New & Old Testament (Life & Death)

Thursday's Devotion (1-6-05)

"Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious." 2 Corinthians 3:6-11 (KJV)

The "letter" mentioned here is the law that Moses, delivered to the people in the Old Testament, otherwise known as the Ten Commandments. They're referred to here as, "the ministration of death". Why would someone call them that? Reason is because without the Ten Commandments, there would be no law and if there was no law to break, then there would be no condemnation. If I stayed at your house and you told me not to wear my shoes on your carpet and I did anyway, after hearing you say not to, then you would have a pretty good reason to say, "Get out of my house!". However, if you didn't tell me not to do it and I did it, then you really couldn't complain. In the time before Christ, if you made any mistakes or if you broke any of God's laws you didn't really have the hope you have today. You didn't really have peace and the assurance of forgiveness that we have now.

The New Testament of the Bible is rather different and more glorious than the Old Testament. Why? It is because Christ came, died and rose again to make a way for our mistakes. The New Testament is like a love letter as some refer to it as. It's like God, said, "I know you're not perfect and that you will make mistakes, but I love you anyway!". The New Testament is referred to as, "the ministration of righteousness". I would say that it is called that because no matter how many times we mess up, if we go to God and ask forgiveness, we are forgiven and are sins are washed away. All God, sees on us is the righteousness of His Son! When Jesus, died it said, "Death could not hold Him." because He was so perfect. Since God, sees His Son in you and in me, then death and Hell can not hold us! That is much more glorious than the Old Testament!

I just finished reading the whole Bible recently and I realize that some people only read the New Testament. Even though the New Testament is what we live by and is the most glorious we should read the Old Testament too. I understand the New Testament better after reading the Old and vice versa. If you're a new believer I strongly recommend that you read the New Testament first. That is the message of love and salvation that we need to know first. That is how to live now and we need to know that. Also if you read the Old Testament and see what strict law they lived under, then you will appreciate what Christ, did for you! I used to think, "Why did Christ, die if it looks like the people in the Old Testament had forgiveness too?" Most of them in the Old Testament had no forgiveness and they were so under the law. Jesus Christ, gave us life and gave it to us more abundantly. Life is to be enjoyed and Christ, showed us that by dying for us to have a better life. We still need to live as God, would have us to live, but if we mess up we shouldn't feel condemned... That's the message of the cross that God, knows we are not perfect, but yet He sees us as perfect because all He sees in us is Jesus!

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for this message and for all things. Please forgive us of all our sins and we forgive all those who've wronged us. Please help us to know you through your Word and to understand your Word. Teach us, guide us, strengthen us and help us to save others. Help us to minister your love unto others. In Jesus, name. A-men!

God bless!

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