DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- "LET US" SALAD

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – "LET US" SALAD

"Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the body of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching" (Hebrews 10:19-25).

When Mildred and I were first married, we ate a lot of lettuce salad – Let Us Alone. You can probably remember eating some of that salad yourself – just wanting to be alone together with your new spouse. The writer of Hebrews gives us a "Let Us" salad which has three main ingredients.

The first ingredient is "Let us" draw near with a true heart that is fully assured of our faith in Christ, and hearts that are sprinkled from an evil conscience. When the writer spoke of being cleansed in conscience and body with pure water (vs. 22), he was using an illustration from the Mosaic Covenant regarding worship. In the Mosaic Covenant, upon entering the tabernacle or temple, the first stop was altar of sacrifice. Then priest came to the laver. The laver was filled with water that the priests used to cleanse themselves before they entered the Holy Place. We have confidence in entering the Holy of Holies by the blood of Jesus, our sacrifice (vs. 1) but we don't just waltz into God's presence. We prepare ourselves at the metaphorical laver where our hearts are sprinkled and the cleansing of a sin-stained conscience and body. This is a picture of sanctification and holiness.

The second ingredient is "Let Us" hold fast our confession of our hope. It is the confidence and assurance that Paul wrote about when he said, "I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed to Him against that Day" (II Timothy 1:12). This is based on the faithfulness of God. Without this confidence, the first part of the Let Us Salad would be lacking an important ingredient.

The third part is the dressing. "Let us" consider one another to stir in love and good works. Love and good works makes the Let Us salad especially delicious. This salad is not just for our own pleasure. It is to bless the Lord and to bless others who taste of God's goodness in our lives.

So, let us mix our "let us" salad well that Jesus and His Church will be edified.

Love, Dad