LHM Daily Devotions - It's a Done Deal

"It's a Done Deal"

Nov. 14, 2018

For by a single offering He (Jesus) has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

~ Hebrews 10:14 (ESV)

There is a conversation that sometimes happens in my family when we're talking about something that is supposed to happen or not happen in the future. It goes something like this:

"Is the doctor going to give me a shot this time?"

"No, it's not time for your next shots."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure."

"Are you really, really sure?"

"Absolutely."

"How sure are you?" ... at which point I start pulling out my hair.

We tend to treat God this way, too. We know His great and wonderful promises -- to forgive our sins; to take us as His own children; to be with us always; to give us everlasting life. But even with all of this, we still sometimes doubt. Will it really happen?

Against this doubt, the Holy Spirit says, "For by a single offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified." Jesus has made Himself an offering on the altar of the cross. He has given up His own life so that we might have life. That is the single offering the Holy Spirit is talking about.

But notice what comes next. He says, Jesus "has perfected" us! Now this is just strange. Why is the Holy Spirit using the past tense? I certainly don't feel perfect right now, and I doubt you do, either!

But there's this fact about the past: none of us can change it. The past is a done deal. It is certain, finished, set in stone. And so when the Holy Spirit says Jesus has perfected us, He is emphasizing just how sure this whole salvation process is; it's really going to happen. It's so sure that we can talk about it in the past tense. (Romans 8:30 is another place where the Bible does this.)

So our salvation, our perfecting, is utterly reliable even though it's still in the future from where we stand. We are still "those who are being sanctified" -- people God is still working on. But we can see our final destination from here. We will be perfect, perfected -- because we are the people Jesus has bought with the offering of His own life.

THE PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank You for making our salvation so sure that we can stop worrying and trust You. Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo. Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
There is a conversation that sometimes happens in my family when we're talking about something that ...