Monday, December 20, 2004
The High Priest Who Cried Out in Pain
Hebrews 6:14-16 (The Way Bible)
Now that we know what we have--Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God--let's not let it slip through our fingers. We don't have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He's been through weakness and testing, experienced it all--all but the sin. So let's walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.
Have you ever found someone whom you could tell anything and you know that there will be no shock or judgment? Is there a deep dark secret you've finally mustered up the courage to tell, wincing afterwards because you're sure that condemnation or separation of friendship is what you'll be met with? Or worse yet the phrase...
"How could you do that?" Those kind of people are living Christ - Christians here on earth.
There is nothing we need to be ashamed of with Jesus. There is nothing we need to hide. We might want to out of shame or embarrassment. But let me say it again...there is nothing to be ashamed of. He knows us and the temptations we face. He has lived here. He has shown us how to conquer sin by taking his life as ours. Maybe not always the act of sin, but the attitude of it. And slowly he will remove the desires for the things we have been wanting so much which may be so bad for us. Really, that's what is at the essence of sin. It is things that are damaging to us or others. He helps us to live that whole, healthy life. One step at a time. One day at a time.
Now that we know what we have--Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God--let's not let it slip through our fingers. We don't have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He's been through weakness and testing, experienced it all--all but the sin. So let's walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.
Have you ever found someone whom you could tell anything and you know that there will be no shock or judgment? Is there a deep dark secret you've finally mustered up the courage to tell, wincing afterwards because you're sure that condemnation or separation of friendship is what you'll be met with? Or worse yet the phrase...
"How could you do that?" Those kind of people are living Christ - Christians here on earth.
There is nothing we need to be ashamed of with Jesus. There is nothing we need to hide. We might want to out of shame or embarrassment. But let me say it again...there is nothing to be ashamed of. He knows us and the temptations we face. He has lived here. He has shown us how to conquer sin by taking his life as ours. Maybe not always the act of sin, but the attitude of it. And slowly he will remove the desires for the things we have been wanting so much which may be so bad for us. Really, that's what is at the essence of sin. It is things that are damaging to us or others. He helps us to live that whole, healthy life. One step at a time. One day at a time.
// posted by Annette @ 9:02 a.m. 