Opening Prayer
Lord, give us truth in our heart and full assurance of faith. Amen.
Text: Hebrews 10:19–25
Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
Devotion
The curtain closed off the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle. Our flesh (our corrupt human nature) closed heaven to us. But Christ became flesh (yet without sin) and with His holy blood entered God’s presence for us. Thus “a new and living way He consecrated for us.” He Himself through His death brings us to eternal life (Joh 14:6). “Having put on Christ,” having been consecrated as priests (Exo 29), sprinkled and cleansed in soul with Jesus’ blood by the washing of the body in Baptism’s pure (holy) washing, “having boldness to enter the Holiest” we can confidently speak with God about all that is in our heart. “For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified” (Heb 10:14). He completely took away all our sinful guilt and overcame sin in us, so we are “perfectly” righteous and have the power of a “perfect” holiness. But now “He ever lives to make intercession for them” (Heb 7:25).
So let us then come before God with a “true heart,” a completely sincere heart which will hide nothing and keep nothing back, but will reveal everything and want to be cleansed from all sin. And “let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith,” certain that Jesus’ blood is fully valid for all things, and certain that God gladly sees and hears us. This “boldness to enter the Holiest” (this courage to speak before God), this “true heart” and “purity,” and this “full assurance of faith” through a good conscience – O what a glorious and precious thing this is! So let us thus walk the new and living way! And let us thus confess our hope! And let us thus stay together in love! These three things our Bible lesson teaches us.
Closing Prayer
God, help us in this, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
Hymn
If God himself be for me,
I may a host defy,
For when I pray, before me
My foes confounded fly:
If Christ, the head, befriend me,
If God be my support,
The mischief they intend me
Shall quickly come to naught.
His Holy Spirit dwelleth
Within my willing heart,
Tames it when it rebelleth,
And soothes the keenest smart.
He crowns His work with blessing,
And helpeth me to cry
“My Father!” without ceasing,
To Him who dwells on high.
Gerhardt: L 225:1.6 ELH 517:1.7 tr. R. Massie;
tune: Ist Gott für mich (or alternate hymn: Light of the minds ELH 425)