TODAY… WE HAVE AN INDESTRUCTIBLE PRIEST

In November and December of last year I had seven physical therapy [PT] appointments to deal with a problem I was having with my heel, ankle and Achilles tendon area of my left leg. During these appointments, I gave my medical history and my problem area history. I also had various treatments that ran from feeling really good to being extremely painful. Each session also included a new exercise or two that would strengthen or stretch specific areas or muscles groups. It was expensive and time consuming but I felt it was worth it. I needed help!
 
My therapist was very attentive, a good listener and knowledgeable. I had confidence that he was pointing me in the right direction and on the road to recovery. Then the Christmas season hit and my PT sessions were over. I love Christmas, but it does get a bit busy and it was easy for me to become delinquent regarding my assigned exercises. Then the deep winter came and I forgot exactly how to do the exercises the right way because my sheets with the explanations were in a bag I stopped using. Then came spring with all its new life as well as Holy Week and Confirmation to plan. It was easy to see that those PT things will just need to wait. Here I am in the beginning of July and the problem area feels pretty much like it did in October when I decided I needed help.
 
Guess what? The primary problem appears to be in my head more than my schedule or any seasons that come my way. I would simply rather do other things than take a break in my day to do what is needed for me to improve and heal! Do you ever find yourself doing other things than what you need? I believe a common struggle for humanity is our tendency to pursue a million different things other than the things we truly need. I had what I needed but…
 
Part of our text for this upcoming Sunday’s message tells us what we need. In Hebrews 7 we are told about the magnificence of Jesus as our once and for all great High Priest.
 
23 Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; 24 but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. 26 Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.
 
Because Jesus is holy, blameless, pure and permanent, we have a place in God’s Family. Jesus lives forever and He represents us before God. He covers our sins with His perfect life. He pays for our sins with His perfect, sacrificial death. “In Jesus” – we have all we need for our lives today and all the tomorrows until we reach our end of days. It is a gift from Jesus and it is “able to save completely.” I just need to say thank you and “use” the good gifts of grace and mercy in my life. Don’t leave what you need someplace else like I did with my exercises. Don’t find yourself too busy with “seasons or stuff” so that you don’t fit in what you truly need.
 
With all I Need,
Pastor Nick