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"The Captain of Our Salvation" (posted May 15, 2021)
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It was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted. - Hebrews 2:10, 17-18 We are encouraged along the wilderness way by remembering that we have “the Captain of our salvation.” He has gone through every step of the way and encountered all that we shall ever have to go through. He became perfectly fitted for the office of Captain by His sufferings on earth in that pathway. His was a pathway of suffering, and ours will be also. He was here as man; He partook of flesh and blood and was made like unto us. He felt as we do all that He passed through; and He is now up on high as High Priest, merciful and faithful, to help us in trial and temptation. Looking at Him as the Captain of our salvation, we see He has gone through all of the pilgrim path. As the gracious High Priest on high, He understands all we pass through. Looking at Him there to strengthen us will encourage and help us along the wilderness way to Glory. Like Melchizedek, who met Abram in Genesis 15, giving him bread and wine and strengthening him for the coming temptation of the king of Sodom, so Christ as High Priest strengthens us for the trials and temptations of the wilderness. Abram, being thus strengthened, was able to refuse all that the king of Sodom would offer. And after this refusal and a stand for the Lord, the Lord appeared to Abram as his shield and exceeding great reward (Genesis 15). The enemy will throw darts at us if we take a stand for Christ down here, but the Lord is our shield. It will cost us something to stand for the Lord; it may mean temporal loss; but the Lord says, “I am your exceeding great reward.” He will make it all up for us bountifully.
Raymond K. Campbell |