a way that Christian believers could understand more clearly just how much God loves his people.  God has loved us from the beginning.  We see that through the stories of Gideon and King David but the new covenant reinstates his enduring promise.

What should you take from this?  What is the whole message of this passage?  Well, God wants us to understand just how much he wants us, God and man, to be together for eternity.  He did not create us and sacrifice his son only to see us part in the end.  He gives us mercy and grace and love to prove how much he is putting into it.  All we have to do is believe in this enduring love and follow where God wants us to go.  I cannot promise that this road is the easiest road you'll ever take.  My life has had its ups and downs but all along the way I have seen and felt God's presence with me guiding me to safety and security.

My question for you is, are you willing?

Jesus Like Melchizedek

"But because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Such a high priest meets our need--one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, an then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever."

Hebrews 7:24-28

What a message. Jesus lives forever in perfect holiness in oder to save us and bring us to him. We no longer have to sacrifice an offering day after day after day in oder to remain close to God. God sent his Son to the earth to sacrifice himself that we might all live forever with Christ for all eternity.

But this passage also stresses how Jesus is the only way to eternal life. Through him we live and through him we are free. There is no other way and Paul stresses this once again in Hebrews. Commentaries note how the law has changed. No longer can the old covenant give us the hope that we are looking for in life. We see this through Jesus' character. In verse 26, Jesus is described as being holy and pure and separate from the sinners on earth. In short, he's perfect. However, he also came down to earth and became a sacrifice for us. What does that tell us about Christ's character? It tell us that he loves us enough to leave his exalted position and save us from the world and bring us to heaven to live with him for eternity. How awesome is that!

I am eternally grateful for what Jesus has done for us. He has given me a hope and a joy that is full of purpose and desire. All I want to do is to glorify his name forever because he is truly amazing.