Post by Woody Williams on Nov 3, 2006 5:14:22 GMT -5
Text for the Day -- Hebrews 7:1-3, 15-17, 26-28
----------
This "King Melchizedek of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met
Abraham as he was returning from defeating the kings and blessed
him"; and to him Abraham apportioned "one-tenth of everything." His
name, in the first place, means "king of righteousness"; next he is
also king of Salem, that is, "king of peace." Without father, without
mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end
of life, but resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.
It is even more obvious when another priest arises, resembling
Melchizedek, one who has become a priest, not through a legal
requirement concerning physical descent, but through the power of an
indestructible life. For it is attested of him,
"You are a priest forever,
according to the order of Melchizedek."
For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy,
blameless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the
heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he has no need to offer
sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for those
of the people; this he did once for all when he offered himself. For
the law appoints as high priests those who are subject to weakness,
but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a
Son who has been made perfect forever.
Devotional
----------
The writer of Hebrews makes a case that Jesus is part of a new
covenant, different from the sacrificial system of the old covenant.
The old covenant required continuing sacrifices in order to be
forgiven. But, Jesus, who is like Melchizedek, provided a
once-for-all sacrifice of himself for us so that a continuing
sacrifice does not have to be made by us. In Jesus we have a high
priest who is our advocate at all times with God.
Prayer
---------------
Help me to see your love always, O God, as reflected in Jesus so that
I may trust in your forgiveness. Amen
----------
This "King Melchizedek of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met
Abraham as he was returning from defeating the kings and blessed
him"; and to him Abraham apportioned "one-tenth of everything." His
name, in the first place, means "king of righteousness"; next he is
also king of Salem, that is, "king of peace." Without father, without
mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end
of life, but resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.
It is even more obvious when another priest arises, resembling
Melchizedek, one who has become a priest, not through a legal
requirement concerning physical descent, but through the power of an
indestructible life. For it is attested of him,
"You are a priest forever,
according to the order of Melchizedek."
For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy,
blameless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the
heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he has no need to offer
sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for those
of the people; this he did once for all when he offered himself. For
the law appoints as high priests those who are subject to weakness,
but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a
Son who has been made perfect forever.
Devotional
----------
The writer of Hebrews makes a case that Jesus is part of a new
covenant, different from the sacrificial system of the old covenant.
The old covenant required continuing sacrifices in order to be
forgiven. But, Jesus, who is like Melchizedek, provided a
once-for-all sacrifice of himself for us so that a continuing
sacrifice does not have to be made by us. In Jesus we have a high
priest who is our advocate at all times with God.
Prayer
---------------
Help me to see your love always, O God, as reflected in Jesus so that
I may trust in your forgiveness. Amen