High Priest
We do not have a high priest who cannot understand our weaknesses, but he was tempted in all things, just as we are, yet without sin. Heb 4:15
I was talking to my child the other day about sports. I told him that when I was in high school the coaches would come out on cold days wrapped up in t-shirts; sweat shirts, quilted coveralls, jackets, gloves and hats. We would come out in our sweats, and they would say, “Go run. It’s not cold.” We always complained that of course it wasn’t cold to them in all their layers. Off we would go, shivering and grumbling. About half way around we would meet the boys coming the other way. There was one important difference though. Their coach was running right along with them. Dressed the same way and willing to undergo the same thing he asked them to, he would encourage us as well. He did not let them get out of the workout, but he went through it with them.
We have the same privilege. We do not have a God who sits up in the expanse of heaven and shouts out rules to us. He did not just start the world spinning and then watch to see how bad we would mess it up. He came to earth, personally, in the form of Jesus. He was tempted like we are. He felt the pain and joys we feel. After leaving us a path to follow, he paid the price for our sin and shame.
I worked with a lady once who had problems, which had isolated her. She told me that she was complaining to God and said, “Lord, do you have any idea of what it is like to be rejected?” She said that in her spirit she felt that God was laughing, because of course he knew exactly how it felt to be rejected.
Take heart when you feel alone. When temptation feels like it is too much for you, be assured, you have a God who has not left you alone.
