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Ultimate Freedom One of the things I treasure most about the Christian
life is the opportunity to repent, change, and move on from a
transgression. Part of the pain of my past was having to wallow in what
I’d done – how I’d sinned against God – with nothing to do about it (or
even a clear recognition of what the problem really was). I just had
grief, bitterness, and raw pain rising inside of me due to my own sins,
with no idea what to do. I wanted to fix everything, but how? Consequently, he is able to
save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he
always lives to make intercession for them. For it was indeed fitting that
we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated
from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those
high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then
for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up
himself. For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but
the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who
has been made perfect forever (Hebrews 7:25-28). That makes me really glad, because did I mention that
I am a screw-up? But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God (Hebrews 9:11-14). How much more will the blood of Christ purify my conscience from dead works to serve the living God! Not only has God provided the way out of sin and condemnation, but He has freed me so that I can serve Him. The ultimate freedom is beautiful, joyful servanthood. Only my God could come up with that! February 25, 2005 Mrs. Kristen Frith, who lives in California with her husband, edits Walking Circumspectly, a weblog on current events, culture, society, and the human condition from a Biblical perspective. |