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Day 45: Hebrews 8/Psalm 118
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Friday April 9, 2004
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Out with
the old and in with the new
It’s the time of year that I realize Spring is pretty much gone, and I
still haven’t done my spring cleaning. You know the kind I’m
talking about. Throwing the light into the dark recesses of every nook
and cranny of the garage and basement. Everything sparkling and fresh,
it even smells new! Around Christmas I always promise myself, I’ll get
to this mess in the Spring. And that’s pretty much where it has stayed
this year, a promise. I’m thankful that God fulfills his promises even
when I don’t.
Hebrews 8:
The promise of a new covenant
Why a new
covenant anyway? Because God promised it: “The days are coming when I
will set up a new plan” (verse 8).
When I was a kid I
loved to watch and follow my shadow. Under what lighting was it larger?
Smaller? Did it really run as fast as me? Was it really exactly
like me? I loved it when my shadow was in front of me, as if it came
first. God spoke of a new plan to let us know that a day would come
when the new covenant would be reality and the old would be behind. The
lighting had changed. The old covenant was a shadow of what was to
come.
Christ who sits at
the right hand of God in heaven is our mediator. Nothing on earth and
no earthly priest could ever have the atoning power and authority of
the sacrifice of God’s own Son. Jesus is the ultimate sacrifice for our
sins. Because of Christ we have an invitation into a personal
relationship with God.
Today’s verse: For I will be merciful toward their iniquities,
and will remember their sins no more (verse 12).
I like the way The
Message states it: “This new plan I’m making with Israel isn’t
going to be written on paper, isn’t going to be chiseled in stone; This
time I’m writing out the plan in them, carving it on the lining of
their hearts. I’ll be their God, they’ll be my people.”
Today’s
Prayer:
Father, Thank you for keeping your promises; thank you for
forgiving us even when we don’t keep ours. Help us to understand the
magnitude of what you do for us, and help us to live for you with more
commitment.
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Memory Verse of the Week:
"Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the
Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus..."
Hebrews 10:19 (New International Version)
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For a complete
listing of all the previous devotionals in this "50 Day
Experience," click here.
To read the chapter or psalm of the day online, click on one of the
following links:
o
Hebrews
8
o
Psalm
118
Lynda Ledbetter, ledbetter@cincyvineyard.com,
Director Early Childhood at VCC
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