A weekly look back and look forward from Pastor Wayne
Looking Beyond: This will be the final edition of “From the Pastor’s Desk.” Beginning next week, I am creating a new weekly communication which will go out on Friday and will be called “Sunday’s Coming!” The goal will be to get us ready for Sunday. I’m still dreaming about the content, but it will have a new name and some new features.
Looking Back: This past Sunday found us in Hebrews 4:14-5:4. Focusing on firmly holding onto our faith we were reminded that Jesus identifies with us in our weaknesses because He too was tempted yet without sin. Further, we learned that because Jesus is our High Priest we can come joyfully to God. No need to be afraid, the price for our sins has been paid. Finally, God taught us from His Word that just like Aaron, Jesus represents us before the Father. Like the High Priest who represented the people, we have an advocate with the Father. I trust you are pressing into your advocate, leaning upon His Sacrifice, and thus experiencing His intercession before the Father for you!
Looking Ahead:
Sunday May 3 will be a celebration of the Lord’s Supper preceded by a message from Hebrews 5:5-10. This is a powerful passage that reminds us that Jesus did not promote Himself, rather the Father made Him priest forever in the order of Melchizedek. What a good word to us – don’t promote yourself, trust God to lift you up in due season! While Jesus did not promote Himself, the Hebrew writer reminds us He did petition the Father for deliverance when facing the horror of the Cross. May we petition God for the deliverance we need from temptation. The unique feature of Hebrews 5:5-10 is that we discover Jesus became perfect through obedience. Jesus “learned obedience from what he suffered.” Pray that will be true in our lives as we obey and then suffer. Finally, verse 10 focuses us on the fact that Jesus was designated by the Father to be High Priest. Do we find our designation in Father God, or in ourselves? See you Sunday!