Hebrews 10:10-17 -- On Hearts and Minds

"By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:

But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.

For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,

This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;

And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more."

Hebrews 10:10-17

This is interesting stuff.  It seems to start out telling us that the sacrifices from the old law could never take away sins... even though that is why they were done.  But Christ, with his one eternal sacrifice, did what they never could.  In fact, it seems to me that Christ's actions are the only reason that the sacrifices from the old law had any efficacy... they sort of retroactively made everything valid.  Those sacrifices pointing to his sacrifice, working together to perfect the repentant.

And then the most interesting part, that the Lord, through the Holy Ghost, makes a covenant with us, to put his laws into our hearts and minds... and to not remember our sins.  Hebrews 8:10-11 has similar wording.  It is an agreement between us and God, basically agreeing that he will help us and save us, and we'll accept his help, and be saved.  This isn't a passive thing though.  Like other parts of the gospel, we can't just say, okay God, I accept your help, and somehow become automatically saved.  It takes effort.  That's why our hearts and our minds are involved.  We have to *think* and *feel* this commitment.  We have to use it to guide our thoughts and actions.  We have to change to become saved.  It isn't just whitewash over a broken down fence.  We have to learn to be perfect and new... and that takes time, and sustained incremental effort, and true mental and emotional dedication.

Today, let's fully engage our hearts and minds in following the Lord.  Let's fulfil our part of the agreement, so that Christ's sacrifice will matter in our lives, and what he did for us will drive our actions.