April 1 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Hebrews 9:1-14:

¹Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.
²For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.
³And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;
⁴Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;
⁵And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercy seat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.
⁶Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.
⁷But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:
⁸The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:
⁹Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;
¹⁰Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.
¹¹But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
¹²Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
¹³For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
¹⁴How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Devotional

As the Old Testament high priest went into the most holy place of the sanctuary on the great Day of Atonement, not with­out blood, so Jesus Christ entered the holy of holies of heaven "by his own blood .... now to appear in the presence of God for us."

We recall when Christ died on the cross, the veil that separated the holy place from the most holy place in the temple was rent from top to bottom. So the way was opened to the mercy seat. This indicated that the way to the heavenly mercy seat was now open through the veil, that is to say, his (Christ's) flesh. That is that new and living way which Christ has consecrated for us.

Now we have "boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus .... in full assurance of faith." "Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession .... let us there­fore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." "If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous."

Now we have a living hope, "which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil: whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever."

"My anchor holds within the veil."

Prayer

We thank Thee, our Father, that Jesus Christ by his own blood entered into the holy place, and obtained eternal redemption for us. We thank Thee, that now by the blood of Jesus we, too, may enter into the holiest. Grant unto us grace, that we may draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, knowing that we have a High Priest who has compassion on us, and who will show mercy, and blot out all of our sins. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

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Scripture in Devotional: Heb. 9:7, 12, 24; 10:19, 22; 4:16; 1 John 2:1; Heb. 6:19, 20.

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