Hebrews 9-11

Hebrews 9:1

Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary.

There are so many rich and wonderful truths in this passage that speak to me and stir my insides. But I cannot comment on them all. So I pick the above verse as a jumping off point, because it sets the tone for the entier reading to me. But I'm sure this will be a bit random today.

I (and you as well) have been given such a gift by living in a time after Jesus. We're so impatient we can't even wait through a commercial without changing channels. Those saints before His time had a mere promise and the shadow of what the law pointed at. By their continual sacrifices and the following of the regulations they looked forward in anticipation of a Redeemer and held fast to God's promise of things farther into the future than their earthly lifetime. Yet they were faithful.

I wonder if they could in their wildest dreams even imagine being able to enter the Most Holy Place anytime as we can. Their sacrifices were a constant reminder of their sin and the requirement of a Holy God. I think in our culture we've lost a lot of the fear of God and fail to understand just how holy He is. But I am oh so thankful that the only requirement I need is to claim the blood of Jesus as my sacrifice.

I don't need to follow regulations to worship. Anytime, anyplace I have access. Not because of anything I have done. But because the perfect, holy, blameless sacrifice of Christ. It makes me want to jump and shout and sing, and also fall to my knees and weep all at the same time. Can you believe it?! I can draw near to God with full assurance. ME. A debt I could never repay, a rescue I didn't deserve. Can I get an AMEN!