Prayer for Thursday: Blessed be You, most gracious God, that again You have brought light out of the darkness and caused the morning to appear! Blessed be You that You do send me out in health and vigor to the duties and doings of another day! Go with me, I ask You, through all the sunlit hours, and so protect me from every evil way that, when evening comes, I may rest in You. In Your great mercy, save us all from the temptations that trouble us this day, and bring us to everlasting life, by the power of Christ Jesus. Amen.
Scripture Reading for Thursday: Hebrews 6-9
Scripture Reflection for Thursday: Today's journey in God's word visits Hebrews 6-9.
In Hebrews 6, we see that Christ is called the “forerunner” of His people (v. 20), having gone behind the curtain of God’s dwelling. This imagery comes from the Old Testament tabernacle, where the actual throne room of God was located in the Holy of holies. How does this picture help explain the boldness believers ought to have in approaching the throne of grace (4:16)?
In Hebrews 7, we see that here as elsewhere the author exalts Christ and shows His magnificent superiority over anything else. Why is focusing on the excellency of Christ such a great medicine for all discouragement and for drawing back from temptation?
In Hebrews 8, we see that believers have their High Priest sitting upon the throne. Dear Christian, you have omnipotence and compassion coming together based on Christ’s finished work. What an encouragement this should be to you who are reconciled to God through the blood of His Son!
In Hebrews 9, we see that when Christ died on Calvary, the veil of the temple was torn from top to bottom (Matt. 27:51). God was signifying that the ordinances were to be done away with. Still today, we often let our thoughts go no further than what we can see—buildings, people, ministers, etc. However, our thoughts should be on Christ in the heavenly sanctuary, as He is there with His own blood.
Daily Teaching (Catechism) for Thursday:
(5.2) All things come to pass unchangeably and certainly in relation to the foreknowledge and decree of God, who is the first cause. Thus, nothing happens to anyone by chance or outside of God’s providence. Yet by the same providence God arranges all things to occur according to the nature of second causes, either necessarily, freely, or in response to other causes (Acts 2:23; Proverbs 16:33; Genesis 8:22).
May God help you to grow in Christ today,
