Friday, March 9, 2007

Day by day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again
and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.
But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he
sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time he waits for his
enemies to be made his footstool, because by one sacrifice he has made
perfect forever those who are being made holy.

Hebrews 10:11-14

If you have been keeping up, you have reached the 15th day of our Lenten
devotion. Each of us has most likely been encouraged to “follow” Jesus
by giving up something during this time. This portion of Scripture
really takes a slightly different tack, but with the same outcome. It
compares two types of priests.
One priest religiously, goes about his duties. These would include
prayers, readings and offerings. These activities are certainly Biblical
and most likely well meaning, but in this context the effort has too
much of something and not enough of something else.
The second priest, given the title “THIS PRIEST” seems almost lazy by
comparison. Listen to the text: He offers only one sacrifice, only
offers it one time, then He sits down and just waits.
I hope you see the contrast, now let’s fill in the participants. I think
the first priest represent us, you and me. We become followers of
Christ, then as we learn how to be devoted to Him we slowly shift to
being devoted to devotion: Our prayers, our readings, our offerings. And
when that happens our devotion is filled with too much “self” and not
enough power.
The second, the one titled THIS PRIEST, is of course our Lord. During
this season, He waits at the right hand of God for us, you and me. Those
He has “made perfect.”

My suggestion: This day cease from your religious labors. Take a walk,
Listen for His voice in the sound of the birds singing. Watch a child
playing. He is waiting for us to STOP trying to do what He has already done.

Jim Shields, Sanctuary Ministries