Day 720: Hebrews 8- Fixed Focus

Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, 2 a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man. 3 For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; thus it is necessary for this priest also to have something to offer. 4 Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer gifts according to the law. 5 They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.” 6 But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. 7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second.
8 For he finds fault with them when he says:
“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord,
    when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel
    and with the house of Judah,
9 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers
    on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt.
For they did not continue in my covenant,
    and so I showed no concern for them, declares the Lord.
10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel
    after those days, declares the Lord:
I will put my laws into their minds,
    and write them on their hearts,
and I will be their God,
    and they shall be my people.
11 And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor
    and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’
for they shall all know me,
    from the least of them to the greatest.
12 For I will be merciful toward their iniquities,
    and I will remember their sins no more.”
13 In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

Meditation
God’s grace provides a fixed point for our faith, a solid foundation from which to move forward. Without a fixed point to focus on humans will walk in circles. This has been proven physically (walking, driving, or swimming!) and is true spiritually. A dog returns to his vomit and a fool will repeat their folly (Proverbs 26:11). Hard hearts will continue to turn from the Lord (Exodus 8:15). A pig cleaned will return to mud (2 Peter 2:22).
 
The author of Hebrews “comes to the point” (1) to empower Christians to focus our faith on the better covenant that is enacted on better promises (6). All other things are copies, shadows, or two-dimensional representations (5).  Persecuted Christians with problems from living in a fallen world need the security of God’s covenant faithfulness. Jesus is the real thing and must be the focus of our faith.
 
The old covenant had faults because humans are fallen. God’s people could not fully obey! So they could not completely experience the blessings of God’s covenant. The new covenant is secure because it is founded on God’s faithfulness, Christ fulfilling the law and dying to pay the penalty for our sins. Through a series of “I will…” statements God cements His promises to give us concrete confidence in His covenant faithfulness.
 
The author uses Jeremiah 31 to encourage the early church (8-12). We must be empowered in our faith today to “keep our eyes on Jesus” (Hebrews 12:1-2) and “seek first the kingdom of God” (Matthew 6:33).
 
Richly Dwelling
-What is the focus of your faith- circumstances, your own performance or problems, or other? Do you feel like you are going in circles?
 
-Why is the new covenant better than the old?
 
-Where can you focus more on Jesus, seeking first His kingdom and trusting His covenant faithfulness in your life? Be specific.
 
Key Verse
6 But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises.