A covenant is a promise or pledge, known today to be part of a contract agreement. “By entering into the covenant today, he will establish you as his people and confirm that he is your God, just as he promised you and as he swore to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” God will expect certain things from the people, particularly to keep his commandments and stay away from other religions and their idols. What a big day!
Many Jews still today are very strict in their adherence to the law. They want to be true to their God and his request of them. As a Christ follower, my allegiance to God is strong, but different. Jesus ushered in the “new covenant” by which I live my life. It is helpful to see and understand the original covenant as it makes the new one all the more valuable and precious.
Do you know what stuck out to me today as something I had never thought of? The declaration that Moses made about clothes and shoes not wearing out over the 40 year ramble around the wilderness. It wasn’t that the shoes were extraordinary, it was that God is extraordinary and can provide what we need when we need it. That is a beautiful truth we often take for granted or perhaps forget. We tend to rush out and buy things before we need them. What if we had waited? How would God have provided for our needs?
There is a lot of emphasis here to what people looking from the outside will see when they see God’s people. Will they see the abundance God promises and want that for themselves? Or will they see a land decimated because of the people’s sinfulness and unwillingness to be obedient to their God?
When people look at you, who do they see? Wrestle with this a bit today. Does the way you’re living your life reflect Jesus? Are you letting the Holy Spirit lead your steps?
Sometimes it’s not comfortable to share our faith with others. Fear can set in, and we wonder what they will think of us. We worry we will we say the wrong thing and turn them farther from God. Can you relate? Some people are born evangelists and it’s easy for them. They can often be the ones who are so zealous for God that they do scare people away.
We need to be mindful of our behaviors and what our actions say about us. What we say and do will certainly speak volumes about what we believe. The way we live our life may be the only “Bible” people ever see. If we are truly Christ followers who want to make a difference, who want to invite others to join the kingdom of God, what changes do we need to make? Where are our weak spots? You know the evil one will find it if we don’t. We need to stand strong.
Let’s pray … Lord, I feel weak and need you to lift me up. Show me how you would like me to serve today. Renew my spirit and fall fresh on me. I am weary, empower me. Thank you for your Spirit inside me. Give me the boldness and assurance as I go forth today and everyday. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
