Step out of the Shadow

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Scripture

Heb. 10:1    Since the law has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered year after year, make perfect those who approach.

Observation

The law was simply a foreshadowing of the Messiah. When Christ came we experienced the advent of a new covenant. The law could not be made perfect or bring to completion that which God had intended. This is only accomplished through the work of Jesus Christ and he declares, “It is finished!”

Chrysostom reminds us that the shadow is much like the outline on a painting. It points us in the right direction, and yet there is much greater beauty when the bright colors are added. It’s only at that time that it truly becomes an image.

Application

Without a deeply personal relationship with Christ we will only be living in the shadow. We are invited to step out of the shadow and into a beautiful, colorful and vibrant relationship with Christ. It is in this relationship that we become living, multicolored and vivid reflections of our holy God. This is the full and complete picture. Living with less does not satisfy.

Sadly, too many us are living with less. We have become satisfied with living in the shadow, trying to live a Christian culture, rather than hungering for the depth of a transformational relationship with God. The real thing is much more than we can ever imagine and yet, it is available for all.

If you find your religious life unfulfilling, step out of the shadow and into life with the Son!

Prayer

Lord, I don’t want to live in the shadow —please help me to walk in all the fullness of a relationship with you! Amen.

Thank you to Nazarene Publishing House and Keri Mitchell for helping to create and publish Reflecting the Image. This is not a devotional book, but rather a collection of thoughts and stories which lead us in the direction of reflecting Christ. Click on the image to take you to the NPH bookstore.The book is also available in Kindle format on Amazon.com.






http://www.nph.com/nphweb/html/nph/itempage.jsp?itemId=9780834135277

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