Welcome to The Safe Space!

Where we last left off in the Bible, we learned that Jesus is our great High Priest who understands our weaknesses because He was tempted in every way, yet He did not sin. Now, we discover that every high priest is chosen to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins and can deal gently with ignorant and wayward people because he is subject to the same weaknesses. No one can become a high priest simply because he wants such an honor. He must be called by God, just as Aaron was.

That is why Christ did not honor Himself by assuming He could become High Priest. God said to Him, "You are my Son. Today I have become your Father," and, "You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek." While Jesus was here on earth, He offered prayers and pleadings with a loud cry and tears to the One who could rescue Him from death. Even though He was God's Son, He learned obedience from the things He suffered. In this way, God qualified Him as a perfect High Priest, and He became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey Him.

Yet there is much more to understand, but it is difficult to explain because many have become spiritually dull and don't seem to listen. Though they ought to be teaching others, they still need someone to teach them the basic things about God's word. Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.

So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. For those who have experienced the goodness of the word of God and the power of the age to come, there is a solemn warning against turning away. But even so, we are confident that better things await those who belong to God—things that come with salvation. God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for Him and how you have shown your love by caring for other believers.

The encouragement continues: do not become spiritually dull or indifferent. Follow the example of those who are going to inherit God's promises because of their faith and endurance. When God made His promise to Abraham, He guaranteed it with an oath in His own name, making His promise and His oath two unchangeable things because it is impossible for God to lie. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God's inner sanctuary, where Jesus has already gone in for us. He has become our eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.

Verse of the Day: Ephesians 3:14-19

When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Statement of this Day:

Be strengthened out of his unlimited resources!