one step: Hebrews 9.1

By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing (which is symbolic for the present age). According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.

Can you imagine never having a clear conscience? Perhaps this is the reality in which you live? I remember a season of my life where my conscience screamed at me about the sinfulness of my soul. It was a time of reckoning that brought me to deep repentance. I was relieved when I felt Jesus take those burdens from me, and I felt intimacy with God restored.

For the people of Israel, the sacrifices made in the tabernacle of the Lord had to be done regularly. This regular repetition of sacrifice highlighted the continual brokenness of the individual that was in need to atonement and the inability of the sacrifices to make that atonement permanently.* It was as if the practices of the tabernacle said, “you are sinful, and there is nothing that can be done that will allow you to escape that.”

This sinfulness was devastating because it meant that separation from our Holy God was inescapable.* The author of Hebrews spends the first several verses of chapter 9 reminding the reader of the structure of the tabernacle. While not an exhaustive description, the author highlights enough to make this point: we are separated from the presence of God.*

The torn conscience of the individual only found temporary rest on the yearly day of atonement.* The conscience (an awareness of transgression and guilt) continually passed a verdict on their conduct.* The sacrifices and practices of the tabernacle did not genuinely deal with the sin inside of the person.* The guilty conscience remained unhealed.* The external practices did not change the person within.*

Truthfully, the curtains of the tabernacle are not what separated the people from God; it was their sinful conscience.*

Verses 1-10 of Hebrews 9 tell us three things:

1. God desires for His people to approach Him.*

2. God is particular about how people approach Him.*

3. The worship of God in the tabernacle focused on the presence of God, the holiness of God, and the sinfulness of the people.*

As we will see later in the book of Hebrews, these things are upheld by Christ, and He addresses the inner man quite completely and eternally.* God, desiring to remove the barriers to Himself (namely, our sinfulness), sent Jesus to remove that sin.

Jesus came, but is there something that you are doing to attempt to quiet your conscience? Have you been hiding the voice of your conscience behind religious activities or busyness?

Today, take a step.

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to find rest for your conscience through Jesus. Perhaps today God wants you to come to Him in the purity that only Jesus can offer. Maybe today God wants to remind you that your imperfection no longer holds you at a distance from Him. Perhaps today God wants you to worship in His presence in light of His holiness and your sinfulness. Maybe today God wants you to confess some things to Him.

Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.

Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

*Stedman, R. C. (1992). Hebrews (Heb 8:7–13). IVP Academic.
Grindheim, S. (2023). The Letter to the Hebrews (D. A. Carson, Ed.; pp. 398–406). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
France, R. T. (2006). Hebrews. In T. Longman III & D. E. Garland (Eds.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Hebrews–Revelation (Revised Edition) (Vol. 13, pp. 107–110). Zondervan.
Guthrie, G. (1998). Hebrews (pp. 280–287). Zondervan Publishing House.

one step: Hebrews 8.1

But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises.

The words of Jeremiah 31:31–34 speak of a future covenant of hope. Written to the people of Israel during their time of exile, it fell on especially sensitive ears.* The people of Israel had been operating under the Abrahamic covenant, and were attempting to fulfill their part by living out the Mosaic Law. Their failure to do so sadly landed them in exile.

Before we become lofty, thinking, “there goes the Israelites again, failing to obey God (a theme repeated at different junctures of history), we must realize that we too fail miserably to reach the moral and ethical standards that God has placed before us all. We all need something more than our own effort to connect us to God. God’s response to and provision for our failure is not to reject His people, but to do more for them through the person of Jesus Christ.*

Hebrews 8 contrasts the Old and New Covenant utilizing Jeremiah 31:31–34.* But, why was there a need for a New Covenant? Was the Old Covenant “faulty”? The author of Hebrews is careful to mention that the fault was not in the Old Covenant but in the failure of the people to remain faithful to the covenant.*

Using Jeremiah 31:31-34, the author of Hebrews provides three ways the New Covenant bridges the gap between the Old Covenant and our failure as humans to keep it. These are the “better promises” to which he referes:

1. “I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts.”

2. “I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, “Know the Lord,” because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest.”

3. “I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”

All of this is accomplished through the “Great Salvation” that Christ provides (the over-arching theme of the letter of Hebrews).*

George Guthrie summarizes the New Covenant in this way:

It is… grounded in Judaism (8:10). Consequently, any adequate understanding of Christianity must grasp its Jewish roots and the implication of those roots for Christian belief. It is about the internalization of religion, not merely the external practice of religion (8:10). God’s laws are written on the minds and hearts of true Christians. As such, transformation and intrinsic motivation form powerful, foundational elements of Christian life and living. The new covenant is about relationship with God (8:10–11), not merely service for God. Finally, the forgiveness of sins forms the basis for this new covenant relationship (8:12).

The New Covenant invites us to ask the Holy Spirit to answer three questions:

1. What’s in my heart that guides the way I live?

2. Do I know about God, or do I know Him?

3. Have I received His forgiveness, or am I still foolishly attempting to earn it?

Today, take a step.

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to allow Him to write His Word on your heart by accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Perhaps today God would like you to shift from learning things about God to spending time with Him. Maybe today God would like you to open your heart and allow Him to forgive those things that you think are unforgivable. Perhaps today He would ask you to confess your inability to achieve goodness. Maybe today He would have you receive it.

Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.

Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

*Stedman, R. C. (1992). Hebrews (Heb 8:7–13). IVP Academic.
Grindheim, S. (2023). The Letter to the Hebrews (D. A. Carson, Ed.; pp. 398–406). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
France, R. T. (2006). Hebrews. In T. Longman III & D. E. Garland (Eds.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Hebrews–Revelation (Revised Edition) (Vol. 13, pp. 107–110). Zondervan.
Guthrie, G. (1998). Hebrews (pp. 280–287). Zondervan Publishing House.

one step: water break

Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

John 20:24-29

The One Step Daily Devotional is intended to provide just one step each day for your journey with God. Every journey requires water breaks. Here is a water break for you.

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Thomas gets a bad reputation. It’s easy to look down on him with condemnation because he didn’t believe his fellow disciples when they said that they saw Jesus. We could also look down on him for needing to see Jesus and his uniquely identifying wounds before he would believe. The reality is, in the time after Jesus arose from the dead, we see several people having trouble believing that Jesus was raised from the dead:

• Mary and Mary Magdalene (Matthew 28:1-10; Luke 24:8; John 20:15-18): they needed to be reminded of Jesus’s words and see the empty tomb before they believed.

• Cleopas and his companion (Luke 24:13-31): needed to walk with Jesus on the road to Emmaus for about 3 hours, hear Him unpack all of the Scriptures prophesying about Him, and then have Him to where they were staying to eat dinner and break bread together.

• Peter and John (Luke 20:6-8): heard the words of the women and had to look in the tomb themselves.

• All of the other disciples (Mark 16:11; Luke 20:9; Mark 16:12-14; Luke 24:36-48; John 20:19-20; Matthew 28:16-17): they didn’t believe the words of the witness of the women, needed to see Jesus, see Him eat, see His wounds, and hear Him explain that Himself in Scripture and remind them that they witness all that He did.

When we recognize this, we see that “Doubting Thomas” was not so unique. Each of the followers of Jesus needed to see or experience something before they believed. Thomas was just self-aware enough to know what that thing was.

Jesus didn’t condemn or move away from any of His followers for needing to see or experience Him to believe. He actually met them (including Thomas) right where they were at.

What about you and me? What do we need to see before we believe?

Jesus said, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29b).

Today, take a step.

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to recognize what you are waiting to see before you believe. Perhaps today Jesus wants to show Himself to you. Maybe today God wants you to step out and believe. Perhaps today God wants you to forgive yourself for needing to seek more before you find.

Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.

Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus. Take a water break… we all get thirsty.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

one step: Hebrews 7.3

For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.

What happens when a pastor dies? A lot happens, but from a service perspective, their ministry ends.* This was the case for every single priest in the Old Testament Temple.* Their role as intermediary between God and man as well as their role as priest who made the sacrifices necessary to atone for the sins of the people had to be passed along to another at the end of their life.*

This is not the case for Jesus. Jesus, being eternal, never has to pass His priestly duties on to another.* His role and His work has no end.* This reality provides a tremendous and incomparable security to those who place their trust in Him.*

Interestingly, verse 22 describes Jesus as the guarantor of the covenant. How can this be? A guarantor is one who sees to it that a covenant is fulfilled.* The priests of the Old Testament did not do this.* At best, one might say that the priests played the role of mediator of the covenant.* Jesus can do what they could not because there is no end to His priesthood.* He remains forever and can therefore guarantee the results of the covenant between God and man.*

Furthermore, Jesus did something completely unique: He offered Himself as a spotless sacrifice. Can you imagine being an Israeli in the Old Testament, bringing your lamb for a sacrifice, and the priest offering himself instead? That would be wild, and that’s what Jesus did! But, unlike a lamb, His sacrifice took care of the sins of the world completely and forever.

No one else could do what Christ did. Hence, Hebrews 7 refers to the hope that Jesus brings and the covenant He guarantees as “better.”

The ministry of Jesus never ends, and it is better, indeed.

Today, take a step.

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to rest in the security that He has taken care of your sin (past, present, and future) permanently. Perhaps God wants you to remember the sacrifice of Jesus and how amazing it was! Maybe God wants you to remember that Jesus lives forever so that we can too, and this is better.

Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.

Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

*Stedman, R. C. (1992). Hebrews (Heb 7:20–28). IVP Academic.
Grindheim, S. (2023). The Letter to the Hebrews (D. A. Carson, Ed.; pp. 366–367). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
France, R. T. (2006). Hebrews. In T. Longman III & D. E. Garland (Eds.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Hebrews–Revelation (Revised Edition) (Vol. 13, pp. 98–100). Zondervan.
Guthrie, G. (1998). Hebrews (pp. 267, 276). Zondervan Publishing House.

one step: Hebrews 7.2

Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.

Something new was birthed through Jesus, but something old was upheld. Hebrews 7 establishes that Jesus, of the order of Melchizedek, is superior to the Levitical priests of the Old Testament.* His new priesthood is eternal, and it accomplishes something that the Levitical priesthood could not: perfection.*

The perfection that Jesus helps humanity to achieve here on earth is not a status of faultlessness.* Meaning, people do not cease sinning the moment that they receive Christ as their High Priest and sacrifice for sin.* The perfection that the author of Hebrews refers to involves obtaining a goal completely.* This is the new thing that Christ births: the ability to obtain the goal completely. So what is that goal?

The goal that Christ successfully helps humanity achieve is the old thing that he upholds: relationship with God.*

It’s easy to think of the Old Testament as all about the law. We read the laws and think of them as a list of things to achieve. While the law does show us how to please God (which is still a goal for those who love God), it was never intended to be the goal.* The old goal that Jesus upholds is that of relationship.

The purpose of the law in the Old Testament was to notify people that they needed to go to the priests to make sacrifice.* The law shows us that we aren’t good enough (none of us can successfully achieve every law all of the time).* This sacrifices of the Old Testament intended to re-establish good relationship with God.* Hebrews 7 tells us that these sacrifices were temporary and insufficient, requiring continual sacrifices to no end.*

Jesus does what the old priesthood could not: He permanently takes care of our inability to measure up to those things that please God (the law) by doing so Himself and making Himself the sacrifice.* He permanently establishes the goal of God: relationship.*

Today, take a step.

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to lay down your desire to perfectly perform those things that you think will please God. Perhaps today God wants you to breathe in afresh the goodness and permanence of the gift and work of Jesus Christ. Maybe today God would have you repent for making the goal of life what it was never meant to be: performance.

Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.

Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

*Stedman, R. C. (1992). Hebrews (Heb 7:4–19). IVP Academic.
Grindheim, S. (2023). The Letter to the Hebrews (D. A. Carson, Ed.; pp. 350–358). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
France, R. T. (2006). Hebrews. In T. Longman III & D. E. Garland (Eds.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Hebrews–Revelation (Revised Edition) (Vol. 13, pp. 94–96). Zondervan.
Guthrie, G. (1998). Hebrews (pp. 264-266, 271-272, 276). Zondervan Publishing House.