A Call to Persevere in Faith
The writer of Hebrews is unknown, but the writer of Hebrews exhorts the Jewish believers who stepped out of Judaism into Christianity, who wanted to reverse their course to escape persecution by their countrymen. The writer encourages them to “go on to perfection” (6:1). (In other words, do not quit).
Are you, or do you feel as though you are not achieving anything as a Christian? Do you feel as though you are stagnant as a Christian? Please allow your focus to be on Jesus who is our mediator, our loving and caring Father. As children of God, we are called to go into the Throne of grace with confidence, draw near with a clean heart, a pure heart, with humility and love.
Entering the Holy of Holies was absolutely forbidden to the people of God in the Old Testament, but in the New Testament, the shedding of Jesus’ holy blood as a perfect sacrifice, the barrier between God and His people had been torn down. In the Old Testament, the only way into the presence of God was through the curtain in the Tabernacle that kept all, but the high priest out. In the New Testament, the only way into God’s presence is through Jesus’ flesh, His body that was broken for us.
A New Covenant:
Boldly go to Him, who is our Lord and Father, and because Jesus has taken care of that fear, draw near to Him through praise and prayer, with much love in your heart, but through Jesus because God is a consuming fire.
My brothers and sisters, because of Jesus’ Priestly achievements, we are allowed to go into His Throne because by His death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place.
So as brothers and sisters in the Christ, let us encourage each other, let us motivate one another, let us stir one another up to love and good works.
Jesus said, this is My commandment, (new covenant) that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Love and not hate, edify, wash each other’s feet, and look out for one another not only for yourselves.
Hebrews 10:19-25 tells us “Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus,by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:19-25) (NIV).
Amen.