August 17: No hesitation!

So, friends, we can now — without hesitation — walk right up to God, into "the Holy Place." Jesus has cleared the way by the blood of his sacrifice, acting as our priest before God. The "curtain" into God's presence is his body. So let's do it — full of belief, confident that we're presentable inside and out. Let's keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let's see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.    (Hebrews 10:19-23 — The Message)

This passage is rooted in the Old Testament and the temple in Jerusalem. The temple was divided into several parts: there was the courtyard where anyone could enter, and there was the temple building itself that was divided into two rooms — the Holy Place where only the priests could enter, and the Most Holy Place where the presence of God dwelled. The high priest entered the Most Holy Place only one time each year to pray for his, and the people’s, sins. Separating the Most Holy Place from the Holy Place was a heavy, beautiful curtain.

The passage above speaks about the amazing consequences of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. When we believe in Jesus and what He did on Calvary, we do not hesitate to enter the Most Holy Place, to walk right into the very presence of God, ask for what we need, and enjoy the privilege of being His children. The curtain that separated people from God in the past, and even today, is the body of Jesus. At the instant that Jesus died on the cross, the curtain in the temple in Jerusalem was torn from top to bottom, a sign that the path to God was now open to all who believe in Him. But the boldness to enter the Holy Place does not belong to everyone, only to those who believe in Jesus’ death for them and who decide to respond by also dying for Him — dying to their will and adopting His will.

How many of us walk right up to God without hesitation? Are we bold and confident in our faith? Are we taking advantage of the high price that Jesus paid on the cross for our freedom? Do we understand that the devil and his demons were completely defeated 2000 years ago? If not, we need to wake up and start living like true believers in the Lord Jesus.

Take to heart the last phrase of the above passage. In the first century church, like today, there were people who stopped going to church. When we come together as a group we encourage each other, we keep each other sharp, we keep each other prepared for the approaching big Day. — See you in church tomorrow!