Focus

Experience silence in the midst of your busy day. Take some time to relax into a time to be with God.

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Read

Hebrews 9:11-15 (NRSV)

But when Christ came as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation), he entered once for all into the Holy Place, not with the blood of goats and calves, but with his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, with the sprinkling of the ashes of a heifer, sanctifies those who have been defiled so that their flesh is purified, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to worship the living God!

For this reason he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, because a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions under the first covenant.

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Reflect

The early Christian church was working out their allegiance to the traditions of the Jewish religion and the expression of their new faith in Christ. Should they stay with their familiar traditions and rituals? The writer of Hebrews urged them to choose the way of the new covenant. Instead of sacrificing goats and calves, the writer reminded them that Jesus offered himself as a sacrifice on their (and our) behalf. By dying, Jesus freed us from the power of death, giving us eternal life.

What Jesus offers is better than anything the world has to offer us. Jesus came to us as the High Priest of all the good things God has in store for us.

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Pray

Thank you, God, for the gift of your son, Jesus. Through him, I approach you today, claiming your grace as your beloved child. Amen.

Go with God.