Morning Devotions With Pastor Dan
(Hebrews 13:11-13)…..11 For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp. 12 Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. 13 Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach.
When the blood of the sin offering was brought into the Holy of Holies (the Holy Place); the body of the sacrifice the body of the sacrifice was burnt outside the camp. This was even true with Jesus Christ, His blood was presented to the Father; but His body was cast out as an accursed thing, outside the camp. so we read in…..
(Hebrews 10:19)…..Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus…..
And in our text…..“let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. The deeper our insight is into the boldness His blood gives us in God’s presence, so much greater will the joy be in which we enter the Holy Place. And the deeper our insight is into the shame of the cross which Jesus, on our behalf was placed on outside the camp, the more willing we shall be, in the fellowship of His cross, to follow Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach.
There are many Christians who love to hear of the boldness with which we can enter into the Holy Place through His blood, who yet have a little desire for the fellowship of His reproach, and are unwilling to separate themselves from the world with the same boldness with which they think to enter the sanctuary. The Christian suffers inconceivable loss when he thinks of entering into the Holy Place in faith and prayer, and then feels himself free to enjoy the friendship of the world, so long as he does nothing actually sinful. But the Word of God has said: “Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity against God?” “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world; if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” “Be not conformed to this world.” To be a follower of Christ implies a heart given up to testify for Christ in the midst of the world, if by any means some may be won. To be a follower of Christ means to be like Him in His love of the cross, and His will to sacrifice self that the Father may be glorified, and that man may be saved.
Andrew Murray
We need our Savior to teach us what it means that we are called to follow Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach, so that we can bear witness to His holy redeeming love, and win men/women to the Father. Lord let the love that was in You to be in us to, so that we may seek to win souls for whom You have died.