SEEKING BETTER THINGS

"By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. . . . But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also He is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises." (Hebrews 7:22 8:6)

Devotion 2 of 26

A BETTER COVENANT

The New Covenant is characterized by spiritual excellence. Every aspect of it enables growth and brings advantage. It never levels off or deteriorates. There is no monotony at any point of human involvement with this marvelous covenant. It has a glory that excels. As it is written, "For even what was made glorious (the First Covenant) had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels (that characterizes the New Covenant)." (2 Cor 3:10, NKJV), shining bright and brighter unto the perfect day (Prov 4:18).

The power experienced in Christ is noted for its excellency. "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us." (2 Cor 4:7, NKJV). Those who aggressively seek to know Jesus, find such knowledge excellent. "Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ" (Phil 3:8, NKJV).

If there are those content to limit themselves to the possession of extraordinary abilities, or spiritual gifts, they are challenged with a more excellent way. "Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way" (1 Cor 12:31). The best of spiritual gifts are not "excellent," a reality highly disruptive of much flashy religion.
That is, they are adapted to this world, not the one to come. That is why the next chapter (1 Corinthians 13), holds forth love as the superior way. This by no means denigrates spiritual gifts. It does show, however, that they are subordinate to love.

We are called to the realm of "better things." We do not require artificial or external stimuli in heavenly places! That is a fact that sharply contrasts with much of contemporary religion. "Better things," when perceived, charge the spirit and enflame the emotion. Passivity flees from us when we lay hold of " things that are excellent." It is the nature of such things to heighten creativity and increase the energy of the soul. They are good things! They are glorious things! They are accessible things!

Make no place for artificiality or pretension in your religion! God has provided some better thing for us (Heb 11:40), and everything about it is true, effective, and within your grasp! Without laboring the point, the great deficiency of modern religion is its failure to appropriate the better things brought to us by Christ!

PRAYER POINT: Father, in Jesus' name, grant me grace pursue the things that are more excellent.

-- Tomorrow: THE MENACE OF MEDIOCRITY --