Ticket To Paradise

We all come into this world, face good times, and face some not so good times. We try to fulfill some purpose while here but many times we fail. Fortunately as Hebrews 9:15-28 points out, there’s a way to overcome our downfalls. Christ has a ticket to paradise for all who accept Him as savior.

Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance (v. 15). The one who divided the duration of the world into two parts (B. C. & A. D.) and procures the pardon of sin once for all now acts as our go-between; enabling the power that flows through Him in a purposeful way to flow through us.

In the Old Testament, the blood from sacrificed animals cleansed one of sin. In the New Testament, Jesus became the ultimate sacrifice for sin once for all who accept the new covenant. The new covenant is like a will for those who inherit spiritual treasures.

Each day, we have the opportunity to learn from the mistakes of the past and obtain more experience to help in the future. Each day, we have the opportunity to receive God’s unquenchable love, His amazing grace, and be confident because of the unlimited power at work in us.

This day with God, let us look forward to getting better and better as we grow in grace and look forward to living in paradise forever. Like the photo below of Smith’s Tropical Paradise Botanical Gardens in Kauai Hawaii, let our thoughts flourish with optimism.

This day with You God, we understand that You hate sin and the penalty for sin is death but because of Jesus, we have a clean slate. Because of accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we are born again and better than ever. We are growing in grace and there is so much more ahead to look forward to as we flourish and live in paradise forever.

 

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Victorious Life

Inspired by Leviticus 3, this poem inspires us to accept God’s plan for a victorious life. When we do, there is peace and joy because there is confidence for an amazing future.

Mark Shields's avatarStep Ahead

Skills that provide
A service to all
And a desire to
Fulfill our call.

Blessed with the unseen,
The eternal,
And supernatural,
We can be grateful.

Cultivating
Strengths with the desire
To serve others in love
And lift others higher.

Going the distance,
Victories increase
As we grow in joy
And find great peace.

Prepared for challenges,
Stepping ahead
Fulfilling our purpose
As the gospel is spread.

Poem by Mark Shields – © 01-23-2020
Inspired by “This Day with God Devotional – Leviticus 3

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Press On and Finish Strong

Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  – Hebrews 12:1

The post “Refreshment and Energy” gave some thoughts about the unique significance of Christ’s blood shed on the Cross.

Christ’s perfect sacrifice delivers refreshment and energy to serve God so let us accept this advantage, ask what we can do for Him in return, and get-up-and-go.

Life goes on so we need refreshment and energy to press on and finish strong. Receive this refreshment and energy today from the video Press On by Building 429. 
 

 

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Refreshment and Energy

How was the sanctuary laid out in the Old Testament times? What is the significance of the curtain dividing the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies? Why is Christ’s blood of unique significance?

Life is like a long distance run and along the way, we need refreshment and energy to finish strong. Reading today in Hebrews 9:1-14, we get that refreshment and energy needed to go the extra mile.

Discussed in today’s passage, are instructions for how the tabernacle was set up with different rooms. There is the Holy Place and behind the curtain was another room called the Most Holy Place. The priests regularly entered the outer room to carry on their ministry but only the high priest entered the inner room behind the curtain. They only entered once a year and entered with blood sacrifice to cleanse their sin.

With the new order, Christ became the High Priest and enters the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood. Christ’s perfect sacrifice on the Cross delivers refreshment and energy to deliver the victory for all who accept the love of Christ, start anew, ask what to do, and get-up-and-go to fulfill God’s Plan.

This day with You Lord, we are evaluating our place in this race of life. We accept Your love so that our past does not weigh us down but the hope to finish strong keeps our mind on what has already been done and that the battle has been won. We are carrying out Your plan for our life and will never give up. We are focused on what truly matters in life and give it our best effort in all we do. Amen

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Carried to a Place of Peace and Joy

The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. – Isaiah 58:11

We all face difficult days but as explained in the post “Desolation to Restoration”, things will fall into place because of God’s grace.

Like in the song Carry Me by Josh Wilson, go to God in prayer for help. Let Him carry you to a place of peace and joy. 
 

 

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