The Need of Death to Execute a Will (Heb. 9:16-17)

SPIRITUAL DIARY

 

                                                                                                            Date:  04-22-03

 

My Worship Time                  Focus:  The need of death to execute a will

 

Bible Reading & Meditation             Reference:  Hebrews 9:16-17

 

            1.  Message of the verse:  “16 For where a covenant is, there must of necessity be the death of the one who made it.  17 For a covenant is valid only when men are dead, for it is never in force while the one who made it lives.”  (NASB)  Now when someone dies and leaves a will, no one gets anything until it is proved that the person who wrote the will is dead.  The will goes into effect only after the death of the person who wrote it.  While the person is still alive, no one can use the will to get any of the things promised to them.”  (NLT) 

            These two verses illustrate the necessity of the death of Christ, for without His death the provisions of the New Covenant would not be enforced.  The word used for covenant in these verses is the same word used for covenant in other places in this book. 

 

            2.  Spiritual meaning for my life today:  Sometimes when I read things in the Bible that seem to have less or little meaning to me, (not that the death of Christ has little meaning to me) I do not think of them in the same way that God thinks of them.  I know that because these two verses are part of the heart of the Gospel and they are very important to God and His plan for my salvation.

 

The Word of God was convicting to me today as I read it this morning.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  I want to remember the pain in my heart that sin gives me before participating in it.  I want to trust the Lord with my EBS today, to trust the Lord to give me more compassion and courage, and to perfect love in my life.

 

Memory verses for the week:  Psalm 40:9-11

 

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.

11.  Thou, O LORD, will not withhold Thy compassion from me; Thy lovingkindness and Thy truth will continually preserve me.