BOTTICELLI, Sandro, The Mystical Nativity, c. 1500
Hebrews 2:14-18
14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. 16 For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. 17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
Do you ever, like me, feel you just can’t approach the throne of grace? Maybe even lack a desire to do so due to sin or turning away for a time? Sometimes even an a minute or an hour of wrong thinking can cause one to feel there is a deep chasm separating us from the Lord. But the truth is…He will never leave us or forsake us.
We can remember, Jesus is like us. He experienced fleshly things (without sin) so that He would be a merciful and faithful high priest for us. We also can remember that when we look at Jesus and see His merciful acts towards others, we see the Father. “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’”(John 14:9)?
We absolutely have a merciful God.
He is able to help those who are being tempted because He Himself has experience the same. He suffered when tempted.
He suffered when tempted.
Do you ever feel that way? That you suffer when tempted to sin? I know I do.
He came to set us free and also…in order to be a merciful faithful high priest who has empathy because He has experienced our experience.
To do right now: Meditate on the verse above. Praise the Father today for giving us the gift of a merciful high priest. One we can trust with all of our emotions, troubles, cares, anxieties and sins. Write a simple prayer or journal on this. Can you tell Him something today that you haven’t before? Listen to the song Compassion Hymn (clicking on this link will take you to the song on youtube).
If you would like this week’s entire 5 day devotional in as a pdf, click below.
BEYOND THE NATIVITY WEEK 1 PDF
Linking up today with:
