Tag: 1 Peter 2:24
Our Witness in Heaven!
Scripture reading for August 17: Job 16:19-21 “Even now, behold, my Witness is in heaven, and He Who testifies for me is on high. My friends scorn me; my eye pours out tears to God, that He would argue the case of a man with God, as a son of man does with his neighbor.”
Hebrews 4:14-16 “Since then we have a great High Priest Who passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One Who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Job next testifies of his faith in God’s ability to help him by a Witness in heaven. Just like a son of man would vouch for his neighbor, so God would provide a Mediator to argue Job’s case in heaven. Job’s neighbors and friends were not helping him as they should. Satan was using them to bring scorn and accusation against Job that he had hidden sins and deserved more punishment than he was getting. They were ‘miserable comforters’ to Job. But Job again focused on the unseen realm of Heaven and God’s justice for those trusting in Him.
The writer of Hebrews mirrors Job’s statement of trust under the New Covenant of grace through Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ became all believers great “High Priest” and the only Mediator between God and man. He had identified with sinful man and experienced all our temptations and weaknesses, but without sin. We can come boldly with confidence to God’s throne to find grace to help us in any time of need. Our ‘Witness’, one like a Son of Man, the Son of God, is in heaven seated at God’s right hand and interceding for those who believe!
Prayer: Father God, thank You for showing us mercy through Jesus Christ our Great High Priest. I come confidently today because Jesus is my Mediator and has argued my case successfully. He testifies that His blood has redeemed me and by His stripes I am healed. (1 Peter 2:24) Amen.
Consequence of Breaking God’s Law
Scripture reading for July 22: Deuteronomy 28:15,22-23 “But if you will not obey the voice of the Lord your God or be careful to do all His commandments and His statutes that I command you today, then all these curses shall come upon you and overtake you. . . . . .The Lord will strike you with wasting disease and with fever, inflammation and fiery heat, and with drought and with plight and with mildew. They shall pursue you until you perish.”
God’s people were to be blessed and kept from sickness and disease by the presence of their Lord in their midst. God required them to listen to Him and obey His commands and their lives would be blessed and they would avoid the curses that would result from living in disobedience.
Deuteronomy 28 was part of the Old Covenant of Law under Moses. God clearly stated that His people would be blessed by carefully following His instructions. The blessings would run after them and overtake them. He also clearly warned them that there would be definite consequences called curses that would also pursue them if they lived in rebellion to His commandments. God had made provision for inadvertent sins in that animal sacrifices could be offered to obtain forgiveness and mercy for the one who broke God’s command without knowledge or accidentally.
Jesus Christ came to pay our penalty for breaking God’s laws. He completely kept God’s laws and was the only man to ever live a sinless life. He took the curse of the broken law for us on the cross and paid sin’s penalty of death in our place. (Colossians 2:13-15) Peter declares “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2:24)
Prayer: Father God, thank You for the blessings of Your salvation which provides us with forgiveness of sins and healing for our bodies. May we by faith experience Your blessings running after us and overtaking us! Amen.