Tuesday 13 March, 2018

11 If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—and indeed the law given to the people established that priesthood—why was there still need for another priest to come, one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? 12 For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also. 13 He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. 14 For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. 15 And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, 16 one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is declared: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” 18 The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless 19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God. 20 And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, 21 but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: ‘You are a priest forever.’” 22 Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant.

“The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless ¹⁹ (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.”

What a profound couple of verses.  What was previously used to appease the guilt of our souls had proven to be too weak, incompetent to do the job so God inaugurated another way, a better way was introduced – Jesus – by which we draw near to God.

The longing for God is universal – if you study every civilisation from the beginning of time you will see the quest for the eternal – to know and experience God’s love.  Most of these result in religion where we make our best efforts to appease the deity of our choosing.  Jesus turns this on its head – he is the all sufficient sacrifice in whom we need to place faith for our acceptance by God to be real – to be transformative.  Christianity is such a better hope – we don’t have to work to appease God, Christ has paid that price, we now live in love with Him a totally different take of life itself – thank you Jesus!

Father help me to live as you would have me to live – in your grace and mercy not in effort to appease or be approved but in love with You.

Written by Ps. Richard Botta