Psalm 106:
44 Still, when God saw the trouble they were in
and heard their cries for help,
45 He remembered his Covenant with them,
and, immense with love, took them by the hand.
46 He poured out his mercy on them
while their captors looked on, amazed.
47 Save us, God, our God!
Gather us back out of exile
So we can give thanks to your holy name
and join in the glory when you are praised!
48 Blessed be God, Israel’s God!
Bless now, bless always!
Oh! Let everyone say Amen!
Hallelujah!
1 For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near.2 Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins?3 But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year.4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
5
Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me;6 in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure.7 Then I said, Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.
8
When he said above, You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings (these are offered according to the law),9 then he added, Behold, I have come to do your will. He does away with the first in order to establish the second.10 And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11
And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God,13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet.14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.
15
And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying,
16
This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,
17
then he adds, I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.
18
Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.
I am struck by several things. The old offerings of goats and bulls could never be enough. The sacrifice God wanted was obedience to His will (vs 7). Christs sacrifice was ONE sacrifice, ONCE and for ALL. What amazing news!
I am left with the obedience to His will. I fail at this miserably. Pride stands in my way, runs over my desire to follow Him like a freight train. But I know that God is willing and able to help me if I just ask. So i'm asking today. God please forgive my sins, help me to have the strength and knowlege to follow Your perfect will.
