While helping my elderly mother clear out her house, I came across two precious items belonging to her own father, who passed away before I was born. A small black leather case, well worn, holds a set of opera glasses, made in Rochester, New York, USA. As the only lover of opera music in my family, I had wondered where the attraction came from! Also, there is an even-more-worn black leather-bound copy of the King James Bible, printed by the Oxford Press and bearing my grandfather's signature on the title page. Within the delicate pages are carefully tucked small notes of Scripture, Sunday School programs, hand written prayers, and Bible study notes.

From this man whom I never knew, a faithful voice from the past bequeaths his love of music and Christian faith to his granddaughter, who now studies and meditates on God's Word, as he did. Similarly, the writer to the Hebrews reflected on the heritage of faith of his ancestors in the Old Covenant, which culminated in the love and grace of the new one, in Jesus.

Hebrews 8:10-12 – For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after these days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, "Know the Lord," for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more. (NKJV)

If you think of God like my departed grandfather — a distant, impersonal Lawgiver, and only that — these verses illuminate that darkened view, like sunshine through glorious stained glass! Just as I value my own Christian heritage, the Hebrew Christians, discouraged as they were, were encouraged to re-evaluate their heritage from God, and not return to their previous faith made of regulations. The writer urged them to consider that the Old Covenant — which Israel witnessed at Sinai with fear and reverence and which demanded obedience to regulations and laws — has been fulfilled by a New Covenant, where Jesus Himself fulfills the requirements of the law, and the hearts of believers are transformed as a result. Now, we love the Lawgiver, Whose only Son came with love and grace to forgive our unrighteousness and rebellion, through His own sacrifice on the cross of Calvary.

If you feel that your heart is but a tablet of stone for God to write His laws on and nothing more, know that He is not a distant God, but One Who loves us and wants to be known by us.

I finish with a prayer of my grandfather, written in his own hand, transmitting his faith of long ago to us today.

Prayer: We give thanks, our Lord, for all our many blessings — for our homes and families and dearest friends. We would remember all the less fortunate and pray that they may be comforted and consoled in their hour of need. Direct our thoughts to kind and helpful deeds and make us ever mindful of Thy presence. We ask Thy blessing on this gathering in Thy name, and pray for Thy guidance always. Hear us when we pray. Amen.

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About the author:

Shirley Moulton <shirley_moulton@yahoo.ca>
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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