Bible League: Living His Word So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.The sacrifice of Jesus Christ was a more perfect sacrifice in comparison to the sacrifices made under the Mosaic Law. Jesus Christ's sacrifice was the reality, whereas Mosaic sacrifices were mere shadows of the reality. Under the Mosaic Law priests could only enter the earthly Holy of Holies in order to make atonement for sin. Jesus, in contrast, was the great High Priest who entered heaven itself in order to make atonement for sin (Hebrews 4:14). Further, under the Mosaic Law blood sacrifices had to be repeated year after year and could never make anyone perfect before God. The sacrifice of Jesus, in contrast, was a once for all sacrifice that could actually make people holy (Hebrews 10). Given the superiority of Christ's sacrifice, we may have great confidence in Him and His priestly intercession for us. We may come before God boldly. We have been made holy by Christ's sacrifice and, as a result, we may approach God without any doubt that we may do so and without any fear of retribution for having done so. Although once we were far away from God, we have now been brought near (Ephesians 2:13). When Christians come boldly to the throne of our gracious God we will receive His mercy. That is, we will receive His pardon for any sin that still remains in our lives. Since Jesus Christ by His sacrifice paid the penalty for our sins, we may come boldly before God and receive the mercy that is ours in virtue of Christ's sacrifice. When Christians come boldly to the throne of our gracious God we will also receive His grace. That is, we will receive His blessing and help for any needs that still remain in our lives. The grace we receive will help us "when we need it most." When we come before God we may boldly ask for help during the trials, troubles, and tribulations of life and we may expect God to help. If you have felt timid and unworthy when coming before God in prayer, then let today be the day you start to come boldly and expectantly before His throne. Bible in a Year Old Testament Reading1 Chronicles 26, 27 1 Chronicles 26 -- Divisions of the Gatekeepers, Treasurers and Other Officials NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 1 Chronicles 27 -- Army Commanders, Tribal Officers, Overseers, and Counselors NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading John 11:18-46 John 11 -- Jesus Comforts Martha and Mary, Raises Lazarus; The Plot to Kill Jesus NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Household gods give worthless advice,fortune-tellers predict only lies, and interpreters of dreams pronounce falsehoods that give no comfort. So my people are wandering like lost sheep; they are attacked because they have no shepherd. Insight We often create idols of money, power, fame, or success, and then we expect them to give us happiness and security. But these idols can't supply what we need any more than a stone image can make it rain. Challenge How foolish it is to trust in idols. Instead, trust God's promises for your future. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Joshua 6:26 Cursed be the man before the Lord, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho.Since he was cursed who rebuilt Jericho, much more the man who labors to restore Popery among us. In our fathers' days the gigantic walls of Popery fell by the power of their faith, the perseverance of their efforts, and the blast of their gospel trumpets; and now there are some who would rebuild that accursed system upon its old foundation. O Lord, be pleased to thwart their unrighteous endeavours, and pull down every stone which they build. It should be a serious business with us to be thoroughly purged of every error which may have a tendency to foster the spirit of Popery, and when we have made a clean sweep at home we should seek in every way to oppose its all too rapid spread abroad in the church and in the world. This last can be done in secret by fervent prayer, and in public by decided testimony. We must warn with judicious boldness those who are inclined towards the errors of Rome; we must instruct the young in gospel truth, and tell them of the black doings of Popery in the olden times. We must aid in spreading the light more thoroughly through the land, for priests, like owls, hate daylight. Are we doing all we can for Jesus and the gospel? If not, our negligence plays into the hands of the priestcraft. What are we doing to spread the Bible, which is the Pope's bane and poison? Are we casting abroad good, sound gospel writings? Luther once said, "The devil hates goose quills" and, doubtless, he has good reason, for ready writers, by the Holy Spirit's blessing, have done his kingdom much damage. If the thousands who will read this short word this night will do all they can to hinder the rebuilding of this accursed Jericho, the Lord's glory shall speed among the sons of men. Reader, what can you do? What will you do? Daily Light on the Daily Path Psalm 55:6 I said, "Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.Jonah 4:8 When the sun came up God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on Jonah's head so that he became faint and begged with all his soul to die, saying, "Death is better to me than life." Job 3:2,20,21 And Job said, • "Why is light given to him who suffers, And life to the bitter of soul, • Who long for death, but there is none, And dig for it more than for hidden treasures, Psalm 34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all. John 12:27 "Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, 'Father, save Me from this hour '? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Hebrews 2:17,18 Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. • For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. 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