"Better, Fairer"

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe….

"Better, Fairer"

    Among many wonderful themes, the New Testament epistle to the Hebrews proclaims the superiority of the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ over the old covenant law of Moses (which actually served as the foreshadowing of Christ).  

    1.  Better revelation.  2. Better than the angels.  3.  Better than Moses.  4.  Better High Priest.  5.  Better Testament (covenant).  6. Better ministry.  7.  Better blood.  8.  Better sacrifice. 9.  A better way.  10.  A better promise.  11.  A better kingdom.  12.  A better enabling (grace)  13.  A better altar (Hebrews 1:1-2; 1:4; 3:3; 5:1-10; 7:22; 8:6; 9:13-14; 9:23; 10:20; 12:28; 13:10).

    To put it simply, the Lord Jesus is better than the law because the law served, like John the Baptist, as the forerunner of God's truest purpose, namely, the revelation of His Son as the provision for every human need.  "My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19).  Actually, our Savior is better than any and everything because He serves as the heart of all God's provision to our hearts and lives.  We might say He is the Blessing in every blessing.

   Of course, we don't see this wondrous truth as clearly as we one day will.  Presently, many of God's gifts of "life and breath and all things" bless us without our conscious realization of how Christ-originated and infused they are (Acts 17:25).  It is actually not necessary that we directly think about this truth every time our Father graces us with blessing.  However, we do well to find many opportunities to remember the supply of "all your need… by Christ Jesus."  We remember His direct involvement in our creation.  We remember His earthly life, lived for our benefit.  We remember even more His death, resurrection, and ascension into the Heavenlies for our greater Benefit.  We remember and affirm our Savior as the very essence of our life.  "To live is Christ" (Philippians 1:21).  And we often determine to visit the altar of "Better" whereupon the Light of Christ shines with the glory that reveals His singular place in our hearts and lives.  "Christ… is our life" (Colossians 3:4).

   As I wrote those last words, the strains of a beautiful instrumental version of "Fairest Lord Jesus" sounded from a CD I am listening to as I write.  This seems perfectly appropriate, and we close with lyrics that attest to the blessed Subject at hand…

   "Fair is the sunshine, fairer still the moonlight, and all the twinkling starry host.  Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer than all the angels Heaven can boast."

"Thou art fairer than the children of men; grace is poured into Thy lips, therefore, God hath blessed Thee forever."

(Psalm 45:2)

Weekly Memory Verse

   "Now our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us and hath give us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work."

 (II Thessalonians 2:16-17)

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