DAY 158

DOORS: OPEN or SHUT?

2 Chronicles 28 & 29 and John 17

I continue to be amazed at how we go from long tenured “relatively good” kings to kings that completely abandon the Lord and go over to the god of Baal. How far did Ahaz go? He cut up the vessels of the House of God and shut its doors! That is a pretty dramatic statement by the king about how he feels about the Lord God Almighty.

The next king, Hezekiah, opens the doors and cleanses the Temple. The people are so joyful, their gifts so plentiful that there were not enough priests to handle the sacrifices.

The reform of Hezekiah for his people culminates in the Temple with the sacrifice offered by the priests. Jesus in the New Testament is about to go and “offer the sacrifice.” It will to the sacrifice for the “sins of the world.” That is where we are in John’s Gospel. As Jesus offers what is typically referred to as “the High Priestly Prayer” considers just some of the things he is praying for:

·         Verse 11: “Father, keep them in your name”

·         Verse 15: “Father, keep them from the evil one”

·         Verse 24: “Father, that they may be one with me”

·         Verse 26: “Father, that your love which is in me, that it could be in them”

That is just a sample – Jesus is praying to the Father for you as He goes to offer himself as the sacrifice – the full, perfect, sufficient, sacrifice, oblation and satisfaction for the sins of the world. This is an amazing moment…a moment once and always for the world…may we throw open the doors of our hearts and welcome Him.