Let God’s Word RULE Our Lives
BRD REFLECTIONS:
(Alvin Tay, LCEC Chairperson)
READ:
Hebrews 8, particularly verses 1-2 and 8-12.
OBSERVE:
The writer of Hebrews devotes the first eight chapters to explaining why Jesus is greater than the angels, Moses and the Old Testament priesthood, and that He is like Melchizedek the Priest. Then the writer of Hebrews gets to the main point: “We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by a mere human being” (Hebrews 8:1-2).
The NIV titled Hebrews 8, “The High Priest of a New Covenant”. The NLT headlined it, “Christ is our High Priest”. In the NRSVUE, it is titled “Mediator of a Better Covenant”. Putting all three versions together, it reads: “Jesus Christ is our High Priest and Mediator of a New, Better Covenant”. Jesus, whose birth we remember today, is the foundation of this new covenant.
For this new covenant, God said He would put His laws in our minds and write them on our hearts. (See Hebrews 8:8-12, which is a quotation from Jeremiah 31:31-34).
APPLY:
I started attending DISCIPLE Bible Study in 2011, and in the first few years, I followed the Bible reading schedule in the programme very diligently, and surrounded myself with Christian reference books and Bible commentaries. I grew in knowledge of the Word. It did change some of my bad habits. But I have to confess that it was more about filling my mind with Bible knowledge than letting God’s Word touch my heart. My wife told me I had more of an intellectual understanding of God’s Word. It was only in subsequent years that I realised that God seeks my obedience to His Word, and not just my diligence in reading His Word – to be a doer and not merely a hearer of His Word.
As the promoters of the DISCIPLE programme clearly state: The aim of DISCIPLE is not just informing minds but transforming lives. Heart transformation and not just head information!
Clearly, I will need to transform and guard my heart, because “the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. For out of the heart come evil thoughts — murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander” (Matthew 15:18-19).
DO:
I will continue to develop a personal relationship with God, always seeking His presence and letting His word RULE my life:
R – Read the Bible daily.
U – Understand what it says.
L – Live out God’s Word in my life.
E – Enjoy God’s Word.
PRAY:
Heavenly Father, thank You for so loving us that You sent Jesus to this world more than 2,000 years ago. Thank You, Jesus, for Your sacrificial work on the Cross, so that we can be made right with God again. Abba Father, help us to yield to Your Word in our lives and ministry, always certain of Your promises and assured of future hope. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen!
