our daily bread

0 views

Skip to first unread message

Dexu Xia

unread,

Aug 12, 2017, 4:41:44 AM8/12/17

to dmcf_dailybread

Privileged Access

You have come . . . to the church of the firstborn. Hebrews 12:22–23

Even though it was just a replica, the tabernacle set up in southern Israel was awe-inspiring. Built life-size and as close as possible to the specifications laid out in Exodus 25–27 (without actual gold and acacia wood, of course), it stood tall in the Negev desert.

When our tour group was taken through the “Holy Place” and into the “Most Holy Place” to see the “ark,” some of us actually hesitated. Wasn’t this the holiest place, where only the high priest was allowed to enter? How could we enter it so casually?

I can imagine how fearful the Israelites must have felt as they approached the tent of meeting with their sacrifices each time, knowing that they were coming into the presence of the Almighty God. And the wonder they must have felt, whenever God had a message for them, delivered through Moses.

Today, you and I can come straight to God with confidence, knowing that Jesus’s sacrifice has torn down the barrier between us and God (Heb. 12:22–23). Each of us can talk to God any time we want, and hear from Him directly when we read His Word. We enjoy a direct access that the Israelites could only dream of. May we never take it for granted and cherish this awesome privilege of coming to the Father as His beloved children every day.

Thank You, Father, for this wonderful privilege that Jesus has given us, to be able to come before You knowing we have been forgiven and cleansed by Christ's blood. May we never forget how big a sacrifice it took.

Through prayer, we have instant access to our Father.

到祂面前

你们乃是来到⋯⋯诸长子之会所共聚的总会。-希伯来书12章22-23节

尽管只是一个仿制品，但在以色列南部所建造的会幕仍然庄严肃穆，令人心生敬畏。会幕是依照原本的规格大小所设计，尽可能符合出埃及记25-27章的描述（当然并未包含真金与皂荚木），巍然耸立在内盖夫沙漠中。

当我们的旅游团穿过“圣所”，准备进入“至圣所”参观“约柜”时，有些人开始踌躇不前。这至圣之地，不是只有大祭司才能进入吗？我们怎能随意闯入呢？

我能想像，每当以色列人来到会幕前预备献祭时，会是何等恐惧战兢，因他们知道自己正来到全能上帝的面前。每当上帝藉着摩西向他们传递信息时，相信他们会觉得不可思议。

今天，你我可以坦然无惧地来到上帝面前，因知耶稣在十架上的牺牲，已经拆毁了我们与上帝之间的一切障碍（希伯来书12章22-23节）。我们每个人都能随时与上帝交谈，阅读祂的话语，直接领受祂的教导。我们享有与上帝直接对话的特权，这是古时的以色列人一直渴求却得不着的。愿我们绝不将此看作理所当然，并且懂得珍惜这宝贵的特权，也就是我们这些天父所爱的孩子，可以每天来到祂的面前。

感谢天父，祢藉着耶稣基督赐给我们奇妙的特权，
让我们靠着耶稣的宝血得赦免与洁净，
得以来到祢面前。
愿我们永不忘记，这需要祂何等大的牺牲。