Daily Devotion: Complete in Christ Week Nine, Day Three

Reading: Hebrews 10:1–18

Devotion

Hebrews gives us another powerful explanation of the relationship between the Old Testament sacrifices and Jesus. The sacrifices had an important purpose, but they could never completely remove sin. They pointed forward to something greater.

That something greater was Jesus Christ. The sacrifices were the shadow. Christ is the substance.

Imagine seeing someone's shadow coming around the corner. You know someone is there. The shadow tells you something about the person, but you don't stop at the shadow. You look for the person who is casting it. In the same way, the Old Testament ceremonies pointed God's people toward Christ. When Christ came, the reality had arrived.

This helps us understand Paul's warning in Colossians 2. We must never allow something that points toward Jesus to become more important than Jesus Himself.

It is possible to become so focused on religious activity that we lose sight of the One our activity is supposed to point toward. Don't miss Jesus while looking at the shadows.

Reflection

• What are some things that can become more important to us than Jesus?

• Do you ever find yourself focusing more on religious activity than on your relationship with Christ?

• How can your religious practices point others toward Jesus rather than toward yourself?

Prayer

Jesus, thank You for being the fulfillment of everything that pointed toward You. Keep me from becoming so focused on religious activities that I lose sight of You. May everything I do as a Christian point people toward Christ. Amen.