Call to Gather, Pray, and Worship God
Revelation 3:14-22
The Message to the Church in Laodicea
14 “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Laodicea. This is the message from the one who is the Amen—the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s new creation:
15 “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! 16 But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! 17 You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. 18 So I advise you to buy gold from me—gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see. 19 I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference.
20 “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. 21 Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne.
22 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.”
Pondering Point
The blessing people often zero in on here is the right to sit with Jesus in heaven – surely a blessing! But there is a prior blessing too: having Jesus come in and eat with you now. Every rebuke of Jesus, discipline, or call to repent is oriented toward this blessing: a call to be with Jesus now, not just later! He wants to fellowship with you. Reconcile my friend - reconcile. Hear His voice and open the door!
Christ’s Covenant Sacrifice for Us
Hebrews 10:1-10
Pondering Point
In working through Hebrews 10:1-10, it does not have the feel of a story. But notice in the middle section Jesus being given a voice as to why He came as a man. That is our story.
From Jesus’ angle, the first (old) covenant is giving way to the second (new) covenant. In the old covenant, God’s people are the ones making the sacrifices, performed through the priests.
God put many laws in place to manage this sacrificial system. In the new covenant, God Himself is making the sacrifice through the person of Jesus, God-in-the-flesh. He is both the sacrifice and the priest performing the sacrifice. God does ALL of the work to provide atonement (i.e. forgiveness).
Notice the language of Hebrews 10:5 and following. It wasn’t the sacrifices that God was interested in. It was way more about following God’s will. God’s will is that we are holy as He is holy. But we don’t become holy by our actions. Even our holy actions don’t make up for our other “unholy” or sinful actions. The people of God are made holy through Jesus’ act of sacrifice. This is the reality God wants His hearers to figure out.
Hebrews 10:1-10
Christ’s Sacrifice Once for All
1 The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship. 2 If they could have provided perfect cleansing, the sacrifices would have stopped, for the worshipers would have been purified once for all time, and their feelings of guilt would have disappeared.
3 But instead, those sacrifices actually reminded them of their sins year after year. 4 For it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5 That is why, when Christ came into the world, he said to God,
“You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings.
But you have given me a body to offer.
6 You were not pleased with burnt offerings
or other offerings for sin.
7 Then I said, ‘Look, I have come to do your will, O God—
as is written about me in the Scriptures.’”
8 First, Christ said, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them” (though they are required by the law of Moses). 9 Then he said, “Look, I have come to do your will.” He cancels the first covenant in order to put the second into effect. 10 For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.
Prayer Prompt
Recognize before God that your ability to become holy and righteous required the sacrificial death of Jesus. Own the gravity of your sin and its impact. Confess any sins you can think of. Then, with a renewed appreciation for Jesus as your Savior, share a prayer of thanksgiving for God’s grace.
Royal Priesthood:
Jesus the Royal Priest
After humanity’s failure as royal priests in Eden, God promises a descendant who will restore what was lost. While many leaders arose during Israel’s history, all fell short. However, their stories point forward to the ultimate royal priest, Jesus. Through Him, we once again can take up our calling as God’s royal priests.
https://bibleproject.com/videos/jesus-the-royal-priest/