Our daily reflections follow the M'Cheyne Bible reading plan, designed for those who want to read the whole Bible in one year. Each reflection focuses on one of the chapters from that day's readings. Darllenwch rhain yn Gymraeg.
Lord, prepare me to receive your word. Clear my mind and warm my heart. Assure me of your loving purposes for me, and speak into my life today.
In Hebrews 9, the author continues to reflect on how Christ fulfils the Old Testament sacrificial system. Under the law of Moses, many sacrifices were made; Christ was sacrificed just once. The priests entered the Most Holy Place in the sacred tent or tabernacle regularly; Christ entered heaven just once. Everything that went before was a foreshadowing of what Christ achieved once and for all.
In his letter to the Galatians, Paul writes furiously to the the church there because they don't seem to have grasped what this means. Some of them are still insisting that believers in Christ have to be circumcised and obey the Jewish ritual laws, even though they aren't Jews. While he is proud of being a Jew, he says they have missed the point: Christ alone is sufficient (3.2).
We might not be as absorbed in the details of Temple worship and ritual sacrifice as Jewish believers of the first century. But the temptation to mistake the shadow for the reality is a very common one for believers in all ages. We all need systems and structures in our communities and in our personal lives. Traditions are good; the ideas and beliefs that mark out different expressions of Christianity are all part of a rich tapestry of thinking and reflection. But they should never become so important to us that they take the place of Christ.
God, help me to keep my eyes fixed on Jesus, and to remember that he is completely able to save me.
This reflection was written by Mark Woods, Bible Society's Editor
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