Thursday February 9, 2023

Today is Thursday, February 9 and we are studying what the Bible says about covenant.

Come, abide with me, Lord Jesus. I pause to savor your loving presence and still the restless wanderings of my soul. Open the scriptures to me, speak into my life and teach me the meaning of covenant.

Pause and Pray

Holy Lord God, hear my prayer. Let me be full, let me be empty. Let me have all things, let me have nothing. I freely and heartily yield all things to your pleasure and disposal. And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, you are mine, and I am yours. So be it. Amen. (The Wesleyan Covenant Prayer, part 2)

I rejoice in the goodness of God and seek the comfort of his presence with the words of Psalm 25.

Good and upright is the Lord; therefore, he instructs sinners in his ways. He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful toward those who keep the demands of his covenant. For the sake of your name, Lord, forgive my iniquity, though it is great. Psalm 25:8-11

Pause and Pray

The New Testament book of Hebrews was written to first century Christians who were recent converts from Judaism. These Jews were familiar with the ancient practice of offering a sacrifice on the altar. A priest entered the Temple and offered blood on the altar to redeem people from their sins. The author of the book of Hebrews offers a paradigm shift. Jesus is now the high priest and there is a new kind of offering to restore humanity that is a lot more powerful and accessible. Jesus is my priest, and he is entering the Holy Place for me to offer his own blood shed upon the cross. He is the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29). In his sacrificial offering he once and for all obtained eternal redemption for my soul and the souls of all who believe. The price of redemption has been paid by Christ.

He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! For this reason, Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant. Hebrews 9:12-15

A redeemer is someone who buys something back. In ancient times a property that was lost or sold was bought back. A family member who became enslaved was bought back. Redemption comes in exchange for payment and in the Old Testament it was either money or the shedding of blood. The human condition of original sins means we are all separated from God, but God wants to buy us back or redeem us. It does not matter how long I have been away, what I have done, where I have been, what poor shape I am in or how badly I need healing and repair. God wants to redeem me, reclaim me, and restore me in his great love.

Ask: What part of my life needs restored or repaired? What part of me has been lost, broken or stolen that God wants to redeem?

Pause and Pray

Lord Jesus, thank you for entering the Holy Place and offering yourself an unblemished sacrifice to pay the ransom for my soul. Your love has set me free from sin and endowed me with a promised eternal inheritance that will never perish, spoil or fade. Your precious spilt blood has redeemed my life once and for all. I pray for the grace of the Holy Spirit to sanctify me through and through and cleanse my conscience completely. I read the words from Hebrews again and listen for the message you have for me.

He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! For this reason, Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant. Hebrews 9:12-15

Ask: What image, word or phrase stands out to me when I slowly read this passage? What is God trying to say to me through these words of scripture?

Pause and Pray

I consider the emotions this passage evokes in me today. Maybe I feel grief, guilt or sorrow. Or perhaps I feel joy, thankfulness and relief. I ponder a specific situation in my life that is currently troubling me. How might God want to speak to me about my circumstances through this passage of his holy Word? I listen for God’s voice with the ear of my heart and repeat the word or phrase that stands out to me – seeking understanding and guidance.

Pause and Pray

Lord Jesus, I am yours. Come and enter the lonely hidden places of my soul and shine your beacon of truth. Expose what I cannot acknowledge and cleanse me of every remaining speck of poor intention or wrongdoing. Set me free for the work of sanctifying grace to form me, mold me and make me. I am yours. So be it. Amen.

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. Ephesians 1:7-8

I leave this time of prayer as a redeemed sinner beloved by God. I go to shine Christ’s light of love, mercy, forgiveness and grace.

Amen