Through the Bible - Micah 3-7, Revelation 11
Good morning,
There is an ongoing debate within the Christian community about altar calls and "decisions" for Christ. I am not going to get into that debate here, but I would like us to consider a few verses in Hebrews 10 that call us to draw near to Christ.
At a time when we celebrate God's drawing near to us in sending Jesus in the form of a child, let us draw near to Him in our hearts and minds.
Hebrews 10:22-23 (Amplified Bible) Let us all come forward and draw near with true (honest and sincere) hearts in unqualified assurance and absolute conviction engendered by faith (by that leaning of the entire human personality on God in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness), having our hearts sprinkled and purified from a guilty (evil) conscience and our bodies cleansed with pure water.
23So let us seize and hold fast and retain without wavering the hope we cherish and confess and our acknowledgement of it, for He Who promised is reliable (sure) and faithful to His word.
The NKJV, NIV and other translations start verse 22 with"let us draw near". In the Amplified version we read "let us all come forward and draw near". It is significant here because the passage talks about Jesus coming and after His death, resurrection and ascention to the throne of God we now have access to the Father, through the veil, to the holy of holys. The verse gives us a mental picture of being able to enter through the veil to offer our confessions and prayers to the Father through Jesus.
In the Old Testament is a was truly a privilege, an honor to be granted access once a year. What would it have felt like? We should think of this as we draw near, picture coming forward. It involves or will, just as coming forward after an alter call to dedicate or rededicate our lives to Christ.
As you worship this weekend, stand in awe of the gift of our Savior, this child. Stand in awe of the privilege that He gave us to boldly approach the throne of grace.
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation!
All ye who hear, now to His temple draw near;
Praise Him in glad adoration.
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
mikesvotd.blogspot.com
19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Hebrews 10:19-25 (New King James Version)
Hold Fast Your Confession
19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
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