Preparing for corporate worship

We will come together Sunday because we are priests (I Peter 2:9) who have Jesus as High Priest. Hebrews explains the difference between our High Priest and all other high priests: "Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. For it was fitting for us to have a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself" (Heb. 7:25-27). Much about the greatness of Jesus is on display in this passage, but for now consider this: Our worship each week as the church of Christ is on the basis of the perfect intercession of our perfect High Priest, and that reality should encourage us to gather with a sense of deep-seated trust in Jesus, a passion to exalt Him, and an overflowing gratitude for His gospel work.