"For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp. Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come." (Hebrews 13:11-14)
This is all I needed/need today for "blessing." This is what I desperately needed 47 years ago. This is what blessed-saved me then; this is what blesses-saves me today.
I recently finished the Book of Hebrews. Our text is a sort of summation, or a, "What is the conclusion then?" Hebrews is the Gospel to the Hebrews, or an "explanation" to the Hebrews, and to all of us, concerning the relationship of the Old and New Covenants. The Epistle's beginning is indeed a beginning, "God, Who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us in His Son...." This is classic, "The Last Word," as well as the Only Word. Our text tells us that in order to bring us into the Heavenly Family, to bring us into the intimate fellowship in the Godhead, to grant forgiveness of sin, "....Jesus also...suffered outside the gate."
This is all I needed/need today for "blessing." This is what I desperately needed 47 years ago. This is what blessed-saved me then; this is what blesses-saves me today.
I recently finished the Book of Hebrews. Our text is a sort of summation, or a, "What is the conclusion then?" Hebrews is the Gospel to the Hebrews, or an "explanation" to the Hebrews, and to all of us, concerning the relationship of the Old and New Covenants. The Epistle's beginning is indeed a beginning, "God, Who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us in His Son...." This is classic, "The Last Word," as well as the Only Word. Our text tells us that in order to bring us into the Heavenly Family, to bring us into the intimate fellowship in the Godhead, to grant forgiveness of sin, "....Jesus also...suffered outside the gate."
"Therefore let us go forth to Him...." Where? "....outside the gate." Or, "....Let us go outside...," where no one wants to go or live, where there is death, decay, ugliness. We have so many pretty crosses today. That Cross was not "pretty;" there was death on either side of Jesus, poor, hopeless, helpless humanity, that is, until one cried out to Jesus, "Remember me...." On His Cross, "....outside the gate", Jesus did. And, Jesus does today. Jesus remembers all who, "call upon Him," because Jesus, "....suffered outside the gate", for all.
Every time I read our text, it is as though the Holy Spirit is saying to me, "Let us take a walk today. Let us go to that place which is a revulsion to most, 'but to those who are being saved, it is the power of God.'" We are told that place was the city garbage dump of Jerusalem, but it was/is much more. It is a garbage dump because it was where Jesus, "....destroyed the works of the Devil", the "garbage," if you will, of humanity. Now to many in Christendom this whole devotional would not be "edifying." They don't like the bloody death scene of Golgotha. They want a pretty religion, pretty meeting places, pretty meetings, and they want them inside, "the gate." But just look at the world. Where is the pretty? "Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come", which is very pretty.
Father, in Jesus' Name, again and again I must say, "Your Word is a lamp to my feet." Amen.
****************************
* Washington, DC, Mission: February 15 & 16
* Berlin/Lutherstadt Mission: October 28-November 15
* Read about the latest development between Germany and Israel: jhs58.blogspot.com
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
Hebrews 12:2
Hebrews 12:2
