December 2, 2019
Hebrews 5:7-10
During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.  Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.
New International Version (NIV)
                Is there a priest in the house?  Do you have a priest?  Do you ever wish you did?  Growing up in the free church tradition of Baptists, my pastors did not go by the title of priest.  Our ministers were usually addressed by “Brother” and their last name.  So at my first church I was Brother Brooks or Brother Duane.  Most people called me preacher and no one ever called me priest unless they were confused.  Baptists were a break-away from the break-away Protestants who said we are not priests. 

                May I make a confession to you?  I need a priest.  Every day I need a priest.  I need someone to hear my confession and to pray for me.  In Hebrews 4:14-16, we are told that we have a high priest who was tempted in every way just as we are – yet he did not sin.  Jesus was not of the priestly line, coming from the tribe of Judah.  But when he prayed for his disciples in the garden, when he offered his own life as a sacrifice and when he sat down at the right hand of the Father to pray for us, he fulfilled his title of High Priest. 

                Through Jesus, each of us has a direct line to God.  He is the priest we always needed.  In the Garden of Gethsemane he prayed with loud cries and tears.  He prayed like the salvation of the world depended on his obedience.  It did!  Maybe someone has prayed louder than Jesus or with more tears.  Did anyone every pray with greater submission than Jesus?  I think not.  This High Priest lives forever to pray for us.

                Robert Murray McCheyne was right when he said, “If I could hear Jesus in the next room praying for me I would fear nothing.  The distance makes no difference.  He is praying for me.”  Confess your sins to him and to one another as James says.  Jesus not only serves as our priest but he empowers us to receive each other’s confessions and to pray for each other in the name of our great High Priest.  Jesus is the priest in the house.  You have a priest!
Pray with me:       
Father, we join our prayers this day with the prayers of Jesus who sits at your right hand and with the Holy Spirit who knows how to pray for us when we are spiritually speechless.  In the name of our High Priest we call upon your mercy and we fall upon your grace.  You are our only hope.  Thank you that we have a priest.  Thank you that we have a Pray-er and a prayer.  Let us pray as Jesus prayed all the days of our lives, with appropriate passion and deep submission.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen. 
This year our Every Day with Jesus readings will follow The Bible Project Read Scripture Plan.  Copies of this reading plan are available at Tallowood Baptist Church, or download 
the app at readscripture.org.  Read through the Bible with us in 2019!
Joyfully, 
Duane 
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