Verse: Hebrews 7:17-22

17 For it is declared:

“You are a priest forever,
    in the order of Melchizedek.”

18 The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless 19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.

20 And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, 21 but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him:

“The Lord has sworn
    and will not change his mind:
    ‘You are a priest forever.’”

22 Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant.

Thoughts
Sections of the book of Hebrews can be confusing for sure. In those moments there are at least two things to do. First, we should study and learn more about the passage to truly understand what the author intended it to mean to the original audience. Second, we should ask the Holy Spirit to help us understand what it means for us. 

I'm going to take one small piece of this and let us focus on it: "a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God."

This, in many ways, is the real key to this passage. The old has gone, the new has come: and all because of Jesus.

What this means for you and I is that we can draw near to God. Before Jesus, no one could draw near to God without being Jewish, having sacrifices, and using a priest to mediate. Now anyone can draw near to God.

We can come to him in our good times, and our bad. When we are living well, and we are living poorly. When we are full of faith, and when we are faithless. 

Jesus has permanently changed everything! He has issued an invitation that "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" (Romans 10:13). He has told us that we can "approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." (Hebrews 4:16). 

This is your confidence and your hope. No matter what you are facing, or going through, or struggling with: Jesus has made the way for you to draw near to God. Will you? Will I? That is the invitation. Draw near to God. He loves you and wants a relationship with you. You don't have to have it all together or have your life figured out. Just draw near to him in honesty and humility. He loves you. And he will lead you on.

Prayer
God I need more of you in my life. I pray that you would lead me as I draw near to you!