But now Jesus, our High Priest, has been given a ministry that is far superior to the old priesthood, for he is the one who mediates for us a far better covenant with God, based on better promises (Hebrews 8:6 NLT).

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Have you ever bought the cheaper version of a product three times because it keeps breaking, when you could have bought the more expensive, superior product for the same amount you spent on multiples? My husband loves a good Amazon deal, but sometimes the “savings” don’t really save us in the end. Just last week, those little bean-filled crocheted bags that kids kick around that have become popular again arrived at our house, and right away my children deemed them inferior because of their weight and construction. They are definitely cheap and hastily made imitations of the original product.

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When I was researching why people don’t just choose the superior product the first time, I came across this idea, attributed to John Ruskin, called the Common Law of Business Balance. Part of it says, “When you pay too little, you sometimes lose everything because the thing you bought was incapable of doing the thing it was bought to do.” I think we have all seen how this concept plays out in life in regard to material things, but I think there are also spiritual applications as we look to choosing the better High Priest.

If you have been reading our ACF devos the past few weeks, you have likely noticed the theme of Jesus as our High Priest. The writer of Hebrews really wants the audience to understand how the old covenant is no longer needed because God has made a new one through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. When I read verse 6, I was struck by the phrase “far superior.” Superior means higher in rank, status or quality, something that is better, above average, or greater than something else. When used as a noun, the word refers to a person of higher standing. Back in the time of the Old Testament, the priests were considered men of great importance. They were the ones who offered sacrifices on behalf of the people for their sin. The high priests had authority that the rest of the community didn’t have, and I would argue they were revered for their ability to enter the temple and go before God. So, as legendary and amazing as the old priests were, it is important to understand that Jesus is greater. The people now must choose to live under the new covenant, one that is far superior because of what Christ did, the sacrifice he offered of his own life.

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So, if living under the new covenant is so much greater, why doesn’t everyone choose it? This question took me back to why people don’t always choose the superior product when shopping. Sometimes we are impatient, and we want something faster, like my husband not waiting for better quality Hacky Sacks, or we want to be like everyone else, or we are comfortable with using the thing we already have even though it doesn’t actually work that well. I then thought about times in my life when I don’t choose Jesus even though I know in my heart He is the better way. I am too impatient to wait to hear from him, so I try my own ideas or maybe I don’t want to be judged or shunned when I speak his name with people who aren’t believers. But not choosing Jesus never quite satisfies. We can end up “losing everything,” like in the law of Business Balance, because nothing in life can truly do what Jesus does for us.

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In what areas of my life might I be choosing a cheap substitute over the superior thing, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Am I looking for connection in my scrolling instead of going to Jesus? Am I looking for validation in my job instead of going to Jesus to see my worth and identity? Take a minute today to pray about where you need to put the High Priest – in his proper place to lead your life. Because under all the new promises God gave when priests were no longer needed, Jesus did the work for us that no one else could do.

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Father God, we thank you today for the new covenant that offers intimate access to you, complete forgiveness, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Please show us how to turn away from the things we try to put in the place of your Son in our lives. We know you are far superior to anything else on this Earth we try to follow or hold on to, so please draw us to yourself so that we may live in ways that point others to you, as well. In your Son’s Mighty Name we pray, Amen.