July 10 - Jesus: Accept No Substitutes

 Read today’s texts first: Micah 5-7; Hebrews 7

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life -
accept no substitutes. 

I just saw this title on a church sign and it ties in beautifully to our readings today. It also confirmed why I’m glad I didn’t pursue chaplaincy in a secular environment. When I first began to explore part-time chaplaincy as a possible retirement ministry, I discovered secular positions paid well but the cost of compromising my faith was too high. There is nothing more gratifying than being paid to talk about Jesus all day with staff, residents and family members. He is the Messiah, the Son of God, the Way, the Truth and the Life. When people’s eternal destination is on the line, we can accept no substitutes.

I recently spoke in chapel from Hebrews 10:23, “He who promised is faithful.” Then we defended that verse with the evidence of fulfilled messianic promises. Over 300 detailed prophesies came to pass in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Micah 5:2 is one of these remarkable verses, written 700 years before Jesus was born: But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.

Not only did Micah predict the town where Jesus would be born, but he described his existence as eternal, with no beginning, a reference to God being His Father. This is the qualifier the writer of Hebrews uses to explain His role as our High Priest: For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. For it is declared: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek”.... because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood (7:14-24).

“Lord, I can come to the Father through You, my High Priest. You proved who You are to the world, and to me personally. I will accept no substitutes!”