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
My prayer is for Luisa, Joseph, Doreen, Eleanor and Edward, this morning. May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace. 🎄
Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! For the LORD has comforted his people and will have compassion on his afflicted. Isaiah 49:13 ESV
The King’s Singers – Christmas Song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eEHx_a-XGQ
Amen to your prayer Beverlee.
Beverlee: thank you so much for your prayers and the beautiful blessing. We are not sure if we will see our family or not again this Christmas. So far it is the plan but we have to wait and see. However, we will be ok, we have food for our table and we have each other. I am so grateful to the Lord for His goodness and Mercy.
I will continue to pray for your health Beverlee, it is comforting to see you online again.
Blessings to Eleanor M.
Thank you Beverlee and everyone else for your prayers. We are in great need of them as we find that these days are emotionally very difficult. We are thankful for past Christmases when we would celebrate the season with great joy surrounded by loving family. It’s very different this year, due to Joseph’s condition. However, we are so grateful that the real reason for celebration has not and will never change…God came in the flesh to save us from our sin! Glory be to Him forever!
We appreciate your continued prayers as we find ourselves physically and emotionally “drained”. Spiritually, He is filling us daily according to His faithfulness and mercy.
May you all have a most blessed Christmas!
Oh I join in prayer along with everyone for the peace of Jesus Christ to fill all of our hearts and lives.
In spite of great sorrow, fear or physical physical pain may the love and strength of Jesus Christ fill our hearts and homes.
“Jesus ever lives to intercede for us”…… how incredible, but true!
Merry Christmas to all🎄
Anne, agreeing with you in prayer and
wishing everyone a most Blessed Christmas,
in Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.
Luisa: Continuing to pray for you and Joseph, thank you for your prayers for Edward and me. I do hope that you will be able to enjoy Christmas even if it is on phone or on line. We haven’t seen our daughter in person for over three years. Her son Gavin who had the brain surgery is still going for therapy for his right side. Thank the Lord he is able to get around and seems happy enough. I see them on messenger on my phone some times.
Eleanor M🙏🙏
Merry Christmas to all.
May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May the Lord till you with His love, joy, peace and strength.
Thank you to everyone who continues to keep this blog an important part of our lives, the administrators and those who offer their comments and prayers.
Thank you and praise to our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Amen Sally
Thank you folk for your prayers. They are very helpful. My husband passed 7 yrs ago @ Christmas but I’m okay with that – I know where he is! Doctor gave him 2 weeks to live (after X-rays), It was 2 weeks to the day. We will meet again. I’m so thankful for the blog. Have a blessed Lord’s Day, in church, on Zoom, or streaming. May He be especially close to Joseph and Luisa at this time. Amen
Doreen it is such blessing when you know where your loved one is. God Bless you and keep you in His care. Eleanor M.
“For the time is coming,”
says the Lord,
“when I will raise up a righteous descendant
from King David’s line.
He will be a King who rules with wisdom.
He will do what is just and right throughout the land.
And this will be his name:
‘The Lord Is Our Righteousness.’
In that day Judah will be saved,
and Israel will live in safety.
(Jeremiah 23:5-6)
“Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!
Let the Earth hear his voice!”
Amen
Amen Rob.
Amen Rob.
Amen 🎁🎄⛄👍❤️