A Better Hope

I read through Hebrews 7 and 8 today and the words "better hope" from Hebrews 7:19, rolled around in my head.  The writer of our bible study, “Hebrews”, Lisa Harper goes into church tradition and our personal preferences on pages 86 and 87.  She  makes the point that the people of God giving up their priest and sacrifices and the way they had been doing things for ages, must've been very difficult. The writer of Hebrews was getting them to let go of the old way and embrace Jesus as their "better hope".  

Now I know we don't have a weird attachment to animal sacrifices or high priests to atone for our sins. We don't wait for Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement to be forgiven and free of guilt and shame. We are gaining an understanding through this study, that Jesus paid the price once and for all. That nothing I can do will make up for or atone for my sin except to repent (have a change of mind and direction) and accept His forgiveness. Even trying to right my old wrongs, shows that I'm stuck in the old covenant way of rules, religion and performance  We are seeing clearly that God made a new covenant, a better way...a better Hope. And that hope is Jesus, our new high priest and our sacrifice. 

My question for us today is not unlike the writer of Hebrews. What is my hope in? What do you put your hope in?  Hope is a strong word so let me soften it for the sake of this teaching. What do you spend your time thinking about that you feel you need most?  What do wake up thinking about? What do you go to bed thinking about? What do sense yourself feeling?  "If  I could only have or attain____________ I would feel so much better.....I would find resolve.”

I have to be careful here. In my attempt to make my life better I can cross over into over-focus. A better healthy body can turn into hours of focus and obsession. A cleaner house can turn into, "I'd really enjoy my home if.....discontent. These attitudes of over-focus and discontent are a sure sign of needing a "better hope"

So let me ask the question again.  Where are you trying to gain approval? Is it from a person? Is it hope of a better position or pay at your work? Is it in having children? Or children that will listen? Is it in a better marriage? Is it in a nicer house, or neighborhood? None of the above are bad things, in fact they're blessings and gracious gifts from God. But they make lousy "Hopes." Let me state it clearly....hanging my everyday emotions on any one of them will leave me discontented, discouraged and grasping. That's why we need the Better Hope we are learning about:

Hebrews 7:19 (NLT) But now we have confidence in a better hope, through which we draw near to God. (namely Jesus). 

Jesus, we just read in Hebrews 7 that you are a "better hope" than the old covenant....the old way. I think you are a better hope than my efforts to better myself. You are a better hope than my attempts to fix my void and pain with a better person. You are a better hope than the old way of religion of trying to be better than I used to be by working so hard to modify my own behavior....to crack the code. What is it I put my hope in? 

  

We discussed last week that feeling unworthy was getting in our way of being used by God. We need to let Him push us past this "unworthiness" go on to maturity. Part of going on to maturity is recognizing that the enemy of our souls loves for us to get hung up right there. So maybe this could be considered Part 2 of our teaching last week "Washed Worthy and Willing." 

1) We must identify where we are putting our hope so we can lay it down and accept the "better hope" that Jesus offers. I think I've already given a couple of ways to identify these areas. Back in our last study when we were studying Gideon, these areas of my heart and life would've been referred to as high places or idols. For more direction, let's turn to those red letters in the Bible, Jesus' very words. We open up in the wilderness right after getting John to baptize Him. Jesus is being tempted by the devil to turn stones into bread to satisfy His hunger from His 40 day fast. 

Matt4: Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’

Jesus even saw physical hunger as a need God should meet for Him and not try and make it happen through His own resources. This quote and answer to the enemy came straight out of the Old Testament:

 Deuteronomy 8:3 (NIV) "He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, (which neither you nor your ancestors had known,) to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

2) Is it possible this ongoing "hunger” in our lives is to humble us so that we will turn to Him to meet our need? Could it be He wants to show you how to trust in Him for His answer to your life need right now?      *Manna was a supernatural answer to a natural need. Is it possible that part of living in His Unforced Rhythms of Grace is to turn to Him for the provision and the satisfaction and to stop putting our trust in flesh?  Doesn't Jesus try and tell us that we will live stressed hurried unfulfilled sleepless lives when we are putting our hope in anything but Him and His Word? Let's go back to our theme verse for our bible study and the theme of this blog: 

 Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG) “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep Company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

Now let's look at what He says in His Word about trusting in a person or anything but Him...

Isaiah 2:22 (NIV)"Stop trusting in mere humans who have but a breath in their nostrils. Why hold them in esteem?" 

Isaiah 51:12-13, 15MSG)"I, I’m the One comforting you.  What are you afraid of—or who?Some man or woman who’ll soon be dead? Some poor wretch destined for dust?You’ve forgotten me, God, who made you, who unfurled the skies, who founded the earth. For I am God, your very own God, who stirs up the sea and whips up the waves, named God-of-the-Angel-Armies. I teach you how to talk, word by word, and personally watch over you". 

3) Jesus knows that putting our trust in anything or anyone or any formula but Him leads to a stressed out and harassed life. He is clearly trying to tell us that He wants to meet our needs here "on earth as it is in heaven." 

Psalm 34:8 (NLT)"Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!"

 In summary, Jesus is the BETTER HOPE for my life and God’s Word is how I find my needs met for my hungers as Jesus words echo in my heart. "Man shall not live in bread alone but on every Word that comes from the mouth of God". Bread is man-made and Manna is God made. Would I rather find my answer in man or in a trustworthy God who humbles me so I will look to Him for my hunger? 

Let's pray together:

Lord we acknowledge that you are a better hope

Looking to man has left us all discouraged and empty and sometimes grasping

We can't fix this

As Peter said, "You alone have the Words of life"

I want to live out Acts 17:28 that tells me

"For in Him I live and move and have my being.’

God I want this new way of living in your unforced rhythms of grace.

I am humbled by my need, I bring my hunger to you

I know you will give me your supernatural help for my natural earthly needs.

Thank you that you are a better hope, what a relief!

Amen