"In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and fears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety. Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek."
Hebrews 5:7-10
It is during the Christmas season we choose to celebrate the birth of Christ to the World. The Son of God was sent down from God the Father to become the Savior of the World for all mankind. What a profound mystery of love few will ever comprehend. But for those who do, Christmas is truly the most wonderful time of year and for a much greater reason than holiday gifts and cheer.
I have already received the greatest gift I could have possibly gotten. I was given the opportunity to hear the heart of my oldest granddaughter Caitlin, as she tearfully shared how God Himself revealed to her through a song that He didn’t have to die. But He chose to die for her, so she wouldn’t have to for her sins. She understood the love of the Father who asked His Son to become the final high priest of the world, so He could have His children reconciled back to Him through the only perfect sacrifice, His only Son. He is the only human that has ever existed who never sinned against God. God knew He would become the last and only sacrifice for the atonement of sin. This year God allowed me to witness the beauty of the true meaning of Christmas in such a personal way for which I will always be eternally grateful.
The qualifications for a high priest are stated in Hebrews 5:1-10: He had to be a man. He had to be chosen by God. He had to learn through suffering for maturing and proving himself. The high priest offered sacrifices for all and never took glory for himself. Hebrews offers Aaron and Melchizedek as examples before Jesus. But when our Saviour was born, Jesus became the final high priest who put an end to sacrifices made on an altar for unending sins.
When I read the verses spotlighted this week my heart melted with gratitude and grief for my Savior while He lived on this earth. Listen carefully to the description of His life. He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the one able to save him from death. We know He was heard because of His piety meaning proper honor and respect for God from a holy life. Obviously Jesus suffered greatly while He was on this earth and if we follow Him we will too. It is how we mature and are proven as He was.
For those of us who have received the revelation of His love for us, as Caitlin did, it is our greatest desire to give back to Him for what He has done for us. Caitlin earnestly expressed her desire to give back a sacrificial life because of the revelation of His sacrifice of love for her. We should all desire to live obedient lives becoming mature believers in order to accomplish His will for our lives.
Hebrews 5:13-14 declares:
"For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice, have their senses trained to discern good and evil."
As infants we are born having all our needs met by someone else. We only digest milk and it is all about us. But we were never meant to remain that way. It is the parent’s responsibility to discipline and train children to mature. When that isn’t done, you have a narcissistic society who thinks only of themselves and life is all about them. We produce adults who cannot live responsible lives, and still behave as children consuming everyone around them. We have very few today who are mature people actually caring for and serving others. The contrast are mature believers who because of practice — it has become a way of life — have their senses trained to discern good and evil. Therefore it is difficult, and becoming more so everyday, to continue living in a world of immaturity and lack of character to say the least.
As a result, Christmas can be a very lonely and difficult time for many families, including my own, if we don’t focus on the true meaning of Christmas. It will give any family hope. It has to be done as individuals in our quiet time with the Lord before we come together, so we can give each other more than what we can buy. We need kind words, hugs, we need to point each other to Jesus, the hope and Light of the world. When we do that, it is no longer about us, but about the true reason for this time of year. We need to turn to the High Priest who understands all our needs and weaknesses. He understands rejection and betrayal. He knows what it feels like not to be valued by those you gave your all to. He knows. He hears all. He sees all. He cares about all. He has the ability to make us like Him if we choose to be. He can help us get outside of ourselves for others sake. I know this is true.
Let us be encouraged by the pure Word of God in Hebrews 4:14-16:
"Therefore, since we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
O what beautiful words to comfort our weary souls! Let us obey His instruction. Let us draw near and hold fast to our Savior and High Priest who understands every temptation and all our weaknesses of the flesh. He is full of compassion and He does sympathize with us. Let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace and mercy in our time of need; first as individuals before we come together as families this Christmas. Let us point one another to Christ and honestly celebrate the true meaning of Christmas. Let’s make it all about Him who is worthy of all glory, honor, and praise. It is the best gift we can give one another.
In His love.
Teresa Roberts
Masterpiece Fitness
276-237-6680
This week Eagle’s Nest was sent a special touch from heaven as we were blanketed with our first snow. How I rejoiced in the peaceful reminder of His love for all.
