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Hebrews chapter eight refers to the Jewish system of the priests offering up animal sacrifices under the first covenant. The Priests were required to offer daily "gifts according to the law" (8:4). But now through the blood offering of Jesus Christ, our High Priest, the Bible says He attained "a more excellent ministry" and a new and "better covenant" (8:6). All of God's redeemed servants can add a hardy "Amen" to that.

Without a doubt, Jesus set a new standard for a "more excellent ministry" in all that we do. When doing the work and will of God, we should see to it that we give it our best. He is not pleased with anything that is less than our best.

No matter what has ever been accomplished in or through any of our lives, we have to say, "To God be the glory!" It is wonderful to look back and see what He has done through your life or ministry, but the question today is, would our ministries be called "excellent" by God's standards?

I believe that certain criteria should be in place before answering the above question. In the first place, the important thing is to use God's standard, the Bible, rather than man's. "For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise" (2 Corinthians 10:12). This eliminates a lot of cheap imitations as to what pleases God or not.

Second, it's not a matter of quantity versus quality. Rather, it is a matter of obedience in doing the will of God. I have always said that people do not know the will of God because they do not know the Word of God. There is no substitute for knowing and studying the Bible.

Third, we are to take heed how we build our ministries. How sad it is today that many are giving up on godly and holy living in order to draw a crowd. The popular thought today is that it makes no difference how you minister as long as you are sincere or in a church setting.

Our churches are full of people who are content with attending Sunday morning, thinking they have fulfilled their responsibility before the Lord. God said we were created for His glory to serve Him through our church.

Some need to ascertain their gift(s) and thrust themselves into the ministry. Others of us, perhaps, need simply to ask if our ministry is "more excellent" or if it is dying on the vine! What you do in the ministry should be the most exciting part of your life. God is not someone to visit on Sunday morning, He is to be one's everlasting Obsession living through us every moment of every day!

May God give us a "more excellent ministry"!
This article was originally published on Budcalvert.com.

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Hebrews chapter eight refers to the Jewish system of the priests offering up animal sacrifices under the first covenant. The Priests were required to offer daily "gifts according to the law" (8:4). But now through the blood offering of Jesus Christ, our High Priest, the Bible says He attained "a more excellent ministry" and a new and "better covenant" (8:6).