June 7 – Daily Devotional

31 May June 7 – Daily Devotional

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE BOOK OF HEBREWS

THE REAL THING -PART II

Hebrews 10:8-10 “First He said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”—though they were offered in accordance with the law.  Then He said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

Hebrews 10:4 “It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.”  All the sacrifices of the Old Testament were reminders of their sins and their need for them to be forgiven by Yahweh. (Hebrews 10:3)  Therefore, generation after generation of Israelites brought unblemished lambs to the Temple to be sacrificed by the priests for their sins.  They knew they sinned!  They knew they needed Yahweh’s forgiveness! They knew, as yesterday’s devotion said, these sacrifices were a mere shadow of what was to come. They knew of His promise to send a Savior who would once and for all save them from their sins.

Hebrews 10:10 “He (Jesus) sets aside the first to establish the second. And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”  This is why in your worship of Yahweh, you never bring unblemished Lambs to be sacrificed for the atonement of your sins. Instead, John writes, “. . .if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”  Note that the writer to the Hebrews says you “. . . have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”  He, the perfect Lamb of God has taken away the sins of the world.

As the hymn states below, “Not all the blood of beasts on Jewish altars slain could give the guilty conscience peace or wash away the stain.”  “Oh, how blest it is to know: Were as scarlet my transgression, It shall be as white as snow By Thy blood and bitter passion; For these words I now believe:  Jesus sinners doth receive.” (LSB 609, v. 5)

Prayer:  Dear Father, I know I deserve nothing but Your condemnation and punishment for my sins and rejoice in Your undeserved love and forgiveness You give me through Christ Jesus Your Son my Lord and Savior.  Amen.

Not all the blood of beasts On Jewish altars slain

Could give the guilty conscience peace Or wash away the stain.

But Christ, the heav’nly Lamb, Takes all our sins away;

A sacrifice of nobler name And richer blood than they.

My faith would lay its hand On that dear head of Thine,

While as a penitent I stand, And there confess my sin.

My soul looks back to see The burden Thou didst bear

When hanging on the cursed tree; I know my guilt was there.

Believing, we rejoice To see the curse removed;

We bless the Lamb with cheerful voice And sing His bleeding love.

(LSB 431)