Pastor Barry's  "Chapter & Verse"  Day 152

June 1;   Hebrews 4:15;   208/260(I);   ‘Jesus Our High Priest’

Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are — yet was without sin.    NIV

The Lord Jesus is our High Priest.  A Priest represents God to the people.  The Lord Jesus never sinned.  He conducted Himself exactly as He needed to, in order to be our sinless Substitute.  Jesus is our Example of how a godly life is to be lived.  A Priest also represents the people to God.  The Lord was tempted in every way, just as we are, yet He did not sin once.  What Jesus experienced being tempted, enables Him to understand the temptations we face.  With love, understanding and compassion He represents us to the Father.  If we succumb to temptation and sin, He does not condemn us, nor does the Father.  They do not want us to sin, because They know the destruction sin opens us up to.  When we ask to be forgiven of that sin, the Lord immediately forgives us.  Jesus wants us to know Him and the Father better all of the time through the Word and prayer.  Their desire for us to do well is sensed as we sincerely pray and learn of their character through the Word.  As our relationship and fellowship with them grows, our ability to stand against temptation gets stronger.  We know that Jesus and the Father are on our side.  Knowing that They want only the best for us, desiring nothing more than to bless us and help us, strengthens our resolve to resist any and every temptation.  The Bible tells us to be holy for the Lord Is holy.  Thoughts like, ‘no one knows what I am going through,’ are not true.  The Lord Jesus does. He went through it all for us and will help us be victorious through the tough times as well.  Living a holy life is a choice.  Your resolve to be holy changes your life.