Hebrews 10:2b because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.

If the daily sacrifices were for clearing of the conscience of sinners, how often did these worshippers have to return to offer up another sacrifice? Daily? Obviously not because then they would never return home to work. The purge had to have lasted for some time.

Now the sins of the nation were absolved by the high priest once a year. That did not cover the personal conscience of individual worshippers. We know that was an annual event, but the daily sacrifices went on continually because men waited in line to present their personal conscience sacrifices.

Once again, how often did each man have to return to clear his conscience? That is unknown. What is our equivalent daily sacrifice to clear our conscience? Do we simply say Christ died for my sins, once and for all and clear our conscience from any sin we commit because we are covered by a more perfect high priest?

Romans 5:21, 6:1-2 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

What is our daily sacrifice for a clear conscience?

How about making sin the sacrifice? How about making the sacrifice of not performing the sin in the first place? Will that keep your conscience clean?

John 15:15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

How far into your disciple’s training do you mention being a servant?

With mine I discovered I didn’t have to mention it at all. His heart change admitted he was ready to serve. He was more concerned about effective service than anything. I like that. A servant should be looking to please his Lord, but how can you do that without knowing his Lord’s commands?

I quote John 15:15 here, not because there is a transition from servant to friend but rather that Jesus is declaring that He will make His Father’s will known to us, just as His Father did for Him. So often I hear people make reference to this verse as a transition in relationship. It is not. We are still servants.

Who is a trusted servant?

Who is a trusted friend?

The first is faithful in service and the second is faithful in loyalty. I do not want my disciples to believe that it is OK to give up being faithful in service in favor of being loyal. We do not give up one to be the other.

I see within churches a tendency for service to wax cold. I cannot help but wonder just how much of that attitude comes from becoming too familiar with our Lord. Yes we need to draw closer to our Lord but at what point does friendship take on an air of disrespect?

A tiger will turn on you and bite you because that is his nature. Jesus will not, because that is His nature. What He will do however is stop asking His friends to do important works because they haven’t been faithful in service.

Luke 19:17 And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.

Men rejoice in being called good and being given authority.

I hate thinking I have been faithful in very little.