Choices

  Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
  Such a high priest truly meets our need--one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.

(Hebrews 7:23-28)

Today has been a weird one. It's like a pseudo-Saturday after another pseudo-Saturday except this one is actually a Saturday. Holiday weeks can really mess with a person's grasp of the calendar.

A few days ago I said to a friend that I was at the point where I was willing to pay money to see the sun. It's just been so grey and after this many days I guess it has started to weigh on me. Whether it's all metaphorical or literal or a mix, I don't know.

This afternoon felt particularly low, and unpleasant thoughts and images kept pulling my brain off the pages of the Bible. With the Spirit, I fought and persevered and managed to find these beauties in the above passage:

  -he is able to save completely
  -he always lives to intercede for those who come to God through him
  -as high priest he truly meets our need

In God's grace it transported my thoughts to a better place. I wondered for the umpteenth time how this gospel can possibly be true. It's staggering. This passage always reminds me of a particular song so this afternoon I put it on and sang Hebrews 7 back to God and it was good. You're welcome to join in.

Before the Throne of God Above

Charitie Lees Bancroft and Vikki Cook (c) 1997 Sovereign Grace Worship

Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea:

[Christ Himself is our plea before God]

A great high priest whose name is Love,
who ever lives and pleads for me.

[our high priest mediates between

sinner and perfect King so that

the sinner can come before the throne]

My name is graven on His hands,
my name is written on His heart;

[we are truly known and

we were earnestly desired/sought/won]

I know that while in Heaven He stands,
no tongue can bid me thence depart,
no tongue can bid me thence depart.

[as long as Jesus stands on our behalf,

no one can eject us from God's presence]

When Satan tempts me to despair
and tells me of my guilt within,
upward I look and see Him there
who made an end of all my sin.

[our righteousness is as sure

as His--and none can remove it]

Because the sinless Saviour died,
my sinful soul is counted free
for God the Just is satisfied
to look on Him and pardon me,
to look on Him and pardon me.

[it is finished!]

Behold Him there, the Risen Lamb,
my perfect, spotless righteousness,

[He is our righteousness. He has

made us permanently, perfectly clean.]

the Great Unchangeable I Am,
the King of Glory and of Grace.

One with Himself I cannot die,

[one with Himself we cannot die!!]

my soul is purchased by His blood;
my life is hid with Christ on high,

[we are inextricable]

with Christ my Saviour and my God,
with Christ my Saviour and my God.

[He is ours and we are His. He is

our God and we are His people.]