Joni & Friends Daily Devotional 17 September 2021 Friday Message
Topic: Obligated to Be Like Us
“For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” – Hebrews 2:17-18
Jesus Christ was obligated to be like us.
That was cruel, don’t you think? The Son of God was obligated to step into cumbersome time from endless eternity. Obligated to put on finite flesh and disrobe deathless radiance. Obligated to endure the playground of Satan when he had the throne of God.
What could have obligated him to such a thing? God always has a reason. Hebrews 2:17-18 tell us why.
Why was he obligated? So that he could be merciful and faithful and so that he could come to the aid of those who are tempted.
Christ fulfilled his obligation because it is incumbent upon every high priest to know why he is doing what he is doing. Reverently speaking, had Christ not been tempted in every way, I doubt that the Garden of Gethsemane would have had much of a chance of seeing Christ stick around. Why die for something when you don’t know the nature of that for which you are dying? The firsthand knowledge of the depth of our temptations kept Christ’s face toward God so that he could utter “Not my will, but yours.”
Prayer: Lord, my flesh is weak and you know it well. I thank you that you know what it is like to live in such flesh. And I thank you that this knowledge channels your mercy toward me, a sinner saved by grace.
Our Daily Bread Friday 17 September 2021 Devotional -Move Your Fence
Joni & Friends Daily Devotional 17 September 2021 was taken from Diamonds in the Dust – By Joni Eareckson Tada