June 3 – Daily Devotional

31 May June 3 – Daily Devotional

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE BOOK OF HEBREWS

HEBREWS 9:15 – PART II

Hebrews 9:15 “For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that He has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.”

Today’s devotion centers around the second key word found in Hebrews chapter 9.  That word is “ransom.”  You are most familiar with the word ransom in relationship with kidnapping.  Evil, wicked individuals from time to time steal away, most frequently a child from their parents.  Usually, they select a rich family from which to take this child.  Through a ransom note, the kidnappers demand the payment of a large sum of money from the family before they will release the child they have taken.

In a perfect world, when the family pays the demanded ransom price demanded by the kidnappers, the child is set free to return home to its family.  Hebrews 9:15 says that Jesus “died as a ransom to set them (sinners) free from (their) sins . . .”  This is in reference to your sins and the sins of all of humanity.

Your sins hold you captive.  They prevent you from returning to your heavenly Father Yahweh.  Unless removed, you will never be able to join your heavenly family.  As yesterday’s devotion said through quoting 1 Timothy 2:4, “God (your) Savior. . . wants all people (this obviously includes you) to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”  And then in verses 5 & 6 St. Paul states, Jesus gave Himself as a “ransom” for you to be set free from your sins.

Peter says of the price Jesus paid to set you free from your sins:  “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.” (1 Peter 1:18-21)  Jesus said, “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.  He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.” (1 Peter 1:18-21)  Jesus said, “The Son of Man (came) to give His life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 28:20)

Prayer:  You, dear Jesus, by shedding Your blood on Calvary’s cross you paid the ransom price for me to be freed from the guilt and condemnation of my sins.  Thanks be to You!

Jesus, refuge of the weary, Blest Redeemer, whom we love,

Fountain in life’s desert dreary, Savior from the world above:

Often have Your eyes, offended, Gazed upon the sinner’s fall;

Yet upon the cross extended, You have borne the pain of all.

Do we pass that cross unheeding, Breathing no repentant vow,

Though we see You wounded, bleeding, See Your thorn-encircled brow?

Yet Your sinless death has brought us Life eternal, peace, and rest;

Only what Your grace has taught us Calms the sinner’s deep distress.

Jesus, may our hearts be burning With more fervent love for You;

May our eyes be ever turning To behold Your cross anew

Till in glory, parted never From the blessed Savior’s side,

Graven in our hearts forever, Dwell the dross, the crucified.

(LSB 423)