19 Mar 09
Thursday of the Third Week in Lent
Covenant----a One-sided Agreement
Genesis 9:8-17
We often think of ‘covenant’ as a solemn agreement made between ‘contracting parties’, in particular between God and human beings with whom He interacted and dealt with such as the covenant that God made with Abraham (Gen 17:1-14) and with the nation of Israel (Ex 19:1-5). As Christians we always think of the New Covenant (Luke 22:14-20 and related gospel passages as well as in Hebrews) as the ultimate covenant.
One characteristic of God’s covenants is the requirement that we keep our part of the bargain, notably the call to live in obedience to God as His covenantal people. Jesus summed up our covenantal relationship with Him with these words, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments’ (John 14:15).
God’s covenant with Noah was exceptional in this regard ---- there was absolutely nothing that Noah and his children (or even the animals! V10) were required to do. It was a totally one-sided agreement, with nothing for God to gain, so to speak.
We can actually argue that the same one-sidedness is found in all the other covenants of God as well, including the New Covenant of which you and I are bound by faith in action to love, obey and serve God. But like God’s covenant with Noah, the New Covenant is also one-sided because God gains nothing from our obedience and service!
Actually, all of God’s dealings with us are one-sided: He gains nothing, we gain everything! Such an understanding of our Heavenly Father’s boundless grace should lead us to true and acceptable worship, the presentation of our lives to serve His purpose (Romans 12:1 and Heb 12:28-29) to His eternal glory and praise.
(The Very Rev Kuan Kim Seng,
Dean & Vicar,
St Andrew’s Cathedral)
Commitment: God, Abba-Father, I surrender my will to you. I seek only to do your will.
Prayer: Dear God and Father, thank you for your gracious dealings with humanity. As I recall the love, mercy and kindness with which you dealt with Noah, I thank you for your unconditional love for us. As I recall the night that the New Covenant was instituted when your Son spoke of ‘the new covenant in My blood’, help me to be forever grateful for such a precious sacrifice. In response, I now offer my life as a sacrifice, that I may do your will and serve your purpose, to your eternal praise and glory. Amen.
Thursday of the Third Week in Lent
Covenant----a One-sided Agreement
Genesis 9:8-17
We often think of ‘covenant’ as a solemn agreement made between ‘contracting parties’, in particular between God and human beings with whom He interacted and dealt with such as the covenant that God made with Abraham (Gen 17:1-14) and with the nation of Israel (Ex 19:1-5). As Christians we always think of the New Covenant (Luke 22:14-20 and related gospel passages as well as in Hebrews) as the ultimate covenant.
One characteristic of God’s covenants is the requirement that we keep our part of the bargain, notably the call to live in obedience to God as His covenantal people. Jesus summed up our covenantal relationship with Him with these words, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments’ (John 14:15).
God’s covenant with Noah was exceptional in this regard ---- there was absolutely nothing that Noah and his children (or even the animals! V10) were required to do. It was a totally one-sided agreement, with nothing for God to gain, so to speak.
We can actually argue that the same one-sidedness is found in all the other covenants of God as well, including the New Covenant of which you and I are bound by faith in action to love, obey and serve God. But like God’s covenant with Noah, the New Covenant is also one-sided because God gains nothing from our obedience and service!
Actually, all of God’s dealings with us are one-sided: He gains nothing, we gain everything! Such an understanding of our Heavenly Father’s boundless grace should lead us to true and acceptable worship, the presentation of our lives to serve His purpose (Romans 12:1 and Heb 12:28-29) to His eternal glory and praise.
(The Very Rev Kuan Kim Seng,
Dean & Vicar,
St Andrew’s Cathedral)
Commitment: God, Abba-Father, I surrender my will to you. I seek only to do your will.
Prayer: Dear God and Father, thank you for your gracious dealings with humanity. As I recall the love, mercy and kindness with which you dealt with Noah, I thank you for your unconditional love for us. As I recall the night that the New Covenant was instituted when your Son spoke of ‘the new covenant in My blood’, help me to be forever grateful for such a precious sacrifice. In response, I now offer my life as a sacrifice, that I may do your will and serve your purpose, to your eternal praise and glory. Amen.
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