Day 354

Worth Dying For

Read: Hebrews 1-7

Throughout the first century, a number of Jews had become Christians. Now they were beginning to suffer great persecution and were beginning to wonder if it would be better to return to Judaism, which was still the worship of the true God. This book, whose author is unknown, was written to tell them that Christ is so central to our salvation that to believe in him is worth dying for. One can only really live to the fullest who has committed himself to something worth dying for, and the truth is that the something is a someone, Jesus Christ.

The writer points out that Jesus is greater than the angels (chaps. 1-2). Jesus is greater than Moses whom God used to establish the old covenant with Israel (chap. 3). He is also greater than the priests of the Old Testament; therefore “let us hold fast our confession” (4:14).

Jesus is a high priest of a higher order than that of the sons of Levi. He is a high priest like Melchizedek who is shown to be greater than Levi, because Abraham, the father of Levi, paid tithes to him. The Levitical priests had to offer sacrifices every day, not only for the sins of the people but also for their own sins. Christ, the sinless one, only had to offer himself once. This sacrifice is sufficient to give complete salvation to those who believe in him. Therefore, he is worth dying for, if necessary.

PRAYER
Father, may Christ be so important in our lives that we will live for him every day. In his name. Amen.