Why Settle for Less Than the Best!!!

WHY SETTLE FOR LESS THAN THE BEST!

If we would but only look back over our lives, we will find where we have sometimes and in various ways compromised our moral positions, values, dreams, relationships, and even our spiritual walk with God. And If we would be honest, oftentimes, we settled for less than the best due to impatience, feelings of unworthiness, a deflated self-esteem, or because we wanted instant gratification.

And if the truth be told because we decided to settle for less than the best, we’ve had to suffer severe consequences and deep regrets as a result.

However, we don’t have to continue walking in self condemnation (Romans 8). We need only repent, ask God for forgiveness, surrender to Him as the Lord of our lives and to begin to allow Him to lead and guide us in every decision–whether big or small.

Why settle for less than the best when you can have a better way in Christ. Not mere religion with all of its legalistic rules and manmade dogmas, but a true relationship with Christ.

In the book of Hebrews we find at least ten ways that Jesus is better than anything that this world or this life has to offer and they are outlined as below:

• Jesus is better than the Prophets (Hebrews 1:1-3)
• Jesus is better than the Angels (1:4-14)
• Jesus is better than Moses (3:1-6)
• Jesus is better than Joshua (4:6-11)
• Better than the High Priests (5:1-10)
• Jesus is better than Abraham (7:1-10)
• Jesus is better than the Old Testament Priesthood (7:11-19)
• Jesus is better than the Tabernacle (9:2-12)
• Jesus is better than the old sacrifices (10:11-18)
• Jesus is better than the experience at Mt. Sinai; 12:18-24

Over the course of time, we will be discussing a few of the blessings above as we seek to appreciate just how blessed we are to have Jesus Christ of Nazareth in our lives and to appreciate that He is better to us than anything this world has to offer.

First off, we wish to establish what “better” means in the book of Hebrews as it relates to Christ Jesus. In Hebrews 1:4, it says “being made so much better than the angels”, and we find in the Strongs Concordance, that the Greek translation for better is kreitton, pronounced krite’-tohn (G2909) and means “stronger, best, more excellent”.

In the Bible, angels held very important roles in speaking to God’s people.

• Two angels accompanied the Lord when He spoke to Abraham. (Gen. 18:2-22)
• Two angels met Lot in Sodom and warned him of the coming judgment. (Gen 19:12)
• An angel wrestled with Jacob in the night and blessed him (Gen 32:22-32)
• An angel spoke to Joshua on how to take the city of Jericho. (Josh 5:13-15)
• An angel spoke to Gideon to drive the enemies of Israel from the land. (Judg 6:11-24)
• An angel shuts the mouths of the lions when Daniel was in the lion’s den (Dan. 6:22)
• An angel came to Mary to tell her she would give birth to Jesus. (Luke 1:26-38)
• Angels appeared to the shepherds and announced the birth of Christ. (Luke 2:8-20)

Even though angels held prominent roles, they were not superior to Jesus. Only Jesus is deemed the First-born. Only Jesus is deemed the Messiah. Only Jesus came to redeem us. Only Jesus can save us. In other words He is the Captain of our Salvation. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the light, no man cometh to the Father except through Him. (John 14:6).

When Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, and came up out of the water, immediately the heavens opened and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him; 11 and a voice came out of the heavens saying : “Thou art My beloved Son, in Thee I am well-pleased.” (Mark 1:10-11).

With this statement, God identified Jesus as the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy. Jesus is the beloved Son of God. And all who call on the name of Jesus are accepted in the beloved. Ephesians 1:6 declares “To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in His beloved.

Do you understand what that means? Yes, Yahweh God sends His angels to protect us on so many fronts, but can’t no nobody do us like Jesus. We are accepted in the beloved bosom of Jesus. Like a lamb in the arms of His shepherd, He loves us that much. He paid a price that no other could pay. Jesus shed His blood on Calvary’s Cross to save us, to protect, to shield us from all hurt, harm, and danger.

Jesus loves us just that much. And I agree with the Apostle Paul when he asserts this passage of scripture found in Romans 8:38 and I like this translation in the NLT, “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.”

And get this, even the angels know that Jesus is better. An angel had to warn John the Revelator not to worship him but to worship God. …”Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said, No, don’t worship me. I am a servant of God, just like you and your brothers and sisters who testify about their faith in Jesus. Worship only God! For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus.” (Rev. 19:10 (NLT)

JESHUA HAMASHIACH, “bka” JESUS is better than the Angels. So, why settle for the less than the best….More to come…stay tuned…..