January 13, 2025

A line from the John Newton poem that was on the back of the bulletin Sunday reads, "Approach, my soul, the mercy seat, where Jesus answers prayer; there humbly fall before his feet, for none can perish there."

We read in Exodus, "You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold. Two cubits and a half shall be its length, and a cubit and a half its breadth. And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work shall you make them, on the two ends of the mercy seat. Make one cherub on the one end, and one cherub on the other end. Of one piece with the mercy seat shall you make the cherubim on its two ends. The cherubim shall spread out their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings, their faces one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubim be. And you shall put the mercy seat on the top of the ark" (Exo. 25:17-21).  

This mercy seat was the covering to the ark of the covenant where God promised Moses, "There I will meet with you" (v. 22). This is where God would speak to Moses commanding the Israelites.  The mercy seat was what the blood was sprinkled on during the high priest's ceremony on the Day of Atonement (Lev. 16:14).  It represented God's presence on the earth, His throne, and His dealings with mankind.  

The mercy seat also represented God's provision for atonement and reconciliation.  The blood sprinkled on it covered it, symbolizing the covering over of our transgressions.  Only the high priest could do this and only one time each year.  How could Newton suggest that we approach this sacred place?   Simple this:  We have a "great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God" who gives us access to the throne of God.  A high priest who was "tempted as we are, yet without sin."   Jesus has given us full access to the mercy seat - we can approach it.  We can find mercy there.  Thus, we are told to "with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Heb. 4:14-16).   Just as Newton wrote, we can now approach the mercy seat where Jesus answers our prayer.   We must do so humbly yet knowing that we will not perish there.  In Israel's time, it was the mercy seat where God might possibly give mercy.  But for those in Christ, it is now the mercy seat where we have, undoubtedly been given mercy.  "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 8:1).    Approach the mercy seat!  

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•  If you are leading an SSB ministry, please send an update of your 2024 doings to the SSB office by Wednesday so it can be included in the annual report.

• If you are interested in riding with me (PKW) to Lincoln on January 23rd for an assembly in the capital to pray and hear God's Word in light of seeking to ending abortion, let me know.  

It is disheartening to see so many people in life eventually turn from Christ.  We all have stories of a neighbor, co-worker, child, or other who strayed from Christ.   Whether they were even saved is a question.  However, that connects to perhaps one of the biggest reasons some stray:   They did not develop their walk to where they were working “out [their] own salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil. 2:12).   In discipleship, the church does not always do well with discipling new believers.  We must be intentional about helping baby Christians grow and mature.  Young Christians need to move on from milk to solid meat of the Word (1 Cor. 3:1-3; Hebr. 5:11-14).  Our work, Church, is to be in the middle of making disciples.  We need to help others grow and develop into maturity.  The pastor is to be about training & equipping the saints but the church at large is to do the “work of ministry.”  That’s you!   Why has God gifted each believer with at least one spiritual gift?   To produce what is beneficial in others so that God will be glorified.   As the Father sent Jesus, so has He sent us (John 20:1) . . .  So, Go.  And, be the church.