Lucky? // Hebrews 5:7

By Mark Jordan | Spiritual Advisor

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Do you feel like you have the luck of the Irish?

Today’s verse makes me think about the difference between luck and blessing. We see in today’s verse from Hebrews 5:7 that Jesus lived a life similar to you, me, and even the High Priests in the Temple, all of whom had to make sacrificial offerings for their own sin. Jesus came not to make an offering, but to be the offering we need to wipe our sin-slate clean. Hebrews 5:9 goes on to say this about Jesus, thanks to His obedient and sacrificial death on the cross: “once made perfect,?he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him…” That verse belies the notion that anyone who receives salvation is lucky; no, it is God’s free gift to all who believe that Jesus is God’s one and only Son, raised from the dead (Romans 10:9-11 ). Friends, this grace is all because God doesn’t want anyone to boast about their luck, intelligence, charm, accomplishments, etc. and cause anyone else to think they are unworthy of salvation based on any one’s else’s life (Ephesians 2:1-10 ). That kind of thinking leads to comparison and competition, all of which makes something else more important than the love of God for us in Christ Jesus.

So, as you wear your green today, enjoy some unique foods, and look for a leprechaun’s pot of gold, remember there is nothing as awesome as God’s love, grace, and mercy; none of which have anything to do with luck. Your salvation is God’s gift to you when you decide to obediently follow our perfect Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ!