Living in Covenant

Good Morning I know it has been a few days but a verse of Scripture I was reading has been really weighing on me and I wanted to share what I was reading. It is found in the Old Testament book of Malachi and is about the Levitical covenant.

5 My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him. It was a covenant of fear, and he feared me. He stood in awe of my name. 6 True instruction was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity. 7 For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.

Malachi 2:5-7 (ESV)

As Christians we are all called to be priests and servants of God presenting the gospel to those He places in our lives. I know that is not a new concept for most of us. Yet as I read this passage of scripture I wondered how many of us actually are living under this covenant.  You see a covenant is a binding contract but all contracts require that each party in the contract does their part. When you were saved you became part of the royal priesthood separated from the world called to be a messenger for God. In that God has promised to provide a life and in that life we will find peace. Over the past few years I have begun to understand this part of the covenant better. The peace that you find is not one that avoids all conflict and strife but one that when there is conflict you are assured that God has control of the situation and that in that conflict He will provide peace for you. In my mind I picture Jesus asleep in the boat while the storm raged around them. Everyone else was worried but he had peace and rest from it all. But his life was lived bringing the truth he walked in uprightness and he turned from sin. There is a promise there for you and me. If we find ourselves being battered by the storms of life; are we holding up our end of the covenant? Allow God to bless you today as you walk in the light of His Word.

Thy Will Be Done

What does it really mean when we pray,” Your will be done” as we are instructed in Matthew 6? This morning I was working on homework and as I was reading about Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego and their trial by fire. If you have never heard or read this testimony of the power of God it is found in Daniel 3 and I recommend you read it for yourself.  A quick explanation; the ruler that they served has created a statue that all people are to bow down and worship, they refuse because they worship the one true God Jehovah. The King is outraged and throws them into a furnace. God delivers them through this and the ruler changes his mind about Jehovah the God of the Hebrews. But before they are cast into this furnace we read these verses that are found in Daniel 3:16-18:

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you.17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty.18 But even if he does not, we want to make it clear to you; Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”

Dan 3:16-18 (NLT)

When you read that you need to understand they were all about being obedient to the will of God. They knew what was required of them and were willing to give all they had to be obedient to God. That is what it really looks like when we as Christians today pray, “Thy will be done.” Have you ever prayed that prayer I have and it can come at a very heavy cost. The only thing I can tell you is that living the other way is not any cheaper or easier. I can promise you God will have His way in your life if you call on the name of Jesus as Lord and Savior. The choice is yours about how you will travel that road. Living in obedience and walking under His authority are always going to reap His blessings. The road is not an easy one that is why not many travel it; but those who do, find a great reward in the end. The next time you find yourself praying for the Will of God be sure you are prepared to go where he leds it might be a fiery furnace but were ever he leds he goes before you and will bring you through it. Have a Blessed day as you walk in the light of God’s Word.

Moving Forward with a Purpose

When you were saved what was the purpose in it? I had never given this a whole lot of thought in my life before I gave my heart to Jesus. I had been told many different things about God and often people confused me more than anything when I asked questions. I believe the most confusing part after my salvation was the question what do I do next. Like many of you it was all new to me so I prayed and read my bible seeking direction and an answer from God about what he wanted for me to do. I have been given an answer and am working towards the goal He has set for me. Though recently I was studying about missions and in some of the material I was required to read I have learned I serve a missionary God he has been about missionaries from the time of Abraham till today and even while Jesus walked the earth. We serve a missionary God that desires that we be the salt and light to a lost and dying world. An example of this can be found in Psalm 67:1-7;

1 May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, Selah 2 that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations. 3 Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! 4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Selah 5 Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! 6 The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, shall bless us. 7 God shall bless us; let all the ends of the earth fear him!

Psalms 67:1-7 (ESV)

The covenant that God made with Israeli is all about the blessing of them as a people and the fact that they were to be salt and light unto the whole world. In their actions they established what others would believe about them and the God that they served. The same thing applies to each of our lives today as we serve Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Too often we fail to pay honor and respect to those we meet along the way. Having forgotten what God has delivered us out of and He has never left us or forsaken Him. He will provide for us Common Grace until we are presented the gospel of Jesus Christ. I challenge you today; are you living a life of one who has been blessed by the greatest gifts available to you under the blessing of obedience to God the Father. Have a truly blessed day as you walk in the Light of the Word.