“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”
Hebrews 10:19-22 ESV
Grace Perspective:
If you don’t know His character, drawing near to God is a fearful thing. Because He is holy and without sin, we should fear Him and treat Him reverently. In the Old Testament, God gave Moses clear instructions on how He was to be worshipped. The consequences could be deadly if someone approached Him in pride or insincere worship. (Read Leviticus 10:1) In the Tabernacle and later the temple, a veil hid the Ark of the Covenant, which held the Ten Commandments. Only the High Priest could enter into the Holy of Holies once a year to offer a sacrifice for his sin and the nation’s sin.
Christ’s sacrifice for our sins has removed the veil that separated us from His holy presence. This reassurance, that He sacrificed Himself for our sins and cleanses our hearts when we repent, is the core of our faith. Because we are forgiven, we can draw close to Him. In fact, those who are in Christ are invited to enter His presence with thanksgiving and praise. Our Savior graciously assures us that we can come to Him confidently because we have placed our faith in Him.
A Touch of Grace:
How is your faith strengthened by this assurance?
How will you draw close to God today?
Grace Application:
Throughout God’s word, He calls us to draw near to Him. However, there are times when I need help with this. How about you? Why do we choose not to come near to Him?
For many of us, including myself, the struggle with sin is a familiar one. Our flesh often gets in the way, leading us to humbly confess our sins time and time again. Can you relate to this ongoing battle?
Yet, once I see my sin for what it is, the Holy Spirit reminds me to come to my Savior, into the Holy Place, where He is graciously waiting to receive me. He tore the veil that separated us from Him, washing away our sins with His blood. As we turn from sin and run to Him for forgiveness, He assures us that His sacrifice on the cross was sufficient to cover all our sins.
We are invited to draw near the Savior as we sincerely repent of sin. He graciously assures us that He has cleansed our hearts from the evil that separated us from Him. This invitation is a testament to His goodness, mercy, and love. Rejoice in His invitation and draw near to Him!
Prayer:
Gracious Father, I come to you in the precious name of Jesus, thankful that You invite me to draw close to You. Jesus, Your death on the cross covers my sin and assures me that I can worship you with a clean heart. Help me know You more fully as I spend time in Your word, learning to live and love in truth and deed. You call me to seek you with a whole heart. Mend my heart, Lord, so it is whole as I draw close to You. Amen.
**Today, as you read this, I pray you will know you are in Christ Jesus. If you have any doubt, please call out to God so all doubt may be erased. Today is a good day to be assured of salvation in Christ Jesus. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with me at graceisdawning@gmail.com**