OUR FATHER WHO PROVIDED A HIGH PRIEST FOR US TO MEDIATE BETWEEN GOD AND MAN

Hebrews chapter 4 verse 15 says this;

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.

This verse considers the implications of having a high priestly mediator between God and mankind who Himself lived the life of a man and was tempted like we are and yet did not sin.

By having lived in the same mode we are currently in, the Lord Jesus, our high priest, is able to empathize with our weaknesses and thus we can approach the throne of grace with confidence to receive mercy and grace in our time of need.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHO IS GREATLY EXALTED

From Psalm 47 feat. verse 9

Clap your hands, all you nations

Shout to God with cries of joy

For the Lord Most High is awesome in power

He is great Yes He is great over all the earth

God is seated on His  Holy throne

Over the nations, our God reigns

He is the King of all the earth

 Sing to him, Yes sing to Him a psalm of praise

The princes of the nations assemble for Him

 As do the people of the God of Abraham

 For the shields of the earth belong to God

 He is great Yes He is greatly exalted.

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OUR FATHER WHO REWARDS THE DILIGENT

1 Corinthians chapter 3 verse 14 says this;

If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward.

The Apostle Paul, writing to the church at Corinth, exorted them to build on the foundation which is Jesus Christ.

The work that they did to build on this foundation using gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay or straw, would be revealed by fire and that fire would test the quality of each person's work. 

The quality of work would then be the basis of each individual's reward.

If the work was of poor quality and thus flammable, it would burn up and the doer of those works would have no reward even though they themselves would be saved.

If the workmanship was of high quality and thus survived the test of fire, the workman would receive his commensurate reward.

May our work in the kingdom of God be directed by the Lord and be work of eternal quality.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHO PROVIDED A NEW COVENANT

Hebrews chapter 8 verse 4 says this;

If he were on earth, he would not be a priest, for there are already priests who offer the gifts prescribed by the law.

This verse is the book of Hebrews speaks to the question of the role of the Lord of Jesus Christ as a priest in heaven.

The role of a priest on earth  already fulfils the functions prescribed by the law and so the new priest (who is the Lord Jesus) serves as a priest in the heavenly tabernacle which is what the earthly tabernacle was modeled after.

Whereas the earthly priests offer sacrifices in the man-made tabernacle, the ministry of the  heavenly priest, in the heavenly tabernacle set up by the Lord Himself, offers a superior ministry because it is based on better promises.

Thus the new priest serves a new covenant making the old covenant become obsolete.

Amen

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OUR FATHER WHO ELEVATES THE HUMBLE

Continuing with Luke chapter 14 verse 9, we press in to search for a deeper meaning in the text;

If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. 

The authority strata of the Kingdom of God exists in an inverted hierarchy that is the opposite of the hierarchical  structures of the kingdoms of men.

The kingdoms of men are organized around the elite lording it over their subjects as the Lord Jesus said in Mathew chapter 20 verse 25;

Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.

The Kingdom of God is structured such that the most humble servants are at the highest positions of authority while the greatest among men are least in the kingdom of heaven. Mathew chapter 20 verses 26 - 28 says it like this;

Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,  and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

At the marriage supper of the Lamb, when the saints enter, they will have to be aware of this stratification because it is understanding this inversion that will guide them to the right placement.

Those who regard themselves as least and live as servants of all people will be inclined to move to the humble placements while those who perceive themselves as great will tend to assign to themselves honored places to sit.

This will result is a massive shift of seating when the host, who invited them all, asks the great to move to the least positions while the lowly  servants are elevated to the honored positions.

Lord please help us to understand this and live as humble servants of all.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER COUNSELS HUMILITY

Luke chapter 14 verse 9 says this;

If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. 

This verse tells of the humiliation that a person would feel if they assigned themselves to a prominent place at a social gathering and a more distinguished guest arrived. The person would have to asked by the host to move out of the seat they had chosen to make room for the more distinguished person.

At the marriage supper of the Lamb, as the Lord's people arrive, we are counselled to assign ourselves to humble seating places at the tables to avoid the humiliation of over-estimated our placement at the Lord's table and having to be directed to lower stations.

This event in heaven will cause the saints to be self-aware and cogniscent of their standing and stature before the Lord

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHO SAVED US AND ASSIGNED HIS SERVANTS TO SPREAD THE NEWS OF IT

1 Corinthians chapter 3 verses 4 - 5 says this;

For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings?

What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. 

This passage, written by the Apostle Paul to the Corinthians, takes issue with the practice of the Corithians of having jealousies and rivalries over which apostle they were associated with.

They had elevated the ones who taught the gospel to them and did not understand that these were only servants who pointed them to the Lord and not people to whom they should have given their allegiances to.

Paul pointedly asked them if they were not mere human beings when they engaged in this practice. 

Had they transcended mere humanity, they would have had their allegiances to Christ alone without fragmenting into contentious groupings based on which apostle had shared the gospel with them and baptized them.

Paul pointed out that it was the Lord who had assigned each apostle to his task and those who were saved were saved by Christ alone.

Amen.

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