| Good morning everyone, I apologize for the inconsistency of the daily devotionals over the last several weeks. I was on a family vacation for two weeks. Also, my sister died during that time and I had to go to New Jersey to perform her memorial service. Then in the middle of all that, my twelve-year old laptop died and I had to get a new one, have all my programs installed, and transfer all the old files. But with that said, I am back on track now and the daily devotionals will come to you every morning as usual. Thank you for your patience and understanding. Our theme for this month: “What the world needs now” Our Bible verse for today: “Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, since he always lives to intercede for them.” Hebrews 7:25 (CSB) Our thought for today: “What Jesus is doing now” In the previous devotional in this series, we thought about how it is that God our Father loves to give good gifts to His much-loved children. I have this image in my mind of a loving and benevolent Father joyfully welcoming me as I come to Him, and then smiling as He pours blessings into my life. If that’s what the Father is doing in heaven at this moment – blessing His children, what is Jesus doing? We know what He did when He was here on earth – He lived, He died, He arose again. But then He ascended back into heaven and took His place at the right hand of the Father. So, what is He doing as He sits there now? Hebrews 7:25 says that He is interceding for us. I recently came across a great insight into this from author and Bible scholar Dane Ortland. With respect to Hebrews 7:25 he asks, “But why would Jesus need to intercede for us? After all, haven’t we been completely justified already? What is there for Christ to plead for on our behalf? Hasn’t he already done all that is needed to fully acquit us?” The answer is “yes.” As an incredible expression of God’s love for us, on the cross Jesus has already done all that needed to be done to fully acquit us of all our sins. So then, what is the current interceding work of Jesus and why would He be doing it? What could there be left for Him to intercede about? Ortland explains, “The atonement accomplished our salvation; intercession is the moment-by-moment application of that atoning work.” In other words, as we continue to sin, Jesus continues to apply His atoning work to our sin and therefore we continue to remain righteous in God’s sight. When you sin, Jesus turns to the Father and says, “I paid for that sin.” – and it is instantly erased. It’s like clicking the “refresh” button on your computer: You sin, Jesus clicks “refresh,” and the page is clean once again. Oftentimes we think the love of Jesus was expressed for us once and for all on the cross, but that’s an incomplete picture. The love of Jesus is an ongoing reality that is expressed continuously as He intercedes on your behalf. That’s what Jesus is doing for us now. God bless, Pastor Jim (If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00 – in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville |
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