DCLM Daily Manna 31 January 2023 Devotional By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Better Covenant, Better Promises
TOPIC: Better Covenant, Better Promises (DCLM Daily Manna 31 January 2023)
KEY VERSE: “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 8:6).
TEXT: Hebrews 8:1-6 (KJV)
1 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;
2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.
3 For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer.
4 For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:
5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.
6 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.
MESSAGE:
Many people find it difficult to give up the old in order to embrace the new. The reason is often because they have become so used to the old and are not prepared to be unsettled by the new. At other times, it is because they are not sure of what the new has to offer; whether it will be better than what they already have and are used to. Such conservative fellows often miss out from the better and improved features and provisions of the new.
The Jews to whom the epistle of the Hebrews was primarily directed were die-hard conservatives. They held on tenaciously and religiously to the Old Testament provisions and practices such that they failed to recognise and embrace the better and eternal provisions brought about by the Lord Jesus Christ in the new covenant. In this chapter, Paul the apostle gave the summary of his message concerning the priesthood of Jesus Christ which is all-encompassing, far-reaching and greater than what the old priesthood order had to offer. Christ’s priesthood ushered in a better covenant with better promises. Jesus carries on with a more excellent ministry because He functions as our High Priest from heaven standing as the Mediator between man and God. This new order makes the old covenant sacrificial practices unnecessary and gives every believer unrestrained access to the throne of God.
Many today are still groping in the dark of the old covenant practices and are unable to enjoy the better promises in the new covenant. The new covenant provides better promises for everyone. It will be unwise therefore to leave this new and better provision and hold on to the weak and beggarly old covenant beliefs and practices of human priesthood and animal sacrifices.
Jesus remains the only approved and accepted Priest and Mediator by God. His offer was made once and it is eternally sufficient for all. To benefit from the new covenant, you must come to Him by faith.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Good is good, but better is better.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Matthew 6-7
Deeper Life Daily Manna was written by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
