Thursday 5 April, 2018

18 You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; 19 to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, 20 because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.” 21 The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.” 22 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23 to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

How great is this passage? It immediately puts you in a place of thankfulness.

We observe the writer of Hebrews describing the time of the Old Testament covenant; pre-Jesus, when the Law was the way people had relationship with God. In that time people feared God in a way that left them distressed and trembling but now living in the time of the New covenant; post Jesus, our relationship with God is founded on the reconciliation and forgiveness of Jesus blood.

This passage positions us in a place of gratitude for what Christ did on the cross and the significance of that in our day to day lives. It lifts our eyes to see our lives and circumstances with greater strength and peace knowing full well the promises of Jesus and the fullness of what he did on the cross in dying for our sins, defeating death and setting us free. For each of us I think that this is a reminder that we need daily, that we live in the time of the new covenant where our lives and relationships with God are defined by the Blood of Christ and his forgiveness and reconciliation.

Lord,  Thank you for this reminder! Thank you that we do not rely on a perfect situation or perfect circumstances but we rely on our perfect savior. Help us walk into today with full knowledge of your goodness, a fresh revelation of what living from the forgiveness and reconciliation of Jesus blood means for our day to day lives. We give you this day and ask that you would go before us and have your way.  In Jesus Name,  Amen!

Written by Annique Botta