1 Peter

12:00 AM


Welcome to Scripture Saturday!



Today we are memorizing 1 Peter 3:15:

…but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense so anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect…

Here is the amplified version…

But in your hearts set Christ apart [as holy—acknowledging Him, giving Him first place in your lives] as Lord. Always be ready to give a [logical] defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope and confident assurance [elicited by faith] that is within you, yet [do it] with gentleness and respect.

What is our hope in Christ? Hope is a heartfelt, joyful conviction that our short term future is governed by an all-caring God, and our long-term future, beyond death, will be happy beyond imagination in the presence of the all-satisfying glory of God.

Hope is not an add-on to Christian experience. It is part of the first things. The essential things. It is a vital component of saving faith, because part of what we believe relates to our future. It is impossible to be a Christian and keep on believing that your eternity will be bleak. Saving faith is the “assurance of things hoped for,” and such faith believes that “God is the rewarder of those who seek him” (Hebrews 11:1, 6).

When people ask you about your faith, what do you tell them? Are you prepared to give an answer that might give them hope and show them the hope that you have in Christ? We should always be ready for that but to do so with “gentleness and respect.” No one was ever argued into heaven and no one can be debated out of hell. We just need to give them the reason for our hope and leave the results up to God and trust Him for He is the Lord of the Harvest.




Have a blessed and precious day everyone!

Hebrews

Our Righteous King { Hebrews 7 }

12:00 AM

Our Righteous King { Hebrews 7 }


Hebrews chapter 7 tells of the priesthood of Melchizedek, “king of Salem, priest of the Most High God” (v. 1) The Hebrew word melek means king, and tsedek means righteousness, so the name Melchizedek is recognized as meaning “king of righteousness.” 

We first meet this king of Salem,(Jerusalem), “king of peace”. (v. 2) in Genesis 14:18-20. Abraham has just defeated Chedorlaomer, king of Elam, and his three allies. After the battle Melchizedek meets Abraham and his men, bringing them bread and wine. He  blesses Abraham and praises God for the victory. In response, Abraham gives Melchizedek a tenth of all his spoils. 

Under the Law, as told in Lev. 27:30-32, the Israelites were to give a tenth of their tithes and offering to the Levites. But Abraham was under no such law, for Levi was yet to be born. (v.10) Instead, Abraham gave to Melchizedek out of thankfulness, recognizing the greatness of Melchizedek and of his priesthood. A priesthood even greater than that of Aaron’s. And like Abraham, we too should give priestly honors to our righteous King, Jesus Christ. Not because of a law, (which He freed us from), but out of thankfulness and the recognition of His great priesthood.

For Jesus is our perfect high Priest, “holy, innocent, undefiled, spectated from sinners and exalted above the heavens.” (v. 26)   The Leviticus priests of Israel being human were sinners and had to make sin offerings not only for the people, but also for themselves. But Jesus, who never sinned, became our perfect sin offering. (v. 27) His death on the Cross provided forgiveness for every sin we have or will ever commit once and for all. (Heb. 10:10).  And He is the “guarantee of a better covenant.” (v. 22) Levitical priests die, but Jesus who lives forever, “holds His Priesthood permanently.” (v. 24)  He is our holy Minister, “made perfect forever” (v. 28) always at the side of the Father interceding on our behalf, and representing us perfectly before the throne of God.