Skip to main content

Daily Devotion: Hebrews 7:22

Hebrews 7:22    "By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament."

As I study through this book of Hebrews, I realize more and more just how much Jesus meant to the writer.  I have danced all around expressing my thoughts as to who wrote the book of Hebrews.  I have often thought that Paul wrote the book based on the style of writing that was used throughout the book. This morning, I am more convinced that Paul wrote the book, not because of the style, but because of the subject content. But I will still refer to him as "the writer".  We are halfway through the book and the subject of the book has been consistent from the very beginning. This writer loves Jesus and is using all his energy, knowledge, and spiritual experience to tell the Hebrews (and us) about Jesus.  Just a thought from me - We need to fall back in love with Jesus as the writer of Hebrews loves Him.

"Jesus was made a surety of a better testament."   The writer can speak of "a better testament" because he has experienced the condemnation that came under the first testament, the law.   The first testament, which was the law, spoke on this manner:  "You are guilty of transgressing against God; therefore, you deserve to die."  None of the offerings under the law made the "offerer" perfect. None of the offerings under the law could wash away the sin nature of those who offered. Those offerings could not make perfect the person offering, nor could they make perfect the high priest who offered. Therefore, the same offerings were made year after year.  The writer of Hebrews understood the condemnation that was experienced once this truth was realized.

(Romans 7:13-15)    "Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.  (14)  For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.  (15)  For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I."  What was Paul saying in these Roman passages?  The law is holy and just, but I am not.  The law did not correct sin; rather, it identifies sin. Once sin is identified, he realized how exceedingly sinful he was. Once he realized how exceedingly sinful he was, the Holy Spirit revealed to Him how exceedingly righteous Jesus Christ is; yet, He submitted Himself to the death of the cross to wash the sin away which the law could not. He would end that chapter with a question and answer.  "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?  I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord."  (Romans 7:24-25)

As long as we feel we can make atonement for our own sin, we will not love Jesus as the writer of Hebrews loved Him. As long as we make excuses for our own sin, we will not love Jesus as the writer of Hebrews loved Him. As long as we feel our sins are "not that bad", we will not love Jesus as the writer of Hebrews loved Him.  When we see that there is absolutely nothing we can do to make ourselves righteous in the sight of God, we will see our need for the Saviour. When we see our need for the Saviour, we can see the importance of Jesus dying on the cross. As the Holy Spirit reveals to me that He died on that old rugged cross for me, then there will be a love within my heart that does not compare with anything else.

Then to top it off, we see Jesus was made a surety for us. The Lord willing, we will look at the word, surety, in our next devotional.

Popular posts from this blog

Daily Devotion: Enter With Thanksgiving - Psalm 100:1-5

One of the most beautiful Psalms of Thanksgiving is the 100th Psalm. Please turn to it and read verses one through five. With all my heart I believe we are a people and a nation that has truly been blessed by God. Of all those who “give thanks to Him and praise His name” we should be at the top!  It is not uncommon to compile wish lists at Christmas, and draw up a list of resolutions for the new year. But there is another list we often overlook - a Thanksgiving Day list of all for which we are thankful. What would your list contain? Most likely, a good part would be material possessions. I’m convinced that we would find that we have much more for which to be thankful than just our material possessions.  Like you, I’m sure my list would include the major things - life, health, family, friends, and the nation we live in, despite all its flaws. But even more than that, I’m thankful for my salvation, my Church family, and the mercy that God showers upon us each d...

Daily Devotion: Colossians 1:25-26

Colossians 1:25-26    “Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;  Even   the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:” In verse twenty-four, Paul has expressed his joy in bearing hardship for the church. It is of this church, the body of Jesus Christ, that he is made a minister. Since Paul used the phrase “made a minister” in verse twenty-three of this same chapter, it seems there is something important that he wishes to convey. The Greek word translated as “made” means “to cause to be.” It was the will of God (Col 1:1) that caused Paul to become a minister. God is always the cause of true ministry. Although our fathers may be ministers, if we become true ministers of the gospel it is  not  because our fathers are ministers. True ministers of the gospel do not take that path because they seek honor for themselves, or b...

Daily Devotion: Matthew 6:9-13 (3)

Matthew 6:9-13    "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.  (10)  Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.  (11)  Give us this day our daily bread.  (12)  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.  (13)  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen." "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name." When others might go away from us, God has promised never to forsake us. When others might not be truthful, our Father in heaven is faithful and full of truth. When others cannot understand our feelings, our Heavenly Father knows exactly how we feel and is able to empathize with us. In fact, He has told us that He is "touched by the feelings of our infirmities." He is stirred when we are sad.  Our relationship with Him is of th...