Category: Articles and Devotionals

As we approach Christmas and celebrate Christ’s first Advent, we can see there are more Visitation Principles for why Christ came.  Jesus came to make the righteousness process of the “old covenant” obsolete.  The Holy Spirit is like new technology, and He couldn’t come until after Jesus’ birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension. Our hearts were simply not a suitable home for the Spirit of God while we were under the law. Visitation Principle 17: Jesus Came to Make the Law Obsolete.

Why was this an upgrade? No longer would there need to be a sacrificial system or priests among men.  The law had served (and continues to serve) its purpose: to point out man’s failure to achieve righteousness on his own. 

Hebrews 8:10 This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 11 No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. 12 For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” 13 By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.

Questions for further thought:

Does new technology that performs the same process in better ways negate the need for the process or only act as an upgrade? 

How is an internally derived moral compass superior to one that is externally forced? How does the Holy Spirit provide an internal compass as an upgrade to the external Law? Is the purpose of achieving righteousness still the goal?

Think for a moment about a commandment such as “Thou Shall Not Steal” and robbing a bank or looting a store.  When it arises out of your heart to obey because it’s coming from God, are you more or less likely to make excuses such as “It’s okay in this instance to steal because…”? 

Does a world which does not know Christ, nor does it have the Holy Spirit, have that internal motivation?  How does that contribute to moral relativism where it’s only true in circumstances? Has the world bought into the “my truth” vs “your truth”? How does the Holy Spirit teach “His absolute Truth”? Why is it absolute?

Prayer:  Forgive us, Lord, for the times in which we follow the world’s ways and make excuses for our behavior.  We’re sorry for grieving Your Holy Spirit.  Help us to follow the laws in our hearts that come from You and are guided by the Holy Spirit, and to honor the laws of our society as a way of demonstrating our desire to live upright lives.  Help us to see enforcement of external laws is meant to prompt everyone to obey and to drive the lawbreakers to repentance.  Thank You for the blood of Your forgiveness as our great High Priest and perfect sacrifice.  We love You, Lord, we glorify and worship You.  Amen.

===

By signing up on the sidebar of my Home Page you can receive these daily “Visitation Principles” devotionals. Or they will be reposted on SeminaryGal’s Facebook page as well.

===

Acknowledging inquiries about an entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:  

• “From the Jews for the World” was the theme of last Advent’s devotional series. It is archived beginning December 3, 2023, and explored how Jesus’ Jewish heritage was necessary for the salvation of Gentiles, too.
• “Awaken Remnant” was the devotional topic for 2022. It began November 27, 2022, and highlighted the remnant found throughout Scripture as evident in Jesus’ lineage.
• The multi-faceted Interlude between the promise of a Deliverer and the birth of our Messiah and King was the theme of 2021’s devotional series. It is archived beginning November 28, 2021.
• 2020’s Devotional Series Divine Intervention began on November 29, 2020 and explored God’s activity on behalf of a hurting world and nations in tumult– Intervention for you and for me when our status as sinners required nothing short of a miracle.
• God’s Christmas list explored what might be on God’s Christmas list, learning what He wants from us. It began December 1, 2019.
• Storyteller began December 2, 2018 and entered into the Christmas story through its telling.
• The 2017 series Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
• The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times.  Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence.  His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
• The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology.  They began November 29, 2015.
• Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols.  You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives.  They began November 30, 2014.
• The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John.  It began December 1, 2013.
• The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story.  It began December 1, 2012.

“But God found fault with the people and said: “The days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah.  It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not remain faithful to my covenant, and I turned away from them, declares the Lord.”  Hebrews 8:8-9

External motivations eventually fail.  We can get tired, fail to see the point over time, view the external reward as insufficient, or give up in the face of external obstacles.  The end result is always the same: we don’t remain faithful.

Visitation Principle 16: Jesus Came to Give a New Covenant

Jesus fulfilled all that law and by doing so, He ushered in a new covenant, one with internal inspiration. 

Questions for further thought:

Read Jeremiah 31:33 “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the LORD. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 34 No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the LORD,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the LORD. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”  How was the law put in our minds, but written on our hearts?

Read Ezekiel 36: 26 “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.”  What difference does the Holy Spirit make?

Why could the Holy Spirit NOT come before Jesus’ ascension? John 20:17 Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'” What happened at Jesus’ ascension?

The Ascension of Christ is often overlooked, treated as a blip between the Resurrection and Return.  But Jesus did something very important at His Ascension.  Read Acts 1:4-10.  These are the last words of Christ before He ascended to the Father.

Prayer: We praise You, Lord Jesus for being the perfect sacrifice, offered directly to the Father by You, our Great High Priest.  We praise You for being the perfect spotless Lamb and perfect, sinless Son of God, Son of Man.  May we never overlook the important work You did on our behalf.  May praise of You be continually on our lips and Your Spirit guide our steps this day and always.  Amen.

===

By signing up on the sidebar of my Home Page you can receive these daily “Visitation Principles” devotionals. Or they will be reposted on SeminaryGal’s Facebook page as well.

===

Acknowledging inquiries about an entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:  

• “From the Jews for the World” was the theme of last Advent’s devotional series. It is archived beginning December 3, 2023, and explored how Jesus’ Jewish heritage was necessary for the salvation of Gentiles, too.
• “Awaken Remnant” was the devotional topic for 2022. It began November 27, 2022, and highlighted the remnant found throughout Scripture as evident in Jesus’ lineage.
• The multi-faceted Interlude between the promise of a Deliverer and the birth of our Messiah and King was the theme of 2021’s devotional series. It is archived beginning November 28, 2021.
• 2020’s Devotional Series Divine Intervention began on November 29, 2020 and explored God’s activity on behalf of a hurting world and nations in tumult– Intervention for you and for me when our status as sinners required nothing short of a miracle.
• God’s Christmas list explored what might be on God’s Christmas list, learning what He wants from us. It began December 1, 2019.
• Storyteller began December 2, 2018 and entered into the Christmas story through its telling.
• The 2017 series Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
• The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times.  Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence.  His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
• The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology.  They began November 29, 2015.
• Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols.  You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives.  They began November 30, 2014.
• The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John.  It began December 1, 2013.
• The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story.  It began December 1, 2012.

We’ve now arrived at Visitation Principle 15:
Jesus Came to Transcend the Expectations of Men
in our look at the Letter to the Hebrews.

On one hand, expectations can be good.  They show a predictive functioning of one’s brain to analyze data and create theories about what comes next.  The amount of data pointing in the same direction can lead to an expectation that is highly probable, almost 100% certain.  We expect the sun to rise every day.  Perfectly reasonable!

On the other hand, however, expectations can limit us. When we assume that our way is the only way or that our judgment is perfect, we can feel let down when our expectations are not met.

If we could completely figure God out or anticipate His every move, wouldn’t that diminish God and elevate ourselves?  Therefore, God doesn’t do things our way, or in the ways we might predict as a way of demonstrating that He is God.

Today’s passage is like that: “For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. 15 And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, 16 one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is declared: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” (Hebrews 7:14-17)

First, let me say, this author who is mysteriously unknown was obviously a scholar and a thinker. 

Melchizedek’s name appears only twice in the Old Testament.  The first is in Genesis 14:18 “Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, 19 and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. 20 And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.” 

It also occurs in Psalm 110 (see below) in which Israel expects a King-Priest who will rule and judge.

The author of Hebrews applies this King-Priest to Jesus who is the appointed (not inherited) Great High Priest and the King of Kings inheriting the Davidic Kingdom eternally.

Questions for further thought:

Read Psalm 110:1 Of David. A psalm. The LORD says to my lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” 2 The LORD will extend your mighty scepter from Zion, saying, “Rule in the midst of your enemies!” 3 Your troops will be willing on your day of battle. Arrayed in holy splendor, your young men will come to you like dew from the morning’s womb. 4 The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” 5 The Lord is at your right hand; he will crush kings on the day of his wrath. 6 He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead and crushing the rulers of the whole earth.”

How do you know this is talking about Jesus?

Other high priests inherited their position and due to their own sin, they had to offer sacrifices first for themselves and then for the people.  How did Jesus become a priest forever?  Think about how he didn’t inherit sin or nor was He limited by His own mortality?  Why did death have no hold on Jesus so He could bring His priesthood to conclusion in His ascension, presenting the perfect sacrifice to God?

Prayer: Thank You, Jesus, that You didn’t settle for the low bar of our expectations but that You exceed everything we could imagine or reason about You. Thank You that heaven is like that, too. We have no idea, indeed, “no eye has seen…no ear has heard, … no human mind has conceived”– the wondrous things You have prepared for those of us who love You and have been called according to Your purposes. We wait with eager anticipation for the revealing of that day when You return in glory and the earth marvels. We praise You and give You all the glory. Amen.

===

By signing up on the sidebar of my Home Page you can receive these daily “Visitation Principles” devotionals. Or they will be reposted on SeminaryGal’s Facebook page as well.

===

Acknowledging inquiries about an entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:  

• “From the Jews for the World” was the theme of last Advent’s devotional series. It is archived beginning December 3, 2023, and explored how Jesus’ Jewish heritage was necessary for the salvation of Gentiles, too.
• “Awaken Remnant” was the devotional topic for 2022. It began November 27, 2022, and highlighted the remnant found throughout Scripture as evident in Jesus’ lineage.
• The multi-faceted Interlude between the promise of a Deliverer and the birth of our Messiah and King was the theme of 2021’s devotional series. It is archived beginning November 28, 2021.
• 2020’s Devotional Series Divine Intervention began on November 29, 2020 and explored God’s activity on behalf of a hurting world and nations in tumult– Intervention for you and for me when our status as sinners required nothing short of a miracle.
• God’s Christmas list explored what might be on God’s Christmas list, learning what He wants from us. It began December 1, 2019.
• Storyteller began December 2, 2018 and entered into the Christmas story through its telling.
• The 2017 series Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
• The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times.  Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence.  His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
• The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology.  They began November 29, 2015.
• Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols.  You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives.  They began November 30, 2014.
• The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John.  It began December 1, 2013.
• The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story.  It began December 1, 2012.

As we continue our look at the Letter to the Hebrews
and find visitation principles for Jesus’ first Advent, we come to this one:
Visitation Principle 14: Jesus Came to Display the Reward of Obedience

Hebrews 5:8 Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10 and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.

Whoa, whoa, whoa…whaddya mean “made perfect”?  I thought you already said Jesus was perfect and sinless.  Glad you asked.

Jesus couldn’t be the perfect sacrifice until he’d suffered earthly consequences of sin He never committed. That was the path to being appointed by God as High Priest.  It wasn’t just conferred like the Kingdom will be, as God’s discretion and sovereign will, inheritance from Father to Son.

Jesus was appointed High Priest, and He earned His stripes, so to speak. Suffering, obedience, and endurance were the path to being the perfected High Priest of all time.

Let’s say for a moment that Jesus didn’t really suffer, was His obedience greater than ours if we suffer for what we’ve done?  Now suffering unjustly, over and again, covers every kind of human suffering and any length of endurance, all the way to death. 

“For the joy set before Him [Jesus] endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.” (Hebrews 12:2-4)

Jesus identifies fully with sinful human suffering (all the way to shedding His blood) while remaining distinct in His divine appointment and sinless existence. It’s how Jesus could declare, “It is finished!”

Questions for further thought:

How ought Jesus’ suffering and endurance to-and-through the Cross inspire us to live more holy lives, embracing suffering for its perfecting power in making us more like Jesus?  “Be holy as I am holy” (1 Peter 1:14-17).

Is it easy to grow weary and to lose heart?  How do we build endurance?  How can we exercise our “faith muscles”?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, in this life when it’s hard, and we struggle day after day after day, it’s easy for us to lose heart.  Please grant us the endurance to keep pressing on even in the face of odds against us. Help us to keep our eyes focused on You so that we might have perseverance to the very end. We thank you, Lord Jesus, for Your sacrifice. We thank You that You are our High Priest and have transcended everything to advocate for us with the Father. We thank You that it is finished, and all we need to do is receive. Help us to find rest in that acknowledgement and peace in You. We love You, Lord Jesus, and it’s in Your Name we pray, Amen.

===

By signing up on the sidebar of my Home Page you can receive these daily “Visitation Principles” devotionals. Or they will be reposted on SeminaryGal’s Facebook page as well.

===

Acknowledging inquiries about an entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:  

• “From the Jews for the World” was the theme of last Advent’s devotional series. It is archived beginning December 3, 2023, and explored how Jesus’ Jewish heritage was necessary for the salvation of Gentiles, too.
• “Awaken Remnant” was the devotional topic for 2022. It began November 27, 2022, and highlighted the remnant found throughout Scripture as evident in Jesus’ lineage.
• The multi-faceted Interlude between the promise of a Deliverer and the birth of our Messiah and King was the theme of 2021’s devotional series. It is archived beginning November 28, 2021.
• 2020’s Devotional Series Divine Intervention began on November 29, 2020 and explored God’s activity on behalf of a hurting world and nations in tumult– Intervention for you and for me when our status as sinners required nothing short of a miracle.
• God’s Christmas list explored what might be on God’s Christmas list, learning what He wants from us. It began December 1, 2019.
• Storyteller began December 2, 2018 and entered into the Christmas story through its telling.
• The 2017 series Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
• The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times.  Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence.  His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
• The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology.  They began November 29, 2015.
• Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols.  You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives.  They began November 30, 2014.
• The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John.  It began December 1, 2013.
• The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story.  It began December 1, 2012.

Hebrews 5:5 “In the same way, Christ did not take on Himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to Him, “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.”

God’s Son??? It’s inheritance and appointment language. Jesus is not a created being.  Jesus is eternally God and the quotation of Psalm 2:7 in the original Hebrew means something more along the lines of being appointed, enthroned, or installed as Messiah. 

In context of this passage in Hebrews, the author is making it clear that Jesus didn’t decide one day to take authority and glory for Himself, proclaim Himself to be our high priest, but rather, God appointed Him (“You are my Son”) for that purpose.

It would have been clear to the New Testament audience to whom the Letter to the Hebrews was written. They would have understood it from 2 Samuel 7 (particularly verses 8-14) and the idea of raising up, inauguration, appointing, and installation of the ultimate Davidic King.  It would be made much more evident to today’s audience by seeing the various places Psalm 2:7 is quoted Hebrews 1:5, 5:5, and important context Acts 13:33. 

To be clear: it has nothing to do with the Son of God, Jesus Christ,
being a begotten or created being
(no matter how many or what other religions argue otherwise). 

He was incarnated, adding humanity to His already existent deity, but even that was necessary if Jesus were to be appointed as the perfect mediator between man and God. 

Questions for further thought:

When you see passages quoted from the Old Testament do you read them, maybe get a bit confused, or see them and blip over them, like “blah, blah, blah”?

Why do you think it’s important to study the Old Testament Scriptures in their context?

Christology (what you believe about Jesus) determines your faith.  If you don’t believe He’s God, or think He’s only partly a god, or just like us only risen to godhood, it totally changes the source of Christianity and the foundation of your faith.  How do those things change the meaning of His birth and the power of the Cross for us?

Prayer: Help us, Father, to know who Jesus is…without question or confusion, without distortion or reduction, and without misunderstanding or mistake.  We want to know Jesus and be more like Him.  We praise You and thank You for His willing submission to add humanity to His deity and appointment to carry both identifications faithfully to the Cross on which He was crucified.  We praise You that He is Risen and is at Your right hand and is interceding for us!  By Your grace, may we hold tight to Your Word which tells us who Jesus is, allowing us to know Him more and more.  We love You.  Amen.

===

By signing up on the sidebar of my Home Page you can receive these daily “Visitation Principles” devotionals. Or they will be reposted on SeminaryGal’s Facebook page as well.

===

Acknowledging inquiries about an entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:  

• “From the Jews for the World” was the theme of last Advent’s devotional series. It is archived beginning December 3, 2023, and explored how Jesus’ Jewish heritage was necessary for the salvation of Gentiles, too.
• “Awaken Remnant” was the devotional topic for 2022. It began November 27, 2022, and highlighted the remnant found throughout Scripture as evident in Jesus’ lineage.
• The multi-faceted Interlude between the promise of a Deliverer and the birth of our Messiah and King was the theme of 2021’s devotional series. It is archived beginning November 28, 2021.
• 2020’s Devotional Series Divine Intervention began on November 29, 2020 and explored God’s activity on behalf of a hurting world and nations in tumult– Intervention for you and for me when our status as sinners required nothing short of a miracle.
• God’s Christmas list explored what might be on God’s Christmas list, learning what He wants from us. It began December 1, 2019.
• Storyteller began December 2, 2018 and entered into the Christmas story through its telling.
• The 2017 series Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
• The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times.  Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence.  His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
• The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology.  They began November 29, 2015.
• Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols.  You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives.  They began November 30, 2014.
• The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John.  It began December 1, 2013.
• The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story.  It began December 1, 2012.

Let’s face it: God can be scary.  Especially if He’s angry with you.  But even when He’s pleased with you overall, He’s always holy and that alone can be scary.

Jesus made a point of demonstrating in His life that we should view God the way Jesus did: as Father.  While God is Jesus’ Father in a wholly unique way (John 20:17), nevertheless He taught us to pray “Our father in heaven” (Matthew 6:9).

Hebrews 4:14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 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. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

Questions for further thought:

If you’ve ever had family (especially a father) or even friends who made you feel like you were walking on eggshells just to have a conversation, how do each of the following help us to get rid of that eggshell feeling and instead, confidently approach God:  (1) knowing Jesus empathizes with us in our weaknesses, (2) knowing He understands what temptation is like, and (3) knowing He makes a way for us ahead of time to be forgiven?

What difference does confidence make to our faith?

Prayer:

How we praise You, Lord Jesus, for the forgiveness which You purchased for us! We thank You for paving the way so we can know the comforting nearness of the Father through faith in You.  For those among us who are estranged from fathers, had difficult childhoods, or never knew a father’s love, help us to know in a very real sense what it means to have confidence in calling “Abba, Father!” because You are advocating for us as our great high priest.  We love You, Lord.  Amen.

===

By signing up on the sidebar of my Home Page you can receive these daily “Visitation Principles” devotionals. Or they will be reposted on SeminaryGal’s Facebook page as well.

===

Acknowledging inquiries about an entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:  

• “From the Jews for the World” was the theme of last Advent’s devotional series. It is archived beginning December 3, 2023, and explored how Jesus’ Jewish heritage was necessary for the salvation of Gentiles, too.
• “Awaken Remnant” was the devotional topic for 2022. It began November 27, 2022, and highlighted the remnant found throughout Scripture as evident in Jesus’ lineage.
• The multi-faceted Interlude between the promise of a Deliverer and the birth of our Messiah and King was the theme of 2021’s devotional series. It is archived beginning November 28, 2021.
• 2020’s Devotional Series Divine Intervention began on November 29, 2020 and explored God’s activity on behalf of a hurting world and nations in tumult– Intervention for you and for me when our status as sinners required nothing short of a miracle.
• God’s Christmas list explored what might be on God’s Christmas list, learning what He wants from us. It began December 1, 2019.
• Storyteller began December 2, 2018 and entered into the Christmas story through its telling.
• The 2017 series Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
• The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times.  Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence.  His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
• The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology.  They began November 29, 2015.
• Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols.  You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives.  They began November 30, 2014.
• The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John.  It began December 1, 2013.
• The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story.  It began December 1, 2012.

Visitation Principle 11: Jesus Came to Simplify our Options

Hebrews 3:12 See to it, brothers and sisters,
that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart
that turns away from the living God.

One can only turn to or turn away, believe or don’t believe, be forgiven or remain in one’s sin without forgiveness.  That’s why Jesus came.  To reduce our options to binary.

Before Jesus came, the options were as endless and infinite as a myriad of laws to be obeyed.  One man could think himself more righteous by how many laws he obeyed compared to his neighbor. 

Jesus came so that no one could think himself righteous…apart from God.

Questions for further thought:

Why do you think people might prefer a checklist of laws to obey?

What did Jesus’ coming do to the idea of “earned righteousness”?  See Romans 3:9-12

How does “earned righteousness” differ from “credited” righteousness?  See Romans 4:13-25, Galatians 3:6-7, and for additional clarification, James 2:20-26.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord Jesus, for being our righteousness, that the Father made You who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in You we might become the righteousness of God.  Help us to not ashamed of Your Gospel, because we can see it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.  Thank You, that in Your Gospel the righteousness of God is revealed– a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”  May we choose to follow You in faith today and always.  Amen.

===

By signing up on the sidebar of my Home Page you can receive these daily “Visitation Principles” devotionals. Or they will be reposted on SeminaryGal’s Facebook page as well.

===

Acknowledging inquiries about an entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:  

• “From the Jews for the World” was the theme of last Advent’s devotional series. It is archived beginning December 3, 2023, and explored how Jesus’ Jewish heritage was necessary for the salvation of Gentiles, too.
• “Awaken Remnant” was the devotional topic for 2022. It began November 27, 2022, and highlighted the remnant found throughout Scripture as evident in Jesus’ lineage.
• The multi-faceted Interlude between the promise of a Deliverer and the birth of our Messiah and King was the theme of 2021’s devotional series. It is archived beginning November 28, 2021.
• 2020’s Devotional Series Divine Intervention began on November 29, 2020 and explored God’s activity on behalf of a hurting world and nations in tumult– Intervention for you and for me when our status as sinners required nothing short of a miracle.
• God’s Christmas list explored what might be on God’s Christmas list, learning what He wants from us. It began December 1, 2019.
• Storyteller began December 2, 2018 and entered into the Christmas story through its telling.
• The 2017 series Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
• The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times.  Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence.  His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
• The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology.  They began November 29, 2015.
• Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols.  You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives.  They began November 30, 2014.
• The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John.  It began December 1, 2013.
• The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story.  It began December 1, 2012.

Walking in victory isn’t just a matter of being appointed to victory, it’s a matter of being faithful to it. Jesus came to show us how it’s done. Continuing our look at Visitation Principles we can find in the Letter to the Hebrews, we come to a tenth.

Visitation Principle 10: Jesus Needed to Show Us How It’s Done

Hebrews 3:2 [Jesus] was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house.  3 Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. … 6 But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory. (Hebrews 3:2-3,6)

Don’t get me wrong.  Moses was a great leader.  He was appointed to lead the Israelites out of Egypt into the Promised Land, a geographical picture of God’s taking people from being under the yoke of sin and slavery into perfect blessing of freedom.  But at the end of the day, Moses was still just a man.  And for those of us who know Moses’ story, he died outside the Promised Land because he broke faith by sinning at the waters of Meribah.  He got a chance to see the Promised Land from a distance that he would never enter on this side of heaven.

Deuteronomy 32:48 On that same day the LORD told Moses, 49 “Go up into the Abarim Range to Mount Nebo in Moab, across from Jericho, and view Canaan, the land I am giving the Israelites as their own possession. 50 There on the mountain that you have climbed you will die and be gathered to your people, just as your brother Aaron died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people. 51 This is because both of you broke faith with me in the presence of the Israelites at the waters of Meribah Kadesh in the Desert of Zin and because you did not uphold my holiness among the Israelites. 52 Therefore, you will see the land only from a distance; you will not enter the land I am giving to the people of Israel.”

Jesus, as the author of Hebrews has been insisting to this point, is fully human.  Now the author shifts to the fact Jesus is not a mere man. He was a perfectly faithful one. Perfect and sinless. In that respect, superior to Moses (as great as Moses was)!  

Because Jesus was faithful to the end,
He entered heaven ahead of us, to prepare a place for us. 
The house of God’s people is built on the blood of Jesus. 

Questions for further thought:

Read the lyrics of the historic hymn “The Church’s One Foundation” (1866) and meditate on how the Church is God’s house and the perfect faithfulness of Christ Jesus is what built it.

The church’s one foundation
Is Jesus Christ, her Lord
She is His new creation
By water and the Word
From heaven, He came and sought her
To be His holy bride
With His own blood He bought her
And for her life He died

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we thank You for Your blood shed for us to cleanse us from sin, create a spiritual house to call home and redeem new people, born again out of the realm of those lost. During this Advent season we praise You for coming from heaven to seek and save us while we were yet sinners.  We praise You for Your faithfulness and showing us how to live.  Amen.

===

By signing up on the sidebar of my Home Page you can receive these daily “Visitation Principles” devotionals. Or they will be reposted on SeminaryGal’s Facebook page as well.

===

Acknowledging inquiries about an entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:  

• “From the Jews for the World” was the theme of last Advent’s devotional series. It is archived beginning December 3, 2023, and explored how Jesus’ Jewish heritage was necessary for the salvation of Gentiles, too.
• “Awaken Remnant” was the devotional topic for 2022. It began November 27, 2022, and highlighted the remnant found throughout Scripture as evident in Jesus’ lineage.
• The multi-faceted Interlude between the promise of a Deliverer and the birth of our Messiah and King was the theme of 2021’s devotional series. It is archived beginning November 28, 2021.
• 2020’s Devotional Series Divine Intervention began on November 29, 2020 and explored God’s activity on behalf of a hurting world and nations in tumult– Intervention for you and for me when our status as sinners required nothing short of a miracle.
• God’s Christmas list explored what might be on God’s Christmas list, learning what He wants from us. It began December 1, 2019.
• Storyteller began December 2, 2018 and entered into the Christmas story through its telling.
• The 2017 series Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
• The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times.  Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence.  His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
• The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology.  They began November 29, 2015.
• Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols.  You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives.  They began November 30, 2014.
• The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John.  It began December 1, 2013.
• The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story.  It began December 1, 2012.

Hebrews 2:17 For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.

The Virgin Birth is first among the many reasons why people don’t like Jesus or take Him at His Word.  It’s a mystery that had to be.  It was necessary, but it’s too miraculous for some to accept.

Oh yes, the “Science Denier” accusation has a long and storied history.  But the point is a Virgin Birth was never going to be replicated, duplicated, or repeated.  Jesus was enough.

Questions for further thought:

If your science isn’t big enough for a miracle, your vision of God needs expanding.  Why is that a true statement?

If you can explain all science or it can always follow predictable patterns, how does that elevate you to the position of a god?

Regarding miracles and science deniers, read Luke 1:13-35. How does Zechariah’s question in v 18 “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years” differ from Mary’s in v 34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”  35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we praise You for the faithfulness of Mary. For her willing submission to the will of the Father. For her enduring what must have been innuendo, verbal attack, nasty looks if not nasty comments…all for being an exemplary model of faith. May our science always be big enough for miracles, big enough to recognize You, our God, who is over this world. May we be willing servants and honor You, the Holy One. Amen.

===

By signing up on the sidebar of my Home Page you can receive these daily “Visitation Principles” devotionals. Or they will be reposted on SeminaryGal’s Facebook page as well.

===

Acknowledging inquiries about an entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:  

• “From the Jews for the World” was the theme of last Advent’s devotional series. It is archived beginning December 3, 2023, and explored how Jesus’ Jewish heritage was necessary for the salvation of Gentiles, too.
• “Awaken Remnant” was the devotional topic for 2022. It began November 27, 2022, and highlighted the remnant found throughout Scripture as evident in Jesus’ lineage.
• The multi-faceted Interlude between the promise of a Deliverer and the birth of our Messiah and King was the theme of 2021’s devotional series. It is archived beginning November 28, 2021.
• 2020’s Devotional Series Divine Intervention began on November 29, 2020 and explored God’s activity on behalf of a hurting world and nations in tumult– Intervention for you and for me when our status as sinners required nothing short of a miracle.
• God’s Christmas list explored what might be on God’s Christmas list, learning what He wants from us. It began December 1, 2019.
• Storyteller began December 2, 2018 and entered into the Christmas story through its telling.
• The 2017 series Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
• The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times.  Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence.  His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
• The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology.  They began November 29, 2015.
• Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols.  You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives.  They began November 30, 2014.
• The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John.  It began December 1, 2013.
• The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story.  It began December 1, 2012.

To fully understand the reasons why Jesus came, we must begin
by appreciating the role of the priest in Jewish life. 
A holy God simply cannot be approached by sinful people
as if there is no distinction between us. 
The Jewish people of Jesus’ day dating back to Abraham took that as a given.

Modern man has a habit of diminishing our own sin, treating God as a mere equal (if not a totally absent and irrelevant being).  The Jewish people knew better than that.  They had a system of priests including a high priest whose role was to mediate (by way of sacrifice) between a sinful people and a holy God.

They formed a pattern of what to expect as a priest.  But Jesus didn’t come from that line of priests (descendants of Levi, the third son of Abraham’s son Jacob, also known as Israel).  Rather Jesus came from the tribe of Judah (the royal line to fulfill Scripture).  And yet the author of Hebrews reminds us,

Hebrews 2:17 For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.

When Jesus came as our high priest, He also came as a fully human and perfect one. He came as approachable holiness in His perfect humanity.

Questions for further thought:

Why did Jesus come solely from the royal line (Judah) and not the INHERITED priestly line (Levi)?

Why was it more important that Jesus inherited the royalty instead of the priesthood?  Which role continues to eternity for Jesus?

Read John 19:30 and Hebrews 10:11-12.  What did Jesus finish?

What role do believers in Jesus Christ have in heaven?  Read Revelation 5:5-10.

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, during this Advent season we praise You that You are the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.  We thank You that You are our merciful high priest, having made a sacrifice wholly pleasing to God our Father.  We love You; We praise You; and we give You glory. Amen.

===

By signing up on the sidebar of my Home Page you can receive these daily “Visitation Principles” devotionals. Or they will be reposted on SeminaryGal’s Facebook page as well.

===

Acknowledging inquiries about an entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:  

• “From the Jews for the World” was the theme of last Advent’s devotional series. It is archived beginning December 3, 2023, and explored how Jesus’ Jewish heritage was necessary for the salvation of Gentiles, too.
• “Awaken Remnant” was the devotional topic for 2022. It began November 27, 2022, and highlighted the remnant found throughout Scripture as evident in Jesus’ lineage.
• The multi-faceted Interlude between the promise of a Deliverer and the birth of our Messiah and King was the theme of 2021’s devotional series. It is archived beginning November 28, 2021.
• 2020’s Devotional Series Divine Intervention began on November 29, 2020 and explored God’s activity on behalf of a hurting world and nations in tumult– Intervention for you and for me when our status as sinners required nothing short of a miracle.
• God’s Christmas list explored what might be on God’s Christmas list, learning what He wants from us. It began December 1, 2019.
• Storyteller began December 2, 2018 and entered into the Christmas story through its telling.
• The 2017 series Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
• The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times.  Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence.  His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
• The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology.  They began November 29, 2015.
• Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols.  You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives.  They began November 30, 2014.
• The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John.  It began December 1, 2013.
• The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story.  It began December 1, 2012.