Hebrews 10:19-25; Psalm 123

Hebrews 10:19-25
v. 19 begins a contrast to what has come before in Hebrews. The writer has shown that Jesus has replaced the Old Testament system; He has finished the work He came to do; He has met the Father's demand for a perfect sacrifice; He sits at the Father's right hand acting as our High Priest; and if we're trusting Jesus and what He did, He will remember our sins against us no more! Wow! So that's all settled.

And so, dear brothers and sisters, because of all this, we can boldly enter heaven's Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. v. 19 Jesus' death removed the barrier between God and man and  has opened the way for us to go directly into God's presence with sincere hearts fully trusting Him. "For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ's blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water." v. 23 We do not come lightly into God's presence. We have "sincere hearts fully trust Him." v. 22  This wonderful privilege is not because we are good or because we have earned the privilege. Rather, it is totally and completely because what Jesus did for us. His blood has washed us clean.

We don't have to be plagued with doubts about our salvation or about our privilege of coming in prayer to God, because "God can be trusted to keep his promise." v. 23 As believers, our job is to encourage one another "to acts of love and good works." v. 24 And we should not neglect meeting and worshiping together. v. 25  God never intended for His children to neglect gathering together. This is how we are nourished and strengthened. Of course the church is not perfect because it is made up of imperfect people (including ourselves!). Let's be generous in our relationships with other believers as God has been generous with us. After all, we're a family, and we must stick together.

Psalm 123
Let's face it. The world, in many cases, does not love God's people! When we affirm that we believe God's Word and we trust in Christ as our Savior, we may be ridiculed or scorned. In many places in the world, including the Middle East, Christians face a much, much harsher enemy. Even their lives are endangered. No matter what is going on, we must look to God for mercy and help. If we focus on the enemy, we will be disheartened. Our help comes from the Lord, and we must continue to trust Him.