Hebrews 2:17-18
For this reason, he had to become like his brothers in every way, in order that he would be a merciful and faithful high priest in the things pertaining to God, so that he could pay for the sins of the people. Indeed, because he suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
Dear Lord Jesus,
When we go through suffering and challenges, we can feel like we are all alone, but you came to earth to be like us. As the writers to Hebrews said to be a merciful and faithful high priest. When we fall into the temptations of our sins and feel sin’s guilt and shame, we can have a sense of being all alone, and no one else knows our troubles. However, you know what it is like to carry the load of sin; while you were the sinless Son of God, you took all the world’s sins into you, including for every sin I feel guilty. But you don’t stop at just knowing our suffering; you also grant us mercy, not giving us what we deserve. Every sin deserves eternal punishment in hell, but you forgave sin’s debt and gave us eternal life in death’s place. As high priest, you stand in the breach between the Father and us pleading on our behalf because you died for all our sins. The salvation you won for us was not done from afar, but you came to the earth lived as we live with all the temptations life has to throw at us, but you lived it perfectly. Lord, we thank you for this gift of forgiveness and how you made it ours through faith in you—started by the Holy Spirit when your word and sacraments were shared with us by others. Lord, please give us opportunities today to demonstrate our love for you by sharing our hope of forgiveness, life, and salvation with others. So that they too may come to know you and be able to turn to you in their temptation and have peace. Amen.
Written through Pastor Roger Emmons
Your Savior is not distant unaware of you, but he is close, knowing your every pain. He suffered to help you through your every trial, trouble, temptation, and terror.