FOREVER
Today’s Reading: Hebrews 7-8
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
Just outside Jerusalem’s Old City walls is the Garden Tomb area. It is thought that this could be where Jesus was laid after His death. The hymn comes to mind, “Up from the grave He arose with a mighty triumph o’er His foes.” Another line says, “Death could not hold its prey, He tore the bars away.” YES!!!
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: Hebrews 7:24-25
But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore, He is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He ever lives to make intercession for them.
The words, “EVER LIVES” in our reading stand out as does “FOREVER,” and “ENDLESS LIFE!” Rev. Jim Cantelon writes in Day Unto Day, published by Crossroads in the 1990s, these words about Hebrews 7: “The writer speaks of Melchizedek as ‘without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life…’ (7:3a). What is he telling us here? If he intends us to take it at face value, he’s telling us that Melchizedek is God (for only God has no parents, no genealogy, no beginning or ending).” Jim is founder of the great “King of Kings” congregation in Jerusalem. Many scholars believe that Melchizedek was Jesus trying on the garments of humanity in a relationship with “The Friend of God,” Abraham. There are eight volumes in the Day Unto Day series. They are long out of print, but some used copies can be found on Amazon.ca here. These books and others published by Crossroads over the years have served a high purpose for God and His people, but they do not claim to be exhaustive commentaries on Scripture. Such works as those of Matthew Henry, 1662-1714, are exhaustive, having many 3-inch thick volumes with tens of thousands of pages of detailed teachings on every verse of Scripture. Check Matthew Henry’s commentary on Hebrews 7 online here. The publishing efforts of Crossroads, including this blog, are for 99.9% of people who are not full-time seminarians or Bible teachers.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, I do want to study Your Word faithfully. Help me in my commitment to read Your Word every day without fail. I may not be able to read exhaustive commentaries, such as that penned by Your servant, the ordained Presbyterian Minister Matthew Henry, but I intend to, at the very least, take some time daily to spend with You in prayer and in study. I ask You for grace to be consistent! In the Name of the totally consistent One, Jesus Christ, I pray, Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
About 57 years ago my Dad gave me a set of Matthew Henry’s commentaries, and I used them for years in my sermon preparation, but not for my daily devotions. I came to the conclusion that preachers and Bible teachers who stand before congregations need both a rich devotional life and an in-depth study of God’s Word. These are not the same. One is for personal daily spiritual strength and the other is for the accurate impartation of Truth to others. Back In 2005, when we sold the farm, the home in which Norma-Jean was born, I invited our children to raid my library first. They probably helped themselves to about 100 books each. Then I contacted the Emmanuel Bible College in Kitchener, Ontario, and invited the students to do the same. Books are still a priority in our family budget, but I tend to give them away after I’ve read them. I thank all for taking the time to join me each day with this blog. You are very special to me!
Yours for the glory of the One Who is Forever, and ever, and ever. The indestructible One!!!,
David
This morning’s scripture really sunk in. “But because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them (7:24-5). For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” (8:12). The saying “forgive and forget” came to mind as I read this. Whenever I have forgiven and forgotten–put the hurt another caused, in the past, and left it there, not to revisit it, I was happy and well. We have the blessing of God’s forgiveness but, like Him, we must also exercise the forgetting. That was the gift of Jesus–that He always wiped the slate totally clean, on our behalf. Oh, Jesus, Your sacrifice and teaching to us is so overwhelming to fathom. We thank You, our precious Saviour.
You were and still are, very special to us, David Mainse!! Blessings fellow saints in the Lord. Merry Christmas!!
Do You Hear What I Hear?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vVxXfA4BxE
Amen Beverlee, I was also blessed this morning as I read this blog.
Amen, Beverlee!
Amen to your comments Beverlee Kay!
Hebrews 7: 24-25 is so precious to all who believe & trust
in Jesus Christ. To God be the Glory for Evermore, Amen!!
Wishing every one on this blog a healthy, happy & blessed
Christmas!
Berverlee, yep! this forgive and forget was a process with me! IT STILL IS FOR ME. BUT I KNEW I HAD TO FORGET THE SITUATION! I also have realized that when I rebuke the devil and remind him of God’s Word and what His Words says, the devil flees but still tries to cause a lot of problems for me…..this has been happening these past 2-3 weeks…..it is getting a bit much for me……
again thank you Beverlee Kay for the beautiful music……..
I thank God for this prayer site….and bless all who contribute in many ways, words, music, encouraging thoughts, PRAISE AND THANK THE LORD…..
AMEN
Song
God can move the Mountains.
“God Who Moves the Mountains” from Dustin Smith
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dh8G0jMTtsM
My God is Awesome–He Can Move the Mountains–
Charles Jenkins
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YJ4vddbJJo
Thank for the photo of the empty tomb…when in Israel, it was special to enter it!
I agreed in prayer with David! Appreciate David’s words of wisdom!
Today’s scriptures, very meaningful; the High Priest forever, without father or mother, without genealogy! No other than Our God!! One who is forever and ever. King of Righteousness, King of Peace.
I find it interesting that Abraham gave Him a tenth of everything!
Have a blessed day all you saints!
Bev
Every one needs compassion
talks about God is mighty He
can move the mountains.
Amen, indeed, Carol!
Amen to your blog Pastor David and Beverlee. You are still very special to us bloggers David. I use the “Day unto Day” commentaries every day hence it takes me longer to read. Merry Christmas to all my bloggers. You are also very special to me and always read your blogs. Amen!