Our High Priest

I have very blessed (as I always am :) reading through the book of Hebrews recently. One of the things that seems to stand out to me every time I read through are the places where Jesus is called our High Priest. I think that is a very fitting and touching analogy. In the verse below, something else got my attention this time through as well:

The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing, but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever. ~Hebrews 7:23-28

That thing that stood out to me is the adjectives used to describe Jesus: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. As we ought to be like Jesus, let us ponder whether these things are in our lives!

Jesus Signed My Pardon

I have heard this hymn before but was reminded of it again recently and really appreciated its message. A few questions to consider as you read and meditate on the words of this hymn: Are you willing to, and have you, given all your life to Him? Have you been pardoned from sin and joined the angels singing? Have you allowed him to make your life worth living? He has signed the pardon for each one of us - have you allowed Him to set you free?

I was in sin's prison, oh, so dark and cold
Like a lost sheep wandering from God's eternal fold.
Then the door swung open, and He spoke to me,
"I have signed your pardon, now you may go free."

Jesus signed my pardon, this I surely know
Took my place at Calvary, now I won't have to go.
All my life I'll give to Him - He gave His for me
When He signed my pardon there at Calvary.

Since the Savior led me from that awful place
I can hear the angels as they sing Amazing Grace.
I know I was pardoned from my sin and shame
When I joined them singing, "Glory to His name."

Life is now worth living since I've been set free.
I'm so glad He was willing to save a wretch like me.
Now I have a mansion, not a prison wall.
Jesus signed my pardon, Jesus paid it all.

Yes, Jesus signed my pardon - Jesus paid it all!

God's Grace

        I was blessed recently with some thoughts on grace. The first one was how grace and humility often seem to go hand in hand in the Scriptures. You don't have one without the other. God's grace never makes a person proud.

...God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen. ~1 Peter 5:5-11

        The second thing about grace is what beautiful things in can work in a person's life.The following passage on grace is one of my favorite Bible verses. It encompasses so many different thoughts - the grace of God, salvation, the beautiful way we can live through His grace, our blessed hope, the appearing of our Savior, the life that Jesus gave, our redemption, and more!

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. ~Titus 2:11-14

        Allow His grace to work in your life today!

Greetings from North Carolina!

        The past year since I stopped blogging has brought many changes, the biggest being that my family moved from Vermont to North Carolina just over a month ago. I have had an interest in picking my blog back up recently, and feel like perhaps the time has come when I can! So I'm going to try it for a while and see if it is going to be something that fits into my life at this time. I look forward to hearing from you!