The Old Testament reveals that the covenant God had with the people during Exodus is pretty one sided – that it requires much more of God than it does the people – but still they were unable to remain faithful. And that even though the people fall away from it time and again, God never terminates the Covenant, but instead calls on the people to renew their relationship with Him.
In Jeremiah 31:33, during the rise of the Assyrians and Babylonians and the siege of Jerusalem, we find this promise from God. “This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel declares the Lord. I will put my law in their hearts. I will be their God and they will be my people”.
And this theme of renewing the Covenant carried on into the New Testament. In a sense, God sent Jesus as a renewal of the Covenant. We ought to periodically revisit and renew our Covenant with God and one another.
God’s covenant with us is a covenant based on relationship, and our relationships only survive and thrive when we spend time with one another. So, we should spend the time with God and request that God should grant us a fresh outpouring of His Holy Spirit.
We are to reflect on the wonders of God and His incomprehensible excellence, reflect on ourselves – our sinful nature (and seek fogginess and grace), repent of our iniquities and resolve to keep going and keep pressing on. Commit ourselves to Christ as His servants.
Christ has many services to be done. Some are easy and honorable; others are more difficult. Some are suitable to our inclinations and interests; others are contrary to both.
In some we may please Christ and ourselves. But then there are other works where we cannot please Christ except by denying ourselves.
It is necessary therefore, as we renew this Covenant with God that we consider what it means to be a servant of Christ. God’s blessings, in Jesus Name. AMEN. You will have good success this 2019. Remain blessed. Shalom.
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