Beyond the Veil

I don’t know all there is to know about the tearing of the temple veil when Jesus, the Son of God, walked among the people of that day.  This supernatural event is recorded in three of the Gospels: Matthew 27:51, Mark 15:38, and Luke 23:45.

I understand that beyond the veil—a huge, heavy drape made of fine linen and blue, purple, and scarlet yarn—was the Holy of Holies, where the very presence of Almighty God dwelled.  It was the most sacred area of the ancient tabernacle of Moses and the temple in Jerusalem.  The Holy of Holies was accessible only to the Israelite high priest.  The holiness of God could not be accessed by anyone but the high priest, lest they forfeit their lives.

Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest was permitted to enter this small enclosure to burn incense and sprinkle the blood of a sacrificial animal on the mercy seat of the Ark of the Covenant.  By doing so, he atoned for his own sins and the sins of the people.

Today, as sin continues to abound, there is only one hope of atonement—salvation through Jesus Christ, the sacrificial Lamb of God.  He alone is the atonement for the sins of all mankind.

Yes, the high priest faithfully performed his appointed duties and carried out that all-important ministry each year, but I am convinced that when he stepped beyond the veil, he did so with great trepidation and unwavering reverence.

The moment Jesus died on the cross for our sins; He took upon Himself the sins of the world.  Were it not for Jesus, there would be no hope of salvation for humanity.

An amazing thing happened just as Jesus cried out with a loud voice from the cross, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit!”  Having said this, He breathed His last.  The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom—not by man, but by the supernatural power of God Himself.

His unmerited love for humanity caused the veil to be torn because He wanted an intimate, Father-son and Father-daughter relationship with His children, with no barriers of separation.

Every person who accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior is privileged to enter into the very presence of the Creator—God the Father.  His children can now approach the throne of God with boldness because of who we are in Christ Jesus.

We can present all of our petitions before God in the name of Jesus, who is our High Priest.  We need not fear or be vexed with trepidation.

This is because of whose we are.

Written by,

Papa Boyd

Step Beyond the Shyness

For the most part, I’m leaning toward the thought that there are fewer take-control, “follow me” type personalities out there than those who would rather follow than take charge and lead because of shyness.

My personality is more like the latter—shy and wanting to find a corner and drink my soda rather than converse with people.  But something happened when Jesus gave me something real to talk about: when God forgave my sins.

When I experienced the new birth and became a born-again believer, I was emboldened.  God didn’t necessarily change my personality—He gave me courage within my personality.  He took me from passiveness to becoming a warrior for Christ when it came to the things of God.

I am able to witness for Him and tell others of His incredible love and that God’s amazing grace is available to everyone who sincerely repents of their sins.  I am able to step beyond my shyness when it comes to sharing the story of my conversion to Christianity.  God really gave me a boldness I never had before meeting Jesus.

Am I still shy when meeting strangers and trying to find common ground with them?  Yes, but there is a “but” that follows.  I received power to witness from the Holy Spirit when He indwelled this shy vessel.

Jesus said: “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you and ye shall be witnesses unto me…” – Acts 1:8

The Holy Spirit helps me push beyond my shyness.  He fills my mouth with words that are not my own.  At times, I marvel at what comes out of my mouth.  It seems as if I’m listening to God speaking directly to others, using my vocal cords and tongue.  It’s hard to find the words to explain the phenomenon.

When I write “Thoughts for Today,” I am amazed at what comes to my mind to share, in different ways, the good news of God’s love.

We each have our own unique personalities.  God created us to be who we are, even in our mother’s womb.  How boring it would be if we were all alike!

My wife’s personality is opposite from mine.  She is outgoing, friendly, and knows no strangers.  We are definitely at opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to our personalities.  Her humor, love for people, and ability to talk to people goes without saying.

Since childhood, I’ve been shy.  But when an opportunity to share Christ presents itself, I rarely shy away.

Are you shy?  Do you wish you had more boldness?

The Bible tells us: “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” – 2 Timothy 1:7

Pray and ask God to set you free from timidity, call upon the name of Jesus.  I believe you will find comfort rising from deep within you.

It is wonderful to become an ambassador of Christ—to experience the freedom that comes from stepping beyond our shyness.

Even a strong believer can experience apprehension.  Yet we can still ask God for courage to proclaim Christ.  We don’t have to become someone else to be bold for Jesus.  We simply need to allow Him to use who He created us to be.

Written by,

Papa Boyd