Friday, December 15th

Today’s Scripture

But when the Messiah arrived, high priest of the superior things of this new covenant, he bypassed the old tent and its trappings in this created world and went straight into heaven's "tent"—the true Holy Place—once and for all. He also bypassed the sacrifices consisting of goat and calf blood, instead using his own blood as the price to set us free once and for all. If that animal blood and the other rituals of purification were effective in cleaning up certain matters of our religion and behavior, think how much more the blood of Christ cleans up our whole lives, inside and out. Through the Spirit, Christ offered himself as an unblemished sacrifice, freeing us from all those dead-end efforts to make ourselves respectable, so that we can live all out for God. Like a will that takes effect when someone dies, the new covenant was put into action at Jesus' death. His death marked the transition from the old plan to the new one, canceling the old obligations and accompanying sins, and summoning the heirs to receive the eternal inheritance that was promised them. He brought together God and his people in this new way. Even the first plan required a death to set it in motion. After Moses had read out all the terms of the plan of the law—God's "will"—he took the blood of sacrificed animals and, in a solemn ritual, sprinkled the document and the people who were its beneficiaries.

Hebrews 9:11-19

Today’s Thought

Even when a transition is clearly necessary and beneficial, it is stressful and painful for everyone involved... Transition causes adjustment, discomfort, and disruption… But transition brings with it an eye to the future… It leads to hope, which means to us reaching more people and seeing God’s Kingdom grow…

Today’s Confession

Jesus, transition is never easy, but it is often necessary. Help me in seasons where I am in the middle of transition and experiencing the adjustment, discomfort, and disruption that comes with growth. Help me to keep my eyes on the future and all the things you have for me no matter what.