Their sins I will remember no more

As tragic and excruciating as Christ's crucifixion is, Hebrews 10 makes clear the permanent Glory which came of it. Unlike the sacrifices which needed to be made continually, His needed to be made but once. If that in itself doesn't instill awe in us, I don't know what will. It really hit home when Joe talked today about mankind's greatest need; of all the things that we lacked, be it money, pleasure, technology, etc., forgiveness was our greatest (to the few Lafayette stragglers who heard it that is ;p ).
10:10 By his will 10 we have been made holy through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

10:23 And let us hold unwaveringly to the hope that we confess, for the one who made the promise is trustworthy. 10:24 And let us take thought of how to spur one another on to love and good works, 27 10:25 not abandoning our own meetings, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and even more so because you see the day 28 drawing near.

This is a verse every one of us should write upon the tablets of our hearts, for if we think that we can do this on our own, we are failing as Christians. It might not seem a big deal to miss a prayer meeting, or sleep in instead of going to church, but we never know how God may touch us with some spiritual arrow on that day, or use us to bring others closer to him. We can never be sure what may come our way, only by being close to Him can we ever call ourselves 'prepared'.

10:26 For if we deliberately keep on sinning after receiving the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins is left for us, 30 10:27 but only a certain fearful expectation of judgment and a fury 31 of fire that will consume God’s enemies. 32 10:28 Someone who rejected the law of Moses was put to death 33 without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 34 10:29 How much greater punishment do you think that person deserves who has contempt for 35 the Son of God, and profanes 36 the blood of the covenant that made him holy, 37 and insults the Spirit of grace?

This is a verse I believe pastor Dave was talking about when he came to speak for revival. It is not enough for us to believe, but to continue to do so. If you come across someone who asks you 'Ok, what if someone says they believe in Jesus but continue to live anyway they like?', just show them this verse. God's grace is abundant for sure, but it has its limits ("Now the just shall live by faith, but if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him" Hebrews 11:38). Not to worry, God loves us too much to let us desert him. In this land of milk and money, we need to be sure to continually guard our hearts above all else ("If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake him, He will cast you off forever." I Chronicles 29:9-as told to Solomon!)

I'm finally off tomorrow, and leave the safety of my trip in the Lord's hands. To everyone else like Joe and Jane that are departing, I pray for your safe departure and return. The rest of you, avoid the outside, unless you are a winter cyborg of some sort =)
~God bless!