JESUS AND MOSES COMPARED " . . . inasmuch as He who hath builded the house hath more honor than the house." -- Tomorrow:
"Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house. For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who hath builded the house hath more honor than the house. For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God. And Moses verily was faithful in all His house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; but Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end." (Heb 3:1-6)
Devotion 4 of 12
There is a tendency in men to exalt the means above the objective, the worker above the work, and the servant above the Master. It is remarkable how this predilection dominates in religious circles. It is not unusual to hear evangelism emphasized above the Gospel, an apparently successful person above the work accomplished, or the one serving the Lord above the Lord Himself. This may be excusable in the world – but it is not in God's Kingdom. When we speak of Jesus, we are not speaking of One who simply has been given glory and honor. He is WORTHY of ALL glory and honor! The Holy Spirit now rivets this truth into our conscience.
"The builder of the house has more honor than the house." Keep in mind, Moses was a servant in God's house – he had no house of his own! He was a servant, Jesus is the Lord! He managed another Person's house, Jesus administrates His own house. Israel was the house of Moses, a vast multitude which no man can number comprises Christ's house! But note what is said here. It conflicts sharply with the thrust of much of today's religion. Hear the affirmation again. "The builder of the house has more honor than the house."
Often I hear zealous preachers and church representatives speak of the congregation as "people centered." It all sounds very nice, and even has an air of religiosity about it. You will not find these people-devotees, however, speaking much about Jesus Himself. He Himself does not seem to fit into their program. It is not at all apparent that the institutions headed by these men are involved in a fervent quest to "know" Christ, to "win" Him, or be ultimately "found" in Him (Phil 3:7-10).
The Person who built the house has more honor than the house! Others – like the movement with which I have been identified – make the church (or "the house") their focus. That is what they are about, getting the church back where it ought to be. This too appears to be very noble. However, The Person that built the house has more honor than the house! God has not yet exalted the church – although he will in due time. Even with that exaltation in prospect, however, He has "highly exalted" Jesus, "and given Him a name that is above every name" (Phil 2:9).
The "house" is precious, and is not to be despised but the Person who built it has more honor than the "house" itself. The "house" has brought us many benefits, and our closest associations on earth are in the "house" but He that built the house has more honor than the "house." This "house" is nothing less than the "temple of God," indwelt by Deity and wherein truth and grace are found. As it is written, "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple" (1 Cor 3:16-17).
Have a zeal for "the house!" Take heed how you build it upon the Foundation, and be sure you do not defile, corrupt, or pollute it. But always know, the One who builds the house is greater than "the house." Give the honor and glory to Him. The "house" did not save you, Jesus did! The "house" did not die for you, was not raised for you, and does not sit at God's right hand for you--Jesus does! Let the greater glory go to the Lord Jesus Christ!
One last word on this pungent thought. Once the priority of the Son is seen and embraced, the individual cannot emphasize the institution. While it may sound extremely strong, it is nevertheless true: institutionalism is the direct result of "not holding the Head" (Col 2:19). There is a natural enmity between institutionalism and the Kingdom of God, over which Jesus presides. The Son of God is over an eternal kingdom: institutions are temporal by both nature and Divine appointment. Just as the temporal competes with the eternal, and the natural opposes the spiritual, so institutionalism competes with Christ's Kingdom. It will simply not settle for a position of lesser glory, nor will it ascribe the greater glory to the Son. Even a lawful involvement in the institution will soon confirm this to your spirit.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, grant me grace to place the greater emphasis on the One who is building the church, and not on the church itself.