Hebrews: A Name

Having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. Hebrews 1:4

Inheritance: to be an heir to (literally or figuratively) 

Excellent: surpassing

Name: the manifestation or revelation of someone's character, i.e. as distinguishing them from all others; a name is inseparable from the person to whom it belongs, i.e. it is something of his essence. (HelpsBible.com) 

Being made so much better - Being exalted so much above the angels. The word “better” here does not refer to moral character, but to exaltation of rank. As Mediator; as the Son of God in our nature, he is exalted far above the angels. (Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible) 

A more excellent name - To wit, the name Son. It is a more honorable and exalted name than has ever been bestowed on them. It involves more exalted privileges, and entitles him on whom it is bestowed to higher respect and honor than any name ever bestowed on them. (Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible)

For to which of the angels did He ever say: “You are My Son, today I have begotten You”? And again: “I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to Me a Son”? Hebrews 1:5

Son: properly, a son (by birth or adoption); highlights the (legal) right to the Father's inheritance

Some thoughts on Hebrews, as I read through the book to prepare my heart for Pastor's sermon. 

To listen to Pastor Osborne's Sermons, visit http://www.faithbaptistwh.org (under the Media tab). 

Enjoy the Full Toy Box

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 16. Here is what I learned.

The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; yes, I have a good heritage. Psalm 16:6 (AMP)

My home is surrounded in beauty; You have gifted me with abundance and a rich legacy. Psalm 16:6 (VOICE)

·My share in life has been pleasant [The boundary lines fall for me in pleasant places]; my ·part [inheritance] has been beautiful. Psalm 16:6 (EXB)

.....Therein he solaced himself on earth, and delights himself in heaven; and he asks no more "GOODLY HERITAGE" than that his own beloved may be with him where he is and behold his glory. All the saints can use the language of this verse, and the more thoroughly they can enter into its contented, grateful, joyful spirit the better for themselves, and the more glorious to their God. .......Mr. Greenham was bold enough to say, "They never felt God's love, or tasted forgiveness of sin, who are discontented." Some divines think that discontent was the first sin, the rock which wrecked our race in paradise; certainly there can be no paradise where this evil spirit has power, its slime will poison all the flowers of the garden. The Treasury of David

Discontentment robs us of so much. When we are busy wishing for what we don't have, we miss enjoying what we do have. How many times to I act like a 5-year-old? I have a toy box full of toys, but I want that “new toy”. When I get that new toy, I play with it for a few seconds, only to realize it’s not as fun as I thought it would be, so it goes in the toy box with the other toys. And my attention is turned to the next new toy.  Always wanting, never satisfied, and never enjoying the fun the full toy box could provide. 

God blesses me with so much. When I spend time thanking God for what He’s given me, and enjoying the God’s blessings, I’m contented. But when I ignore what God provides and look at what I think I want, or think I need, my discontentment grows, and can often turn to bitterness and envy. 

To create a positive day, I need enjoy the full toy box that God and enjoy the contentment that grows from being thankful to God for His gift of a rich legacy. 

Fill my Cup!

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 16. Here is what I learned.

The Lord is my inheritance and my cup. You are the one who determines my destiny. Psalm 16:5 (GW)

You, Eternal One, are my sustenance and my life-giving cup. In that cup, You hold my future and my eternal riches. Psalm 16:5 (VOICE)

Lord, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing. You guard all that is mine. Psalm 16:5 (NLT)

"The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup." With what confidence and bounding joy does Jesus turn to Jehovah, whom his soul possessed and delighted in! Content beyond measure with his portion in the Lord his God, he had not a single desire with which to hunt after other gods; his cup was full, and his heart was full too......

He is our portion, supplying all our necessities, and our cup yielding royal luxuries; our cup in this life, and our inheritance in the life to come. As children of the Father who is in heaven, we inherit, by virtue of our joint heirship with Jesus, all the riches of the covenant of grace. The Treasury of David

The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance. The meaning here is, that Yahweh was the being whom the psalmist worshipped as God, and that he sought no possession or comfort which did not proceed from him.

And my cup. The idea here is this: "The cup that I drink - that cheers, refreshes, and sustains me - is the Lord. I find comfort, refreshment, happiness, in him alone; not in the intoxicating bowl; not in sensual joys; but in God - in his being, perfections, friendship."

Thou maintainest my lot - Thou dost defend my portion, or that which is allotted to me. The reference is to what he specifies in the following verse as his inheritance, and he says that that which was so valuable to him was sustained or preserved by God. He was the portion of his soul; he was the source of all his joy; he maintained or preserved all that was dear to his heart. Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Cheers, refreshes, and sustains me.... I find comfort, refreshment, happiness.... in God—in His being, perfections, friendship. Wow. The source of my refreshment and sustaining happiness is God. He is the eternal spring of life, that continues to supply the cool refreshing joy that only God can give. 

To create a positive day, I need to make sure my “cup” is emptied of all the false fillers the world gives and allow God to fill my cup with His blessings! 

I Know Best! Really?

Throughout this year, each day of the month, I'm "Treasure Hunting" in a Psalm. I've created a "Ponder Every Morsel of Truth" Book to record the truths as I learn them. The seventh of each month, I'm studying Psalm 47. Here's what Treasure I found today.

He chooseth our inheritance for us, The glory of Jacob whom he loved. Selah Psalm 47:4 (ASV)

He shall choose our inheritance for us,.... Either a portion in this life; God knows what is best for his people, and therefore they should leave it with him, who can make a better choice for them than for themselves: an Heathen (c) once gave this advice, "give thyself wholly to the will and disposal of the celestial ones; for they who are used to give good things easily can also choose the fittest.'' Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

I know best! And certainly, I know better than God—really??? Well, no. But so often, sadly, that’s my attitude. I think I know what’s best for me. However, I am usually wrong. There are circumstances that are not in my control. There are people involved who are not in my control. There are so many factors in life, that I know nothing about, nor can I control them! So it’s best that I allow God to choose what is best for me. 

But what if He chooses something I don’t like! You mean, like pain? YES! I don’t like pain, I don’t like it one bit! However, knowing that God chose this journey for me, I may not “like it”, I may not “understand it”, I can take comfort in knowing it was “God designed”. 

God designed. God has a plan, a pattern, which He is using to create something unique and that will best be able to show forth His glory.  The God who created the magnificent heavens, the beautiful sunrises, who covers the earth with snow to make amazing ‘winter wonderlands’, is very capable of creating a life for me. When I stop to think of all the absolutely amazing breath-taking things God has created..... I think I can trust Him to choose an inheritance—a God designed life for me. 

Although at times I may not fully understand what God is doing, I can rest assured that He has chosen a specific God-designed plan for me. And when I’m willing to give up my “I know best” attitude and accept God’s choice, that makes for a very positive God-designed day!