Devotional Thoughts

Hebrews 10:14-17    "For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.  (15)  Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,  (16)  This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;  (17)  And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more." As a preacher, I have found it to be rough when wearing white shirts. The reason for that: Most preachers (myself included) love to eat. Many church members enjoy watching the preacher eat. The danger of wearing white shirts and eating is that any drop of food will immediately stand out against the white fabric of the shirt. If not treated properly, the stain will remain on the shirt. Now you ask, what does eating fried chicken have to do with today's passage of Scripture? By the work of Jesus Christ, the redeemed soul has been made perfect...

Hebrews 10:11-14    "And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:  (12)  But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;  (13)  From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.  (14)  For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified." We are coming to the conclusion of the first three sections of the book of Hebrews. The first section identified Jesus Christ as the very Son of God. The second section identified Jesus, though He was of the tribe of Judah, as the Great High Priest. This third section identifies Jesus, the very Son of God, our Great High Priest, also as the very sacrificial offering to be given. Today's verses bring to conclusion the effectiveness of His offering of Himself. The work ethic of long ago was no one sat down until the job was finished. That ethic isn...

Hebrews 10:9-10    "Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.  (10)  By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." "We are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ (that was prepared) once for all."  I must address those last two words: "for all."  In most Bibles, those words are italicized; that is, they were added by the interpreters.  It is very important to understand the reason for those two words. If Jesus died for every person who has ever been born, if those two words mean every individual, then I will be bold to say every individual who has ever been born will be in heaven. Don't leave me yet, for we know there is a hell and we know it is occupied. The reason for my first statement about those two words is because Jesus has plainly said that "All that the Father gave to Him shall have eternal life....

Hebrews 10:9-10    "Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.  (10)  By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." We finished recently with a body that was prepared for the Son of God to occupy when He came to this earth two thousand years ago.  He came to fulfill the first covenant, which was the law. In fulfilling the first covenant, He has now established the second covenant which is grace. What were the promises (covenants) made by God?  The first covenant (promise) declared we could not save ourselves eternally. We could not do enough good works to redeem ourselves. That was a promise.  Please allow me to use my terminology. God said, "I promise you that you cannot do enough to save yourselves; therefore, you deserve eternal banishment from God and heaven's glory."  The second covenant (promise) was this, "I promise you th...

   2 Chronicles 19:3 –  Nevertheless there are good things found in thee, in that thou hast taken away the groves out of the land, and hast prepared thine heart to seek God. One of the better kings in the Old Testament was Jehoshaphat.  A descendant of David, this king of Judah was an inspiration to many during his lifetime, but he was not without faults.  He did not always do what best pleased God, but neither do we. We should be encouraged that God used such a man as Jehoshaphat.   The word  nevertheless  can be powerful.  Here we see it used to tell the king that despite how he had failed in certain things, God was pleased that he had done away with the idolatry in the nation, and moreover he had prepared his heart to seek God. Through prayer, study, and worship, we can also prepare our hearts to seek God.  I know we have failed Him time and time again. Nevertheless, I pray the Lord will be pleased with us as well as we put away anyth...