SELAH Daily Devotions!
Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” Ephesians 2:19-22
Didjaheardat? WHO KNU? Most of us (Christians) already knew that the Jews held a uniquely privileged position in The Kingdom of God, having been Sovereignly called out by GOD Who introduced Himself, calling them His Chosen and giving them The Laws of Commandments through His servant Moses. Yet the truth of the matter is, they were still denied direct access into The Presence of God! Why? Because they had the same problem that every other human being born into the earth had. Sin-lusting Flesh! Don’t look at me with that tone of voice?
While they were given Stone Tablets outlining God’s Righteous Expectations of His people, to which they’d ignorantly profoundly arrogantly sworn to obey, in and of themselves, they were powerless to fulfill. The problem was, if you broke even one of The Law’s Commandments, you were guilty of breaking them all. Therefore, The Law blocked them, just as it does us 21st Century Believers. So God, in His Infinite Mercy, instituted a substitute ritual (animal blood sacrifice) to temporarily cover them from the penalty of their sinful ways yet affirming His Righteous Judgment! However, the blood of bulls, rams, goats and pigeons could never remove the power which sin held over our lives!
But GOD had a Plan and a Secret Weapon established before the foundation of this world! JESUS! The Holy Lamb of GOD! The only MAN capable of systematically rejecting the Master of Seduction and ruler of this world, Satan, despising the lure of sin’s temptations and steadfastly submitting to The Will of His Father (Ref. John 14:30) thereby abolishing the enmity of the Law in His Own Flesh! (Ref. Ephesians 2:13) GGLORRRAAAAA 2 GOD!
Not only was this GOOD NEWS for us Gentiles, who were outsiders of The Covenant Relationship that the Jews boasted of, but they too (who confess faith in The Lord and Savior Jesus Christ) have now been granted total access through The Atoning Blood of Jesus Christ, to boldly enter The Holy of Holies, The Very Presence of God! Not just once a year and not just the High Priest, but any one of us at anytime we need, can confidently embrace His Throne of Grace and Mercy! (Ref. Hebrews 10:4)
THANKS BE TO THE HOLY LAMB OF GOD! We, who were once afar off, are now part of God’s Inner-Circle! BUT DON’T GET IT TWISTED! IT’S NOT based on our righteousness, but by GOD’S STANDARD OF PERFECTION, JESUS! NOW THAT’S GRACE, huh? R…U…N?
SELAH!
PAUSE, PONDER, PRAY & PRAIZ!
Ann Caffee