28 January 2013

01.28.13 - We are better off


Who is your favorite person in Old Testament?  And have you ever imagined you have a better relationship with God than they enjoyed? 


The questions came up in our small group last night as part of a book study we are doing (more to come later on the book...)  But we tend to look at the Old Testament greats as spiritual giants.  The 'Hall of Faith' in Hebrews 11 calls out many of biggies.  They are indeed great.  Their faith unrivaled.  Tucked into chapter 11 are two huge verses that often skipped right over.  Or we don't pause to grasp how huge the message is that they carry...

13 "These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth..." 

39 "And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect."

Despite all of what is listed in chapter 11, not one of them had what we have.  Jesus in us.  Jesus through us.  God IN us.  The Holy Spirit daily as our step-by-step Counselor.  Advocate.  It was always His plan all along.  Something better.

Those who are in Christ… pause and ponder this a moment.  How greater our love... how greater our faith...  how greater our freedom should we truly grasp what we have on this side of the cross.  A whole new way given to us.  Not a different God, a different way. 

Those who may not be in Christ… all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory.  We were all dead in our transgressions and dead in the law at one point.  God has provided something better on this side of His Son Jesus’ cross.  Today is the day of salvation.  




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