Day 310: A Forever Hope

Today’s Scripture: Hebrews 7:18-28

Central Thought: Jesus saves completely those who seek God through Him.

When I was a child, a couple came to teach the kids on our block about the Bible. Even though I went to church, the little book they used made the gospel message very easy for me to understand. The little book had no words, and the first page was black to stand for my sin. The second page was red, the color of the blood Jesus sacrificed. The third page was white, a symbol of my heart if I believed in the sacrifice and claimed Jesus as my own. This was a symbol that He would take my sin and cleanse my heart and make it white as snow. The next page was green to remind me to keep growing by reading my Bible and learning more about Jesus. The last page was gold. To everyone who accepts Jesus and His gift of salvation, He gives the gift of eternal life with Him in heaven. Perhaps the page that was yellow gold was an indication of streets of gold in heaven.

As adults, we may pick up the Bible and begin reading in the Old Testament. The Old Testament tells the story of creation, the separation of man from God because of sin, and how God chose a people through which He could work His will and restore man to himself. According to the Law God gave to Moses, priests had to be descendants of the Levites. The priests made sacrifices every day for the sins of the people. Priests eventually died, but the New Testament introduces us to Jesus, a priest–king appointed by God himself—a forever King. When the story of redemption in the New Testament is read, the prepared heart responds. I wonder how many hearts were prepared by that little book with its simple, wordless explanation of salvation.

When we ponder the Bible and what God has done, God becomes even more wonderful to us. Today’s passage from the book of Hebrews tells us that Jesus always lives to intercede. That means that He is always available. Interceding means He is constantly praying for us. Jesus, God’s gift to us, brings us back into a right relationship with God. God wants His gift to be acknowledged. Jesus does not have to sacrifice day after day to reunite us with God—His one-time sacrifice on the Cross is sufficient. Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross was for all who will accept Him.

Devotional Prayer: God, I thank You for people who share their faith with others so they may say yes to Your gift of salvation. Jesus, I believe You are my very own ‘forever priest.” I believe that You died for my sins and that I can come to You daily, any day, and even—forever.

Today’s Bible Reading: Ezekiel 14:12-16:42; Hebrews 7:18-28; Psalm 106:1-12; Proverbs 27:4-6