can recall three times in 2007 where one of my daily Old Testament readings was quoted directly in the New Testament passage of the day. For example, John 2:17 quotes Psalm 69:9, which I had just read that same hour. I am not on any official reading plan, so this was purely by chance, so to say.

On the first day of 2008 I have already encountered my first such reference. After having read the O.T. passage, I had better be able to say of the N.T. reference "hey, I just read that". Hebrews 10:28 (when warning about the danger of neglecting or falling away from Christ's ultimate redeeming and purifying sacrifice, especially considering how disobedience under the old covenant resulted in death) says: "He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses", referring to Deuteronomy 17:6.

Hebrews repeats over and over again the fact of the comprehensiveness of Christ's atoning sacrifice: he has completely covered my sins, the Father does not remember my sins and hold them against me, I am not held guilty. This is often difficult for me to grasp: I need to be careful about what really lies behind my thoughts when my conscience makes me feel guilty and a sense of having to "make it up". There is a place and a role for conscience regarding particular deeds, but there is also a kind of feeling of guilt which is not humility but is its opposite - pride, being a lack of faith. Moving on from the precious milk of Christ's atonement, I should be progressing on to the meat of willing obedience and full reformation.

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