Slices
Prepare
If you’re an archer, keeping your eyes on the target is key to hitting the bullseye. In fact, any project worth doing needs focus and determination. What are you currently focused on, spiritually? How’s it going?
Bible passage
11 Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. 14 For by one sacrifice he has made perfect for ever those who are being made holy.
15 The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says:
16 ‘This is the covenant I will make with them
after that time, says the Lord.
I will put my laws in their hearts,
and I will write them on their minds.’
17 Then he adds:
‘Their sins and lawless acts
I will remember no more.’
18 And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary.
A call to persevere in faith
19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 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. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds, 25 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.
Explore
The first part of today’s reading reinforces the theme of Saturday’s (vs 11–18). We are reminded that because of Jesus’ sacrifice (this is one of the author’s ‘therefore’ moments: vs 19–21), there are three things we should be motivated to do.
First, to draw close to God. No sin or guilt is in the way any longer to stop us being at one with our heavenly Father (v 22). Secondly, to hang on tight and not waver in our hope. Not because of who we are, but because of who God is: he is faithful to his promises (v 23). And thirdly, to encourage one another. Encourage in love, encourage in doing good for others and encourage meeting together so that we support one another (vs 24,25). Hurray! How marvellous!
Sometimes, though, God feels far away. Sometimes I feel wobbly, faith-wise. Sometimes I don’t want to bother encouraging anyone. I have learned, and am still learning, that looking at Jesus and focusing on what he has done helps me. It sounds simple – and sometimes takes effort in itself – but it’s always worth it. And it’s part of being made holy (v 14).
Respond
Go back to ‘Prepare’ and think again about your spiritual focus. Ask God for the strength and help you need to keep your aim fixed and your hand steady.
Deeper Bible study
Loving God, I open myself to you now to hear what the Holy Spirit is saying to me through the Scriptures.
Today’s reading is a good example of how the writer uses Scripture quotations and their application to encourage his readers. Here he quotes Jeremiah, in which the Holy Spirit ‘testifies to us’ (v 15) about God’s new covenant, which includes our God-given enablement to obey God’s law and God’s resolve not to remember our sins.1 Then he applies that scripture and encourages his readers. He applies the testimony of the Holy Spirit through Jeremiah to Jesus’ single, unique offering of himself as a sacrifice for sins. Jesus, having done this, sat down at God’s right hand, awaiting the subjugation of his enemies. That he is seated at the right hand of God, contrasts sharply with the priests who stand day after day, offering sacrifices that can never take away sins. In contrast to these sacrifices, by his one sacrifice Jesus has for ever fitted us to enter God’s presence.2
Verses 19–25 are densely packed and are difficult to deal with, but we can notice several things. There are two ‘since’ clauses: ‘since we have confidence to enter’ God’s presence (v 19) and ‘since we have a great priest’ over God’s house (v 21). There is a ‘having’ clause (v 22), like another ‘since’ clause: since we have been inwardly and outwardly cleansed. There is also a ‘for’ clause: ‘for he who promised is faithful’ (v 23). These clauses all support the three things the writer encourages them to do. He wants his readers to draw near to God with sincere hearts, to hold unswervingly to their hope and to consider how to spur one another on to good deeds. The last one is important and practical. He does not want his readers missing from the community gatherings: they need to be there, encouraging one another.
If I am not in a community of believers, how can I encourage my struggling sister or brother to persevere? Let this motivate us to continue to gather with God’s people.
1 See Jer 31:31–34 2 This is the sense of the expression ‘made perfect’ (v 14)
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Proverbs 13,14; Colossians 4
Pray for Scripture Union
Pray for Mission Partners Coordinator Bex Jignasu as she helps mission partners to become more effective in mission, especially as we move to a new phase of the Revealing Jesus framework. Pray that they will embrace it and join with us in that vision.
