What do you desire?

Hebrews 10:17-25

This morning as I read John 17, our High Priest prayer, verse 24 spoke to my heart; are my desires inline with my High Priest?  That verse has 37 words, and in those words you see the desire of our Lord Jesus Christ. “Father, I desire that (place your name in the blank) they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.”  Our High Priest Jesus Christ desires that we come home and see His glory, why do we fight so hard to stay in this world?  I often wrestle with lacking the ability to grasp what the Scripture is teaching or do I have a belief problem, and it comes down to, I have a belief problem.  I still act as if I am under condemnation, but that does not line up with God’s word, in Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”  Often I listen to the voice in my head that tells me I’m of little or no worth to anyone, instead of setting my mind on the truth that is found in God’s word.  If  I had only believed what Romans 8:2, states so clearly; “For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.”  And that brings us back to Hebrews 10:17-18, “then he adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”  Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.”

I have to remember that when “therefore” is used it is important to look back at what has been said, so look back at the verses that preceded verses 19-23, “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.  Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering for he who promised is faithful.”  Before the cross, you and I had to go to a man, a Levi priest, a high priest to enter behind the curtain, and he always took blood before the altar for his sins and then the sins of the people, but Christ now has given you and I passage behind that curtain. 

I hope your faith is much greater than mine, I have many places I still want to go and see, amazing places, but not one of them will come close to seeing my Lord in all of His glory.  So I’m duty-bound to do what verses 24-25 have instructed me to do: “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice