Next Reason: OT Worshhip was External, not Internal (Heb. 9:9-10)

SPIRITUAL DIARY

 

                                                                                                            Date:  04-17-03

 

My Worship Time      Focus:  5^th reason OT worship was external, not internal

 

Bible Reading & Meditation             Reference:  Hebrews 9:9,10

 

            1.  Message of the verse:  “9 which is a symbol for the present time. Accordingly both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience, 10 since they relate only to food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until a time of reformation.”  (NASB)  “This is an illustration pointing to the present time.  For the gifts and sacrifices that the priests offer are not able to cleanse the consciences of the people who bring them.  For that old system deals only with food and drink and ritual washing—external regulations that are in effect only until their limitations can be corrected.”  (NTL)  “9 It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience----10 concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation.”  (NKJV) 

            You can look at these verses and see that the OT form of worship did not do anything for the internal parts of man, but it only was for the external parts of man.  They were ceremonies, which could not take sin away, but only cover up the sin until the time when Christ would come and give His life as a sacrifice for sin.  The word for symbolic is a word in which we get our word for parable and thus this OT process could be seen as a parable until the time of Christ when He would make things real.  I want to give the definition of the word for reformation as Strongs Concordance gives it:  “1) in a physical sense, a making straight, restoring to its natural and normal condition something which in some way protrudes or has got out of line, as broken or misshapen limbs 2) of acts and institutions, reformation.”

 

            2.  Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I can see that there is much more to this verse than what it seem like on the service, and things that I do not understand as well as maybe I should, however I am so very thankful that I am living in the time after Jesus Christ has made His sacrifice for sin.  I am thankful also for the plans that God has made knowing that He has all things in His hands and under His control, and that is so very important to me as we go through this time of uncertain economic times.

 

The Word of God was refreshing to me today.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  To continue to trust the Lord as far as things of finances and also to trust Him to continue to bless the ministry that Gary and Andy have.  To continue to trust the Lord to give me more of the qualities of compassion and courage that the Lord has as opposed to fear and selfishness that I as a human have, so that I will become more like Jesus Christ.

 

Memory verses for the week:  Psalm 40:9,10

 

9.      I have proclaimed glade tidings of righteousness in the great congregation; Behold, I will not restrain my lips, O LORD, Thou knowest.

10.  I have not hidden Thy righteousness within my heart; I have spoken of Thy faithfulness and Thy salvation; I have not concealed Thy lovingkindness and Thy truth from the great congregation.