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 8 of 26

SPIRITUAL RATIONALE

God never asks us to leave the world without offering us something "better." Valid choices ALWAYS involve the abandonment of the cursed, in order to appropriate the blessing. It is never in order to let go of the superior, or seek to keep the inferior. It is never right to abandon the best or seek to gain the worst. Settle it in your heart; no amount of reasoning can justify the neglect of a great salvation or a dominating pursuit of things unrelated to salvation.

With great solemnity the Spirit warns, "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation" (Heb 2:3). Indeed, and how will any soul explain to the "Judge of all the earth" why he chose to concentrate on what was passing away to the neglect of such a great salvation? But many a soul is doing precisely that. They are neglecting this great salvation for the baubles of "this present evil world." They simply do not see the "better" things.

It is a tragedy that life in Christ is frequently viewed as a life of mere restriction and deprivation. It is true that the love of the world and walking in the flesh are forbidden; but that is because they are cursed, and will pollute us. God does not seek our misery, but our blessing. He has provided "better things" in the place of things that are defiled and defiling.

Jesus did not bring us a new discipline of life, but life itself. In His own words, "I have come that they may have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10). In Christ the Psalm is fulfilled, "Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation" (Psa 68:19).

Not only does the Lord give us "better" things, He gives them to us in abundance, pouring them out copiously upon us. Grace and peace, for example, are "multiplied" to us (1 Pet 1:2; 2 Pet 1:2). The Holy Spirit has been "poured out upon us abundantly" (Tit 3:6). The grace of God is "exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus" (1 Tim 1:14). We have been begotten again "according to His abundant mercy" (1 Pet 1:3).

One of the major factors contributing to this condition is the provision of "better things." They produce an environment of joy and peace among those choosing to receive them. I urge you to make a choice to seek the better things, and to enjoy the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness" that is offered in Christ Jesus (Rom 5:17). Once these things are seen, giving up the world is not that difficult. You will be able to forget the things that are behind and consider them but dung in comparison with God's exceeding great and precious promises.

PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, and with thanksgiving, I gladly relinquish the fleeting things of this world for the better things Christ has brought within my reach.

-- Tomorrow: THE LORD IS OUR SHIELD --