The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
"The Mediator"
"There is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" (I Timothy 2:5).
We do well to frequently ponder and refresh ourselves in the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ as our High Priestly intercessor. As finite, created beings, we could not possible approach an infinite, eternal God by ourselves. This is especially true because of His holiness and our sin. Thus, we require a go between, that is, One who spans time, eternity, sin, and righteousness to bridge the gap between ourselves and God. The Lord Jesus serves this holy purpose as the God who became man, and the man who remains God.
"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God" (Romans 5:1-2).
No more encouraging truth strengthens us in our walk with the Lord. In times of faith and faithfulness, we remember our own works and merits do not provide access to God. We come through Christ. Thereby, we maintain the necessary humility required to "walk humbly with thy God" (Micah 6:8). In times of unbelief and unfaithfulness, we gladly remember we can still come to God through Christ as we humbly and honest acknowledge our failings, and as we avail ourselves of His forgiveness and cleansing. Thereby, we maintain the necessary assurance to access God's power to restore a life of faith and faithfulness. "In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him" (Ephesians 3:12).
Perhaps most of all, we consider how perfect a High Priest the Lord Jesus is in the sight of His Father. Because of who He is and what He has done, our Father can receive us with no hint of compromise to His integrity and His ways. In His sight, we bear the robes of Christ's righteousness and are "accepted in the Beloved" (Ephesians 1:6). As the hymn writer beautifully penned, "And lest the shadow of a spot should on my soul be found, He took the robe my Savior wrought, and cast it all around!" God the Father sees His trusting children as "in Christ," and acceptable through the mediation of the Lord Jesus on behalf of His holiness and our need (I Corinthians 1:30).
"For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into Heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us" (Hebrews 9:24).
We may come as we are to God because our great High Priest ever abides as who He is to God. The remembrance of such grace will ensure we make our approach with both great humility and great confidence. So long as we come through Christ, we may come with assurance of being received. This moment offers such blessed possibility as the writer of Hebrews beckons us to avail ourselves of so great a gift, given by our Father and now appearing in His presence for us…
"Let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance and faith… By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name."
(Hebrews 10:22; 13:15)
"He ever liveth to make intercession for them."
(Hebrews 7:22)
Weekly Memory Verse
But as for me, I will come into Thy house in the multitude of Thy mercy: and in Thy fear will I worship toward Thy holy temple.
(Psalm 5:7)
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