Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
Hebrews 10.19-22
What motivates you? It is a question that is good to keep before us to ensure that we are motivated by that which is ‘noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy’ – see Philippians 4.8.
In the light of this, what greater motivation could there be than the words from Hebrews above concerning the Lord Jesus Christ. Because of what he has done we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place.
The writer draws out an implication that we do well to heed, namely that we should draw near to God! Ask yourself if that is something high on your list of priorities. Ask yourself ‘am I motivated to draw near to God as a priority in my life?’
There is a most wonderful promise in James 4.8 (ESV) related to this. Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.
Can there be a more wonderful relationship than going through each day with Jesus near you?
But we may ask ‘How can I as a messed-up sinner draw near in the way our headline verse requires?’ Sincere hearted, fully assured, clear consciences, and clean bodies.
The answer is in the verse which reiterates what was written in chapter 4 and verse 14-
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly….
Because of what Jesus has done we are in a right standing with God. That truth is mind-blowing but do we sometimes take it for granted rather than being constantly motivated by it to ‘draw near to God’?
There are other things in the headline verse to which we should be motivated by this relationship which we will explore in the next few days.
O Jesus I have promised
To serve thee to the end
Be thou for ever near me
My master and my friend
I shall not fear the battle
If thou art by my side
Nor wander from the pathway
If thou wilt be my guide.
O let me feel thee near me
The world is ever near
I see the sights that dazzle
The tempting sounds I hear.
My foes are ever near me
Around me and within
O Jesus draw thou nearer
And shield my soul from sin.