During this Thanksgiving time of year I want to thank God everyday for His goodness poured out on my life. I will not forget to praise Him. He deserves continuous honor forever for who He is. He is the creator of all. Everything the eye can see was created by Him in the beginning of time. He is the Lord Almighty, ruler of everything.

Psalm 106:

I’m thankful to God and excited to learn from the Bible this morning something I’ve overlooked all through the years.

All through the decades of my Christian life, I’ve heard heard the name Melchizedek. But I didn’t realize the details that link him to Jesus. Melchizedek lived when Abraham lived. He was not in the lineage of the Levi family. He was before! He was a king and a priest. His name means king of Justice and king of peace. After winning a battle, Abraham tithed and gave to this king. The book of Hebrews says several times Jesus is a priest after the order of Melchizedek. And, Wow!, even David prophesied that Jesus was a priest like this man.

I give all those details to proclaim this amazing truth, even in the day of Abraham, when God was giving Abraham great and new promises, He had in mind that non-Jewish people like me could have a relationship with God!

Hebrews 7:

7 This Melchizedek was king of the city of Salem and also a priest of God Most High. When Abraham was returning home after winning a great battle against the kings, Melchizedek met him and blessed him. ² Then Abraham took a tenth of all he had captured in battle and gave it to Melchizedek. The name Melchizedek means “king of justice,” and king of Salem means “king of peace.” ³ There is no record of his father or mother or any of his ancestors—no beginning or end to his life. He remains a priest forever, resembling the Son of God.

⁴ Consider then how great this Melchizedek was. Even Abraham, the great patriarch of Israel, recognized this by giving him a tenth of what he had taken in battle. ⁵ Now the law of Moses required that the priests, who are descendants of Levi, must collect a tithe from the rest of the people of Israel,^[a] who are also descendants of Abraham. ⁶ But Melchizedek, who was not a descendant of Levi, collected a tenth from Abraham. And Melchizedek placed a blessing upon Abraham, the one who had already received the promises of God. ⁷ And without question, the person who has the power to give a blessing is greater than the one who is blessed.

⁸ The priests who collect tithes are men who die, so Melchizedek is greater than they are, because we are told that he lives on. ⁹ In addition, we might even say that these Levites—the ones who collect the tithe—paid a tithe to Melchizedek when their ancestor Abraham paid a tithe to him. ¹⁰ For although Levi wasn’t born yet, the seed from which he came was in Abraham’s body when Melchizedek collected the tithe from him.

¹¹ So if the priesthood of Levi, on which the law was based, could have achieved the perfection God intended, why did God need to establish a different priesthood, with a priest in the order of Melchizedek instead of the order of Levi and Aaron?^[b]

¹² And if the priesthood is changed, the law must also be changed to permit it.¹³ For the priest we are talking about belongs to a different tribe, whose members have never served at the altar as priests. ¹⁴ What I mean is, our Lord came from the tribe of Judah, and Moses never mentioned priests coming from that tribe.

¹⁴ What I mean is, our Lord came from the tribe of Judah, and Moses never mentioned priests coming from that tribe.

¹⁵ This change has been made very clear since a different priest, who is like Melchizedek, has appeared. ¹⁶ Jesus became a priest, not by meeting the physical requirement of belonging to the tribe of Levi, but by the power of a life that cannot be destroyed. ¹⁷ And the psalmist pointed this out when he prophesied,

I am thankful that God has better things meant for all Christians who faithfully do what He wants us to do day by day.

We are meant for better things in life such as being greatly blessed. For example, God promised Abraham He would be blessed with descendants beyond number. He had one son in his old age named Isaac. God continues to bless Abraham with descendants today. Jesus is in the lineage of Abraham and as Christians we are joint heirs with him and we are one of many of the descendants of Abraham. God has abundantly blessed Abraham and He blesses faithful Christians today.

Hebrews 6:

⁹ Dear friends, even though we are talking this way, we really don’t believe it applies to you. We are confident that you are meant for better things, things that come with salvation. ¹⁰ For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do.¹¹ Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. ¹² Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and endurance.

¹³ For example, there was God’s promise to Abraham. Since there was no one greater to swear by, God took an oath in his own name, saying:

¹⁵ Then Abraham waited patiently, and he received what God had promised.

¹⁶ Now when people take an oath, they call on someone greater than themselves to hold them to it. And without any question that oath is binding. ¹⁷ God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind. ¹⁸ So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. ¹⁹ This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary. ²⁰ Jesus has already gone in there for us. He has become our eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.

I’m thankful this day that Jesus is my high priest. He goes before God in my behalf. He represents me and covers for the sin and mistakes I makes.

Hebrews 5:

Every high priest is a man chosen to represent other people in their dealings with God. He presents their gifts to God and offers sacrifices for their sins.² And he is able to deal gently with ignorant and wayward people because he himself is subject to the same weaknesses. ³ That is why he must offer sacrifices for his own sins as well as theirs.

⁴ And no one can become a high priest simply because he wants such an honor. He must be called by God for this work, just as Aaron was. ⁵ That is why Christ did not honor himself by assuming he could become High Priest. No, he was chosen by God, who said to him,

⁶ And in another passage God said to him,

⁷ While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God. ⁸ Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. ⁹ In this way, God qualified him as a perfect High Priest, and he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him. ¹⁰ And God designated him to be a High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.

I’m glad this verse is in the Bible. I believe it and say God’s Word in my daily life and over my family.

Hebrews 4:

¹² For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. ¹³ Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.

¹⁴ So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. ¹⁵ This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. ¹⁶ So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

Psalm 103 was a Psalm that was written by David. What a great idea to start the day praying the promises of this Psalm over your family! It has 22 verses. Just the first five are filled with some awesome promises!

Psalm 103:

Let all that I am praise the Lord;
    with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.
² Let all that I am praise the Lord;
    may I never forget the good things he does for me.
³ He forgives all my sins
    and heals all my diseases.
⁴ He redeems me from death
    and crowns me with love and tender mercies.
⁵ He fills my life with good things.
    My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!

The earth will wear out just like the human body does. So when I see stories of icebergs melting on the news I tell myself global warming can be a part of the earth wearing down. The Bible tells us twice, once in the Old Testament and then repeats it in the New Testament that the earth will wear down.

Psalm 102:

25 Long ago you laid the foundation of the earth
    and made the heavens with your hands.
²⁶ They will perish, but you remain forever;
    they will wear out like old clothing.
You will change them like a garment
    and discard them.
²⁷ But you are always the same;
    you will live forever.

Hebrews 1:

He also says to the Son,

Paul was in prison because he preached the Gospel. He was mentoring a younger man named Onesimus. Paul sent a letter to a trusted friend named Philemon asking him to welcome Philemon into his home and help him out. Although Paul was in prison, he didn’t consider that of most importance. Instead he gladly focused on his friends and fellow co-workers for God.

Philemon 1:

¹⁰ I appeal to you to show kindness to my child, Onesimus. I became his father in the faith while here in prison.¹¹ Onesimus hasn’t been of much use to you in the past, but now he is very useful to both of us. ¹² I am sending him back to you, and with him comes my own heart.

¹³ I wanted to keep him here with me while I am in these chains for preaching the Good News, and he would have helped me on your behalf. ¹⁴ But I didn’t want to do anything without your consent. I wanted you to help because you were willing, not because you were forced. ¹⁵ It seems you lost Onesimus for a little while so that you could have him back forever. ¹⁶ He is no longer like a slave to you. He is more than a slave, for he is a beloved brother, especially to me. Now he will mean much more to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord.

¹⁷ So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. ¹⁸ If he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to me. ¹⁹ I, PAUL, WRITE THIS WITH MY OWN HAND: I WILL REPAY IT. AND I WON’T MENTION THAT YOU OWE ME YOUR VERY SOUL!

²⁰ Yes, my brother, please do me this favor^[d] for the Lord’s sake. Give me this encouragement in Christ.

²¹ I am confident as I write this letter that you will do what I ask and even more! ²² One more thing—please prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping that God will answer your prayers and let me return to you soon.

By God’s grace, mercy and great love He saved us through His son Jesus and generously poured out the Holy Spirit to help us live right. 

Titus 3:

⁴ But—

⁸ This is a trustworthy saying, and I want you to insist on these teachings so that all who trust in God will devote themselves to doing good. These teachings are good and beneficial for everyone.

God is mighty, powerful and sinless. He created and sustains all existence. He should be greatly honored.

Psalm 99:

Let them praise your great and awesome name.
    Your name is holy!
⁴ Mighty King, lover of justice,
    you have established fairness.
You have acted with justice
    and righteousness throughout Israel.^[a]
5 Exalt the Lord our God!
    Bow low before his feet, for he is holy!Let them praise your great and awesome name.
    Your name is holy!
⁴ Mighty King, lover of justice,
    you have established fairness.
You have acted with justice
    and righteousness throughout Israel.^[a]
5 Exalt the Lord our God!
    Bow low before his feet, for he is holy!