May 15, 2025 | Be God's Family
Making Sacrifice for Their Own Sins
Scripture: Hebrews 5:1-3(NIV)
1 Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. 3 This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people.
Devotional
Hebrews 5:1-3 tells us that the Hebrews used a high priest to be their advocate and through him they offered sacrifices for their sins and then he asked God to forgive them.
In the Old Testament, the Hebrews selected a high priest, from among their people, to represent them in matters related to God. The Hebrews were required to offer a proper sacrifice to allow the high priest to ask God for their forgiveness.
In the New Testament, the perfect sinless Christ gave up his life as a sacrifice for all our sins. Christ became an advocate for both you and me that we might be forgiven. He was perfect. He was the ultimate sacrificial lamb, as the Lamb of God.
One of the most special times for me is during our church Communion Service. This is a time that I feel called to confess my sins and ask for forgiveness from God. When I partake of the symbolic Body of Christ and drink the symbolic blood of Christ, I recognize his sacrifice for me. I feel guilt lifted as he forgives me. The hard part, after that, is I know he is calling me to repent and to not repeat my sin(s).
Jesus Christ followed God’s will to make that sacrifice. I cannot fathom the pain and agony he went through to offer himself as a pure sacrifice for the sins of all mankind. Just as the Hebrews looked to God for forgiveness as they made their animal sacrifices, Jesus advocates for you and for me to ask God to forgive us. I don’t know of any other person that would take on that responsibility for me. I will be forever grateful. The hard part for me to understand is that he sacrificed himself for people who have offended me, for people who have hurt me, for people that I must forgive if I expect him to forgive me.
Remember, the next time someone cuts you off in traffic, that Jesus died for them too! Then, forgive them. We have been given the power to give that forgiveness. As Jesus Christ loves the imperfect me, I am called to love other imperfect people. It’s hard to remember that sometimes, but Christ calls us to remember. Communion is one of the times that our focus is completely on him, our Savior, and at that time we are called to remember his perfect sacrifice.
Poem
My Ephod
Exodus 28:1-43
Engrave the names of the sons of Israel on the two stones the way a gem cutter engraves a seal. Then mount the stones in gold filigree settings and fasten them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel. Aaron is to bear the names on his shoulders as a memorial before the Lord.
Exodus 28: 11-12
“As High Priest like Melchizedek
My ephod heavy be
It has engraved upon each stone
Those God has given me
I’ve made a yoke to carry all
Names etched upon my palms
Where nails and blood have sealed their hope
Each promise given, stands
This yoke for me is easy
This burden carried, light
For it is Love which bears the load;
Each precious in my sight
“With others, I have shared this task
My intercessors, they
My faithful under-shepherd ones
Whom I have taught to pray
They, too, wear ephods I have giv’n
With easy yokes from me
Well fitted for the carrying
Whate’er the burdens be
For it is I who strengthen each--
The under-shepherds’ hearts--
For it is I who minister
By setting them apart
“With gifts of love and faithfulness
My ephod bearing priests
Anoint the frail and tend the sick
Prepare my vict’ry’s feast
They suffer not the little ones
But bring them unto me
They speak the truth, despite all odds
Their rest, only in me
And one day, all these ephods borne
Will fall from shoulders strong
And be replace with golden crowns
And accolade, ‘Well done!’”
