Chaplain’s Corner – Jesus’ Promise: He Is Our Great High Priest Forever

“Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood”(Hebrews 7:23-24).

Most of you probably will not understand this, but one of my primary requirements for medical professionals is youth. Not because I necessarily think that youth has more current knowledge (though they may have) or is more compassionate (though they may be). It is for the simple reason that I want them to outlast me. I do not want to keep on finding replacement doctors. I want to find the one I like and have them with me for the rest of my life.

Maybe this is something you do not concern yourself with now, or that you take for granted. But if you have a critical medical condition, regardless of your age, I bet you take comfort in the security of having a competent doctor and that he or she is walking along side you all the way.

Now think about this in the context of Jesus, our Savior. Jesus is our Great High Priest, meaning that he is our intercessor and mediator before God. He knows us fully and intimately. The High Priests of the old covenant only served to age 50, then they retired and ultimately died. Jesus is our eternal Great High Priest. It is such a relief to not have to start over again and again to develop a relationship with the One who holds our future.

This also brings to mind the situation one of my sons found himself in during his college years. He played college football. He worked really hard as a first-year student to earn his place on the team. Then the coach abruptly left at the end of the season, and my son realized he would have to start all over to prove himself worthy to the next head coach. It was quite discouraging. Most of us do not compete at that level, but perhaps we are in situations where we feel we must constantly prove our worth. Similarly, the Israelites before Jesus’s time were required to offer continual sacrifices because the sacrifices were not meant to be enduring. Also, the priests themselves had to offer continual sacrifices to purify themselves before God before they could offer sacrifices on behalf of others. That is really the way of the world. But Jesus atoned for our sin once and for all with His death on the cross. It is finished.

We must never take for granted that our most important status in life is already secured and cannot be lost, because it was secured by Jesus on our behalf. Jesus, the only God our Savior. Jesus, King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God. Jesus, Lord of Lords and King of Kings. You do not have to keep looking for another new priest, who has to continually purify himself. You do not have to keep proving your worth. All we have to do is accept Jesus. What a beautiful condition we find ourselves in, because of the grace of God, that we can be secure in our salvation.

As we prepare for the season of Advent, let us first look back with grateful praise for victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

“Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them” (Hebrews 7:25).

In Christ,

Judy

Chaplain’s Corner – God’s Promise: He Is Our Help

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

Maybe you have not thought of this verse as a promise, but it certainly is. God assures us that he is always working for the good of those who love him. And even though we cannot always understand His ways, we can trust Him that He is working for our ultimate good. We know this because of His sovereignty, His ability, and His goodness.

First, God is sovereign:

• “Sovereign Lord, you have begun to show to your servant your greatness and your strong hand. For what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do the deeds and mighty works you do?” (Deuteronomy 3:24).
• “Sovereign Lord, you are God! Your covenant is trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant” (2 Samuel 7:28).
• “Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death” (Psalm 68:20).

Second, God is able:

• “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand” (Daniel 3:17).
• “And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8).
• “Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them” (Hebrews 7:25).

Finally, God is good:

• “Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever” (1 Chronicles 16:34.
• “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him” Nahum 1:7).
• “No one is good but One, that is, God” (Mark 10:18).

God is sovereign, God is able, and God is good. The work he is doing in us is a good work. And do not miss the references to “all” and “always.” God is not just sovereign and able some of the time. God is good all the time, and all the time, God is good.

John’s Gospel tells of a time when many of Jesus disciples were turning away because of their lack of faith. Jesus asked The Twelve if they also wanted to leave, and Peter, speaking for all of them, said: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:68-69). In this time of Thanksgiving, thanks be to God for who He is and for his gift of salvation.

“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57).

In Christ,

Judy

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1).

What a world we live in! Listening to the news can nearly put me into panic. The cost of everything is increasing. Family members are sick, both physically and mentally. Traffic is a nightmare. Kids. Parents. Politicians. Natural disasters. Violence everywhere we turn, even in places we consider to be sanctuaries. We are assaulted on every side. And then there is the craziness of the holidays. I do not have to tell you what you already know. We see it at home. And we see it at work. We truly can all say that we know someone who has it much worse than we do. And then we agonize over their situations. But that is not the reason I am writing.

None of this is a surprise. The point of my writing is to bring assurance. What is going on the world is not a surprise to God. Yes, the enemy is at work, unleashed by the Fall. Satan is at it–wreaking havoc until the day that even he knows is coming, when Jesus will put him under His feet. But Jesus assures us: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33).

So, my devotional for this week is a reminder. My brothers and sisters in Christ, I pray you will take comfort in the words of this beautiful song.

Psalm 46

¹God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
² Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

³ Though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah

⁴ There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High.
⁵ God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.
⁶ The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted.

⁷ The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

⁸ Come, behold the works of the Lord, who has made desolations in the earth.
⁹ He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariot in the fire.

¹⁰ Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!

¹¹ The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

And in the final chapters of the Book of Revelation: “These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.” (Revelation 17:14).

In Christ,

Judy

“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds” (2 Corinthians 10:3-4).

Several of these devotions have focused on spiritual warfare. We know that God fights for us, that He protects us. Last week, the devotion described how sometimes God provokes the enemy to destroy itself through confusion. We continue this theme this week by focusing on how Jesus promises to equip us for battle. There is a very important underlying assumption in this opening verse. The assumption is about who we regard as our enemy. Sometimes we overlook the real enemy by focusing on the people around us that we think have wronged us in some way. It is these people that Jesus tells us to love. In this case, our divine power comes from love.

Peter points out our actual enemy. He warns: “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). This describes a powerful and evil force, one that would require special weapons for defense. And in fact, Paul writes in Chapter 6 of his letter to the Ephesians exactly how we are to be equipped against this type of enemy. He describes it as putting on “the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” 

1. “Stand firm, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist” – When we recall that Jesus called Satan the “father of lies” and how God considers deception to be an abomination, we realize how a zealous pursuit of truth will make us strong in the Lord. Jesus is the Truth, so when we trust Jesus, we are secure in our defense.
2. “…with the breastplate of righteousness in place” – The breastplate is designed to protect our hearts. What is righteousness? “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Therefore, we have the protection of righteousness when we have accepted Christ as our Savior.
3. “…and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.” – We must be ready to share in the message of salvation; that is, to go on the offense with the good news of the saving grace of Jesus.
4. “Take up the shield of faith” – Our faith in the power of Holy God will “extinguish the flaming arrows” that Satan sends our way.
5. “….and the helmet of salvation” – The helmet guards our head, that is, our minds, our way of thinking so that we can distinguish between truth and deception. God is the author of salvation. When we accept that only by the grace of God through Christ Jesus are we saved, then we know the Truth, and the Truth will set us free.
6. “…and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God” – In other words, study and meditate on the Word of God so that it is ever on your mind and on your tongue, so that you can call on the Holy Spirit to tell you what to say and what to do. Follow Christ’s example: when He was tempted by Satan in the wilderness He quoted Scripture, to which Satan had no defense.
7. “And pray in the spirit on all occasions” – This means that we pray with the mind of Christ, we seek His will and desire to align our heart with His.

This sounds complicated, but it really boils down to the simple (not necessarily easy) message of grace. ^“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9). And when we accept this marvelous gift, Jesus also promises “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.”

Satan has no power over Jesus! And when we receive the gift of salvation, we are protected by Jesus, our mighty King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Take comfort in that wonderful fact.

“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2: 9-11).

In Christ,

Judy

“I will send my terror ahead of you and throw into confusion every nation you encounter. I will make all your enemies turn their backs and run” (Exodus 23:27).

We have just experienced Halloween with its diverse cast of characters, some cute and some devilish. Halloween seems to bring out the dark side. As I reflected on this, my mind turned to depictions of “bad guys” in the movies and on television. Have you ever noticed that so many times, their ultimate demise is the result of their own stupidity, their selfishness, and/or their lack of unity. For example, the three bank robbers all try to get more of their share of the loot at the expense of the others and end up killing off their partners or getting themselves caught.

Whether or not the writers of these dramas know it, they are following a script we see in the Bible numerous times. For example:

• During the time of Gideon: “When the threeunits blew the trumpets and broke the pitchers, they held the torches in their left hands and the trumpets in their right hands for blowing, and shouted, ‘A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!’ And each stood in his place around the camp; and all the army ran, crying out as they fled. And when they blew the three hundred trumpets, the Lord set the sword of one against another even throughout the entire army; and the army fled” (Judges 7:20-22).
• During the time of King Saul: ^“While Saul talked to the priest, the commotion in the camp of the Philistines continued and increased; so Saul said to the priest, ‘Withdraw your hand.’ Then Saul and all the people who were with him rallied and came to the battle; and behold, every man’s sword was against his fellow Philistine, and there was very great confusion” (1 Samuel 14:19-20).
• During the time of King Jehosaphat: “’Listen to me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: Put your trust in the Lord your God and you will endure. Put your trust in His prophets, and succeed.’ When he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who sang to the Lord and those who praised Him in holy attire, as they went out before the army and said, ‘Give thanks to the Lord, for His faithfulness is everlasting.’ When they began singing and praising, the Lord set ambushes against the sons of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; so they were struck down. For the sons of Ammon and Moab rose up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, completely destroying them; and when they had finished with the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another. (2 Chronicles 20:20-23).

The assumption is that there will be battles during our lifetime—whether military or interfamily, financial, physical, emotional, spiritual, or cultural—and we will face the enemy. In fact, the more we are attuned to God’s holiness, the more likely we are to sense the presence of evil because it becomes even more abhorrent to us.

The message is that God is faithful, and good will win over evil. God uses different means to accomplish his good purposes. Sometimes he allows evil to just play itself out. We can trust in God’s victory over evil.

What is instructive is that we all have a role to play in the battle. Sometimes our role may seem irrelevant or ineffective in the face of conflict. In Gideon’s case, the people were to carry a torch and a trumpet, shout, blow their trumpets, and stand in place. Saul’s people had to show up for the fight and watch the Philistines fight with each other. The subjects of King Jehosaphat were to sing and praise and give thanks. I think that’s great advice to live by. In any event, we must trust in Him. In this day, as in the days of old, battles are being fought both here and abroad, even in the Holy Land. The battles are sometimes physical, always spiritual. We must be prepared to do whatever is required of us. “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8).”

Lastly and most importantly, we must not be anxious or fearful. Remember, Jesus said in John 16:33b “But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (Notice the verb tense: The present perfect is a grammatical combination of the present tense and perfect aspect that is used to express a past event that has present consequences.) Our confidence in the sovereignty and victory of our Lord and Savior is a powerful testimony to others.

“Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.’” (2 Chronicles 20:15).

In Christ,

Judy