Souls that revel in God’s love

Hebrews 9:6-7 Now when these things have been so prepared, the priests are continually entering the outer tabernacle performing the divine worship, but into the second, only the high priest enters once a year, not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance. We can be encouraged in these verses on four points. 1). Under the first (old) covenant, the work of the priests in the tabernacle was never done. They continually served, worked, and worshipped in the outer tabernacle, which was the Holy Place. The new covenant is established forever because Jesus completed that work. Therefore, we have every reason to find our deepest satisfaction in Him. 2). Under the first (old) covenant, access to the Father, the God of glory and father of our Lord Jesus Christ, was only allowed for one very short time a year and for only one person, the high priest. The new covenant brings us into His glorious presence by faith and promises to bring us to live with Him forever—eventually by in-person, by sight. Let your soul drink from that well for awhile! 3). Under the first (old) covenant, the worshippers never could draw near to God firsthand. They had to have a priest represent them, and the repeated shedding of blood for sins committed against God meant that the sacrifice of animals did not satisfy God’s justice. It was only a shadow of the ministry of the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. The new covenant in Jesus’ blood satisfies God’s justice, and therefore our consciences are washed and therefore drawn into the presence of God without reservation. 4). Under the first (old) covenant, there was only a sacrifice for sins committed in ignorance. There was no sacrifice for willful sin. Let these words of the new covenant wash over your soul. “For I will be merciful to their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.” That’s all of our sins, both ignorantly or willfully committed. God has given us access to Himself—all that He is because He loves us. Enjoy His love! A friend just sent this quote from Charles H. Spurgeon—Devotionals, Gems, and other Writing. Hosea 14:4. “‘I will love them freely.’ When God says, ‘I will love them freely,’ He means that no prayers, no tears, no good works, no alms are inducements to Him to love men. Not only nothing in themselves, but nothing anywhere else was the cause of His love to them, not even the blood of Christ. Not even the groans and tears of His beloved Son. These are the fruits of His love, not the cause of it. He does not love because Christ died, but Christ died because the Father loved. Remember that this fountain of love has its spring in itself, not in you, nor in me, but only in the Father’s own gracious, infinite heart of goodness.’” How great is the Father’s love that He gave us a shadow of His glory in the old covenant and then revealed His glory in Jesus—the glory of His love. May our souls revel in His love. Have you found your satisfaction in the love of God? If so, give Him glory by loving with Him.