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   that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.   
   2 (Heb 2:18; 7:28) He is able to have compassion on the ignorant   
   and on those who are wayward, for he himself is also subject to weakness.   
   3 (Heb 7:27; 9:7; Lev 9:7) Because of this he must offer sacrifices   
   for his own sins, just as he does for the people.   
   4 (Ex 28:1; Nu 16:40) No man takes this honor for himself,   
   but he who is called by God receives it, just as Aaron did.   
   5 (Jn 8:54; Ps 2:7) So also Christ did not glorify Himself to be made   
   a High Priest, but it was He who said to Him:   
   "You are My Son;   
   today I have become Your Father."–7 (Ps 40:6–8.)   
   6 (Heb 7:17; Ps 110:4; Heb 7:21) As He also says in another place:   
   "You are a priest forever   
   in the order of Melchizedek."(Ps 110:4.)   
      
   [1] For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things   
   pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:   
   [2] Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the   
   way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.   
   [3] And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself,   
   to offer for sins.   
   [4] And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of   
   God, as was Aaron.   
   [5] So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he   
   that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.   
   [6] As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the   
   order of Melchisedec.   
      
   As a young journalist, I quickly learned about the power of a "press pass."   
   That one credential-displaying my name, picture, and media outlet-granted   
   me access to meet and interview athletes and celebrities before or after   
   major events.   
      
   However, after I received Jesus as my Saviour, I realised sports and my career   
   had become my idols. Following God's call elsewhere, I lost my press pass but   
   gained access to God's heavenly throne room through prayer because of Jesus'   
   sacrificial death and resurrection.   
      
   The writer of Hebrews points out that a high priest was selected from among   
   the Israelites, specifically one of Aaron's descendants, and appointed as   
   the go-between representing the people before God. He alone could enter the   
   Most Holy Place in the temple once a year "to offer gifts and sacrifice" to   
   atone for his and the people's sins (5:1), for he too was a mortal man.   
      
   Then Christ came, our great and perfect high priest. When He died, the veil in   
   the temple was torn and the barrier that existed between God and humanity was   
   removed (Matthew 27:51).   
      
   Because our loving Redeemer has reconciled us to His Father, we can freely   
   pray to God: "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" (Hebrews 4:16).   
      
   What a privilege to have access to God's   
   throne room as we talk to Him in prayer.   
      
   Reflect & Pray   
      
   How can you make time to pray more often? What stops you from praying?   
      
   Dear Jesus, thank You for giving me access to the Father.   
      
   Discover why we pray and why it is important.   
      
   3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation   
      
   Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools   
      
   Week 4 - The Blessings of Grace Day 7 God's Bulldozer - Luke 3:5-6   
      
   5 (Isa 40:4; 42:16) Every valley shall be filled   
   and every mountain and hill shall be brought low;   
   and the crooked shall be made straight   
   and the rough ways shall be made smooth;   
   6 (Isa 40:5; 52:10) and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.   
      
   5 Every valley shall be filled,   
   And every mountain and hill shall be brought low;   
   And the crooked shall be made straight,   
   And the rough ways shall be made smooth;   
   6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.   
      
   When a new highway is being constructed, the roads crew work hard   
   in preparing for the new surface to be laid. Giant bulldozers cut through   
   the hillsides, moving earth, leveling, filling, evening the path out where   
   the roadway will run. When the work is first begun, if often looks like chaos:   
   and even after the highway begins to take shape, the land is still ugly,   
   scarred by the unsightly gashes cut through the landscape. Yet after   
   the work is completed and the grass and trees are replanted, we forget   
   the temporary upheaval and see only the   
   beauty of the land and the convenience of the new roadway.   
   In Luke 3:5-6, John the Baptist presents a prophecy of the coming of Christ,   
   a prophecy quoted from Isaiah 40:3-5 . The prophecy speaks of the preparation   
   of the world for the coming Messiah, but is also applies to the preparation   
   of the individual heart to receive him.   
   Sometimes, the Holy Spirit must do major work in our hearts to prepare us for   
   the coming of Christ into our live. Like a bulldozer, he brings down the   
   mountains of pride in our lives. He fill the empty places , corrects   
   the crooked, grades down the rough edges of our hearts.   
   Often this is not pleasant work. We prefer to maintain the rugged landscape   
   of Self, and we do not like the ugly scars that are left after the bulldozer   
   has done its job.   
   But if we submit to the Spirit's "Construction work" in us, the way will be   
   paved for the Lord to enter into our lives, and others will see in us,   
   the way be paved for the Lord to enter into our lives, and other will see   
   in us the glory and salvation of our God.   
      
   Application   
      
   a) What "construction work" has to Holy Spirit done in me?   
      
   b) What restoration has taken place because of that work?   
      
   c) How do today's verses help me put in perspective the work   
   God still want to do in me?   
      
   4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland   
      
   Luke 16:10-12   
      
   10 (Mt 25:21; Lk 19:17) "He who is faithful in what is least is faithful   
   also in much. And he who is dishonest in the least is dishonest also   
   in much.   
   11 So if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth,   
   who will commit to your trust the true riches?   
   12 And if you have not been faithful in that which is another man's,   
   who will give you that which is your own?"   
      
   10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much:   
   and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.   
   11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon,   
   who will commit to your trust the true riches?   
   12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's,   
   who shall give you that which is your own?   
      
   5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:   
      
   God's Reconciling Peace   
      
   Col 3:12-17   
      
   12 (Eph 4:2; Lk 1:78) So embrace, as the elect of God, holy and beloved,   
   a spirit of mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, and longsuffering.   
   13 (Eph 4:32; Mk 11:25; Eph 4:2) Bear with one another   
   and forgive one another. If anyone has a quarrel against anyone,   
   even as Christ forgave you, so you must do.   
   14 (Eph 4:3; 1Co 13:1-13) And above all these things, embrace love,   
   which is the bond of perfection.   
   15 (Jn 14:27; Eph 5:20) Let the peace of God,   
   to which also you are called in one body,   
   rule in your hearts. And be thankful.   
   16 (Eph 5:19; Col 1:28; Ro 10:17 ) Let the word of Christ dwell   
   in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing   
   one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,   
   singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.   
   17 (1Co 10:31; Eph 5:20 ) And whatever you do in word or deed,   
   do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,   
   giving thanks to God the Father through Him.   
      
      
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   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)