I live in a city that never sleeps. It’s a city where you’ll find people playing the slots when they go to the store to grab a few snacks. It is a city where people wait for hours to take a picture in front of a welcome sign, and I bet you’ve guessed it. I live in Las Vegas.
Las Vegas is known as a transient city, one in which people are always wandering through. Although it has become more residential in recent years, you would be hard-pressed to find anyone who has a grandmother who was born and raised in Las Vegas.
The number of people experiencing homelessness is also significant here. One of the first volunteer gigs I signed up for upon moving here was to help serve at a local food pantry. I quickly learned you could offer people dignity by simply looking them in the eyes when asking about their days or offering a donut. Whether I’m waiting for a light to change on a street I’m driving down or I’m sharing food, I now always ensure I make eye contact and smile with those who stand on the corners. I may not always have something material to give, but I do have something that matters: love for my neighbor.
Because that is what Christ has for us.
Jesus’s plan to come to earth was motivated by His choice to look us in our eyes. In so doing, He offered something far greater than we could ever give: eternal forgiveness. Jesus, our Mediator, descended from Heaven to acquaint Himself with sin and take our shame on Himself. He fulfilled the covenant on our behalf so we could be forgiven. His choice to love us helps our hearts once again find a home in God’s presence. And the Lord’s promise that there would be a day when He would remember sins no more is fulfilled (Jeremiah 31:34).
In Luke 22:15, Jesus told the disciples He “fervently desired” to eat the Passover with them, and the righteous Mediator continues to invite us to His table today. It is a table that has been set by the sacrifice He made on our behalf. It is where Jesus looks us in our eyes and offers a way to forgiveness. It is one where our dignity is restored and we remember we can settle because His Holy Spirit settles in our hearts.
Every Advent season is a sweet reminder that we no longer have to live apart from God because the righteous Mediator has welcomed us, once and for all, to the table He set.
Leave a Reply
81 thoughts on "Righteous Mediator, Come"
❤
Some days it is still so hard to wrap my head around God’s love and the absolute purity of it. No matter what, He has given
❤️
the righteous Mediator has welcomed us, once and for, to the table he set
We no longer have to live apart from God because
There’s a seat at His table. ❤️
♥️
“His choice to love us helps our hearts once again find a home in God’s presence.”
Amen! Thank you, Lord Jesus.
Amen
I need this Jesus the Savior; Jesus the Mediator, Jesus the Forgiver of my sins (our sins).
Jesus, the Mediator, that we need to
❤️
Tina, you blessed my heart with that story of how God can change us. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for your prayers, Victoria and Deanna. Praying for you both as well!
Love thinking of Jesus as the Righteous Mediator. All the daily titles have really helped me remember who Jesus is
Me too! Really enjoying these everyday.
Jesus is the answer. He has always been and forever will be the answer. Thank you Lord.
Amen
♥️ Thank you, Tina!
Katie D. I understand I was searching for a way to be in the Word daily when I stumbled across Raechel Meyers on YouVersion. She and a couple of others were writing. Obviously this evolved into SRT w/ Amanda. What a blessing these young women were/are. To see where they were and where they have come to.
♥️
I think, SEARCHING, that when you first joined the SRT community, you were “searching”? (Maybe I’m not remembering correctly?)… And now you are such a great witness and speak Hs truth and offer discernment (and lead strangers to be discerning, as well). Bless you!
Beautiful ❤️
Why can’t we see alllll of today’s comments??
Great message and reminder today!
I love the is reminder that Jesus, God, wants to be with us. He wants to look us in the eyes, even when we feel broken and ashamed. He loves us even when we can’t love ourselves. Christmas is such a special time for me since I became a Christian 21 years ago this Christmas Eve.
Happy birthday in Christ, Jennifer!
A great day of scriptures reminder of the gospel.
Tina — thank you so much for sharing and thank you for reminding me to obey God, even when it’s hard.
Ladies, Tina’s story prompted me to share/reach out. God told me more than a decade ago not to worry or fret in an area of my life and here I am worrying and fretting. I’ve been reading through Deut since October and keep referring back to chapters 7 and 8, so no surprise they were included in today’s devotional. They’ve even crossed my path in the strangest ways since I basically highlighted everything in it in my Bible. Please pray that I will remember how God was, is and always will be faithful to fulfill His promises because of His great love for me and that I don’t have to worry, fret or fear.
Praying God will meet all of your needs according to HIS riches in glory! <3
Jaclyn, I am praying for you !
Jaclyn, praying this for you – and for myself!
Thank you all for your sharing today! My day is blessed by each of you.
What a great reminder today! I feel like I’ve been running non stop lately and haven’t come up for air so these sweet devotionals really help me step back and relax a bit!
What an amazing message today, and what amazing testimonies that are being share today. I praise God for His power and everlasting love.
Beautiful, Tina! Thank you for sharing your story, too. That best friend part got me!!!
Two things worth noting today – In Deuteronomy God commanded the Israelites to “write them on the doorposts” v9 but then in the New Covenant God said “I will…write it on their hearts” v33! Praise God that I have a constant reminder (not a doorpost I pass through maybe once a day) written on my heart, tugging at the daily circumstances. Secondly I noticed In Deuteronomy that EVERYTHING is from God (v10-12) not from the work of your own hand and to beware of the “gods of the peoples around you” v14. Who do I have around me and what gods are in their lives? What gods am I surrounded by? Am I worshipping the house, the car, the “things” more than my Father? Am I trying to keep up with the standards of my friends ? All interesting things to ponder today. Thank you Lord for being the mediator of my heart- help me to reconcile those relationships (with people and things) that need repaired. Keep my heart anchored to Your word- Amen!!
I recently did a study of Leviticus, and have come to understand that the law was given for our protection, for our good, for our well-being, for our ability to reconcile with God. At first glance it looks very cumbersome, and I’m sure it felt like it back in those days. But all throughout that book God kept making it possible for us to be in relationship with Him. He desired so much that we have a close, intimate relationship with Him, He kept giving us directions on how to do that. The Law wasn’t punishment for our sins, it was a way to be reconciled to God again. He knew we would sin. He knew we would fall short. But He kept making a way for our redemption. And finally, He sent Jesus, Who is our Redeemer. He is the Mediator between us and God, He is the way we get reconciled to God. We are so loved, if we could grasp that our lives would be so different. We would have complete peace and contentment. Jesus, our Mediator, our way to be reconciled to God Himself, because he desires so much to have an intimate relationship with Him.
Wonderful lesson to remember we are but one race the human race. God made us all and if we go back we are related to each other so we should always look everyone in the eye and treat them like we would our family members.
Man, that devotion. Such a powerful message! Thank you, Lord Jesus, for being our righteous Mediator! For setting the table for all of us! Amen!
Man, all your stories today are getting at my heart, Shes!!!
This was such a great Scripture pairing, today. Thank you, Lord and SRT.
❤️
From Enduring Word commentary of Luke 22-
“With fervent desire I have desired: This was a passionate moment for Jesus. It wasn’t so much that He was saying goodbye to His disciples, as much as now He arrived at the central reason why He came to man: to institute a new covenant with men, based on His own sacrifice. This was not the beginning of the end; it was the beginning of the beginning.”
✝️
@Tina, uhm, when are you writing your book? ❤️ You have a gift, friend! You bless us every day!
“But God…”
@Searching – Yes, we pray for this stranger to have their eyes open to God’s voice over the voice of the enemy. May their hearts grow in the knowledge of God and discern the difference between truth and error in the teachings they receive.
@Tami C – ❤️❤️❤️
@Mari V- Your love for Jesus is so real! God bless your walk with Him. He is meeting with you daily at your table ❤️
@Michelle H- welcome– from one Michelle to another! ❤️
@Candace H- thank you for sharing! May the Lord bring comfort and wisdom to your family as you adjust to this new way of life without your grandmother. Peace and grace to your whole family. ❤️
@Rhonda J- glad the prison ministry is going well and trusting God is changing lives in the midst of brokenness and disorder. You are doing His work. I also saw a picture of you with your chronic pain group– praise God for all the beautiful things He is doing through you this year!!! You are growing in Him as a leader and a friend ❤️
@Tina, thank you for sharing apart of your story. I will look into the eyes of the people I encounter this Christmas season and listen for a nudge from the Holy Spirit.
Thank you all for the continued prayers!
He offered something far greater then we could ever give. There will be a day when He will remember our sins no more. He invites me to His table today. A table set by His sacrifice. Jesus LOOKS me in the eye and forgives me. My dignity is restored. He welcomes me and has a place for me at His table. I am SO moved by today’s devotion, so moved. I am His and He is mine! For a long time after a left my abusive marriage, I felt lost, ashamed, like a nobody, afraid of my own shadow. BUT GOD….My precious Jesus. I know, that I know He had not left me. Even during those dark, dark times (literally dark) of the unknown. I sat every morning in the same spot and met with my Jesus. I KNOW He had not left me or abandoned me. My Jesus is all I could hold onto during those times. This still moves me to tears! I am SO grateful for my Jesus for rescuing me! I am forever grateful and to my sweet friend Gretchen and all others who came along side to walk this painful journey with me. My GOD restored me! All glory and honor to MY GOD! Happy Thursday sweet She’s! I love you to the moon and back!
SEARCHING – How divine was your appointment with that person. Talk about divine mediation! Thankful God placed you in her path and praying along with you that God will send discernment. Thanks so much for sharing!❤
GAYLE CRAIK, TERESA DONLEY, and others facing scary diagnoses: know that we are all in the fight with you! May you draw strength and comfort from the prayers lifted daily for you. ❤
TINA and TAMI C – A good word from the heart is NEVER TOO LONG! Thank you both for sharing such great examples if divine mediation! ❤
Haven’t read the comments yet (I do that later in the day) but after reading the scripture and devotion Michael Card’s ‘Come to the Table’ started playing in my mind:
“Come to the table and see in His eyes
The love that the Father has spoken
And know you are welcome, whatever your crime
For every commandment you’ve broken
For He’s come to love you and not to condemn
And He offers a pardon of peace
If you’ll come to the table, you’ll feel in your heart
The greatest forgiveness, the greatest release.”
@Tami & @Tina – thank you for sharing your testimonies with us! God is at work in each of our hearts daily. It’s just a matter of letting all the “noise” around us be silenced and then listening and hearing what He wants us to see today.
Something that stood out to me in Deuteronomy 6:23…”He brought us out from there to bring us in and give…” God brought each of us out of a life of sin and all our earthly cravings, and brought us in – to a life with Him and to give us more than we could ever imagine!
I am so thankful for the cross and that Jesus is my mediator – bringing me right into the throne room of God. And this my prayer…Father God, help me to love You with all my heart, with all my soul and with all my strength – for You are the One God, the True God, the Only God.
@Tiffany Lanning – I am so sorry to hear of your battle with anxiety. Praying for you, that God will give peace to your heart and calm your anxious thoughts and that through Christ you will have victory over this battle that is affecting your home and family. He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all we ask or think. Father God, please calm Tiffany’s heart and mind. Relieve her from this torment. Give her your peace. In Jesus Name. ❤️
@Madeline – praying that your thoughts would be taken into the captivity of Christ. Read, memorize, pray Philippians 4:8 ❤️
@Gayle Craik – I can not begin to imagine what it must have been like to hear those words. May God give you the grace and strength to face every day – one day at a time. Praying for peace and that God will do a miracle and completely heal your body. Much love and prayers. ❤️
@Searching – praying that this stranger you crossed paths with will have their eyes opened and that they will recognize the lies, seeking the truth of God.
A blessed Thursday to you all. May you walk in the love and light of Christ today.
Tina- I’m another Tina. Thank you for sharing your story. You gave hope to someone. God bless you.
Those same verses from Jeremiah really grabbed my attention today, ERICA CHIARELLI! It goes along with SEARCHING’s prayer request… there are so many false prophets in our midst. Only He is our righteous mediator… and ALL shall know Him. Wow. Just. Wow.
All shall know. When? And how about now, Lord?!?!?! So many don’t know you. But we do, sweet She’s. Share that with everyone you know, so that ALL will know Him and love Him like we do.
Wonderful reads. The way the Bible I am reading is layer out the second half of Jeremiah 31: 34 is at the top of the next column. I thought was done with Jeremiah 31: 31-34, but there was more and it was glorious to read! ” For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”
Oh it reminds me that there is always more to God and through Jesus Christ I am forgiven.
Good morning! This is my first time responding to a devotion, and it’s beautifully encouraging to see you ladies here with me. I’m thankful for the opportunity and desire to dive into God’s word and resonate with so many things that you’ve shared. I will ask prayer for my family as we have just lost our matriarch, my dear and amazing Grandma Princella. She had Alzheimer’s and died last night at the age of 90. I have no doubt that she’s with the Lord, healed and whole. Our hearts are still broken, but we have the hope of seeing her again. May God bless you all!
I am so incredibly sorry for your loss. My condolences to you and your family. May she Rest In Peace.
Oh Candace I’m so sorry. Lifting you up in prayer for peace and healing
CANDACE, I am so sorry to hear of your grandmother’s death. It is so hard to lose a loved one, even when they are old, and even when they are sick. I pray that you receive the comfort of God from knowing that she is young and well, and no longer confused, in heaven. Praying for you and your family.
To offer people dignity by simply looking them in the eye! Tina, that is a powerful word of wisdom, advice and encouragement. Jesus looked me in the eye one day and I was completely changed. Overwhelmed by his look of love, forgiveness and acceptance…my life was changed.
So thankful for this truth and things shared in this devotional!
What a blessing you ladies are. So thankful we all are so loved by our wonderful Father God and have been saved by the powerful Blood of Jesus
TAMI C & KATIE D – thank you for sharing your testimonies!
Today’s devotional is beautiful reminder that the poignant and relational moments, aside from his crucifixion (because that is the ultimate poignant act of sacrifice), happened around a table. I think Jesus knew that table is a universal symbol of familiarity, comfort and just coming as we are. Have a blessed day, sisters.
Agree, Maria. How much history our family tables have absorbed over the years!
Deuteronomy 6: 4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. NKJV
And if I really did love God and His Son Jesus Christ like this, 100%, all in, what would my life look like? So much to think about.
TINA ❤️❤️❤️ beautiful, no words, just tears.
MICHELLE H – salvation! Hallelujah and welcome!
GAYLE CRAIK – praying
MARY ANN GRAVES – praying the hold on you is broken, all things are possible with God.
KRIS and CEE GEE – love the restoration analogy! He restores my soul. We are washed clean and made new in Him.
Prayer request for someone I crossed paths with yesterday. In a conversation with a stranger who shared some struggles, they mentioned following an online (and maybe on TV preacher) and encouraged me to look him up because “he is great.” It wasn’t a name I had heard before. I had an uneasy feeling and recommended that, no matter who or what she heard about the Lord, confirm it in the Bible to make sure it was truth. I did look him up :( Please pray that their eyes would be opened to the lies and they would seek God in His Word.
Beautiful hand of God! Thank you for sharing. ❤️
My mom died of cancer 10 years ago. We had a complicated relationship before her dx and I had built a big wall around my heart. And even with her dx I was unable to bring that wall down. She passed and I lived with the guilt of that for so long, being ashamed to even admit it to anyone. Fast forward to last year, God put it on my heart to approach the Pastora of my church to host a women’s conference and invite Sharon Jaynes. After a lot of red tape and me almost giving up, the conference was a go and a huge success. During one of her sessions she had us write out what we most struggled to forgive ourselves for and leave it at the foot of the cross in the church. She would then collect them and pray over them. Of course I wrote about my mom. Two months later I got as serving at a church with a woman from another campus who I was very fond of but hadn’t seen in a while. She started sharing about how her elderly mom had become an alcoholic and it was left to her to take care of her mom, how she was so angry, how much her mom had ruined etc.. I felt God me she me to share about my own struggles with my mom and to encourage her to reconcile before it was too late. There we are both crying at the table, and the words she spoke to me about the greatest shame and regret of my life were like God speaking directly to me. From that moment my guilt and shame were lifted and I knew God forgave me. It wasn’t until I got home that I remembered having left that confession at the cross. God is so good! He meets us at our deepest pain and shame. Sorry for the long narrative ladies. Have a blessed day!
Wow Tami! His work in our lives never ends. What an honor to be able to use your own experience to assist another woman in healing. He is so good!
@Tami, thank you for sharing about your relationship with your mom and how God healed your heart. I needed to hear this today.
I’m not sure how I found SRT several years ago, but the daily reading and opening my Bible saved me from crippling anxiety. I’ve found that now I also look forward to scrolling down and finding Tina’s reply for the day. What a beautiful story you shared today, Tina! WOW.
Thank you Tina for sharing! Beautiful reading and devotional today, as always, but true joy from seeing your testimony and all the comments from our beautiful “shes”. Blessings!
“For I will forgive their iniquity and never again remember their sin.”
Only by the blood of Jesus applied to my rebellious heart can I be in covenant with the Almighty God of Angel Armies.
GAYLE CRAIK – praying for you to lean in to Jesus as you navigate your diagnosis. May your trust in Him deeped as you walk out His plan for your life.
MICHELLE H – welcome to God’s family!
@Tina thank you for sharing! How faithful and near our God is. Praise the Lord!
Tina, thank you for sharing your story. It has encouraged me today as the feeling of being justifiably unkind is familiar.
May God help us remember the undeserved grace we ourselves received when he welcomed us to his table.
@tina – thank you for sharing this powerful reminder that he is the great Mediator, he changes our hearts and minds in ways we could never predict.
What a wonderful thing it is to be SEEN!!! Just as we are! To see the love in His eyes as He says “neither do l condemn you “ and then invites us to come sit at the table He has prepared and to live in His home with Him!!!! Amazing love!!!!!!!!
♥️
Yes!
Terry, “neither do I condemn you”…I needed to read this today. Thank you ❤️
@tina thank you so much for sharing this. You could never take up too much time by sharing how God has moved in your life. So beautiful!
I work for the Church as a cook, mainly for the disadvantaged in our community.. it is a job I absolutely love. I love the people, and with each passing year, I learn a little bit about me..
A little something to set the table..
Some years ago, a young woman came in from the cold, and as the days went on, she started demanding, not politely asking or even with respect..
This got to me and eventually I told my colleagues I would not be serving her as I could not face doing it without some kind of backlash..
Then this beautiful site, yes SRT, had a study on something or other, that had me questioning who I was, and my heart actions. In my prayer time after, I asked God whether I had an malice against anyone, or with whom I needed to change my ways, love them as He loved me.. Yep, you’ve guessed it, this young lady came to mind!
I told God, there was no chance or hope of my feelings to change towards her, and also she WAS never going to change, there would be no point!
BUT GOD..
Continued to convict me, and I remember clearly, this young lady in the queue for food, and I, ready to turn my back, felt the nudge of God, “Go on”
Rebel that I can be, kept telling God he’d better be there when I speak to her.
She came to the counter, i looked her in the eye and I said hello, I got a grunt! Have you ever felt that one upmanship… with God? I was very quick to say, “you see, I told you, a waste of time”
Some minutes later she approached the counter and politely, with a please, asked for seconds.. What happened there? In the 6 months she had been coming, I had only known her abuse!
I gave her the seconds and she said Thank you..
BUT GOD.. right?
A while later, on my way into the loo, she was coming out, tears freely roll as I hear her in my minds eye, “Thank you, Tina, that was lovely”
That one-upmanship suddenly became an I’m sorry God for doubting you.. I mean..
This story could end here, with my telling you about the change in the young lady, but let’s face it, there was more of a change in me. I got reminded of who God was. I got reminded that obiedience has its rewards in God’s economy, and mostly I saw how a look straight in the eye of one, who, probably has always had people look down on her, changed a heart that only needed to be acknowledged and shown kindness and love. In my own strength I had gone beyond understanding or maybe even caring..
BUT GOD..
A few weeks later she came in with a friend, and as she approached the counter, she introduced me as.. wait for it.. tears flow, her very best friend.
BUT GOD..
I have taken too much of your time, but I felt convicted to tell you this story.
Absolutely and without a doubt..The Righteous Mediator of our hearts and lives.
BUT GOD..
Happy Thursday ladies lovingly wrapped in hugs and prayers for all. ❤️
Wow! So much to digest in this. I’m in a But God Season personally. Thank you for sharing.
You’ll never take too much time when you’re teaching us all about how God taught you. Thank you. I’m a better person after reading your story and thinking about all the times when we say, “But God…”. God bless all of you today!
Beautiful devotional today & poignant testimony from Tina.