I cannot decide on a title today. I am torn between these two: ‘Things can only get better!’ or ‘What and How?’

D:Ream, a Northern Irish pop group had a number one song in 1994 with the title ‘Things can only get better’. I am sure if you know the song you have started to hum the tune right now!

I love these kind of opportune songs. The start of political conferences or presidential runs there are usually these kind of upbeat visionary songs that indeed things can only get better. The above was because ‘I’ve found you’ though they are usually played to firmly suggest ‘you’ve found me’!

Every Pastor and Church are familiar with vision statements, looking ahead to see what is before us, a time to imagine the impossibility becoming possible.

But crucial to anything you hear from any leader, politician or from the pulpit is the second of my 2 titles: What and How?

A vision and great ideas are fairly easy to come by. But the method, the strategy, how we get there is a different thing altogether!

The old covenant was calling over many generations for something new. It heralded through the prophets for a new covenant to come.

The author in one verse lays not only the purpose but also the method. This is what the vision is but then this is how it will be fulfilled. Remember Hebrews 9 v 15. Let it become the backdrop of your life and the guide. Let it be your foundation not only for what it says because that in itself is so powerful but the model that our Lord Jesus Christ lived by and calls us all to do also. Here it is.

“For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.” (Hebrews 9 v 15)

The NIV separates the verse with a dash. It helps us.

We all long for the promises, even the ones all the way back to Abraham’s day. The promises that we will discover in the chapter of faith (11). We are people who are ready to ‘receive the promised eternal inheritance’. This is the what?

But the how? This is critical to the what.

The promises have come to us because of the sacrifice of Christ. He paid the price.

He set us free from the sins of the first covenant and not only that one. It just wasn’t working. So what was needed was not a whole new set of rules to replace the defunct ones. No. It was the cross, sacrifice, He laid His life down, He gave up; He submitted, He made Himself less, He humbled Himself.

That’s the Shepherd way. That is our leader showing us how to do life.

If there is no sacrifice be very careful what is being sold to you.