Covenant is Relationship
A covenant is a committment, a promise, but most of all it is a relationship.
Our innate longing to be in relationship
i.e.The need of preemies to be touched.
Types of Covenant
- Covenant of Friendship between David and Jonathon
And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. (1 Samuel 18.3)
A promise to be loyal friends forever
“Blood sisters” – children prick their fingers for blood, smear their blood together, claiming to now be "blood sister" or "blood brothers." It is a promise of loyal and everlasting friendship. The movie, "Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood" demonstrates such a covenant between friends.
- Marriage Covenant
Malachi 2.13-15
… she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant.
- God’s Covenant of Relationship with Abram
God used a familiar cultural form, the covenant, when instituting a relationship with Abram. The animals were cut in two long-wise and laid open, each half opposite the other. Each of the parties walked down through the middle of the flesh and blood signifying that if they did not uphold their covenant commitment, "let what has happened to this animal happen to me." it was a life and death commitment.
- Baptismal Covenant
Baptism is a sign of commitment to God and to the church. We commit to be in relationship with God and we commit to be in relationship with a local church.
- A Covenant of Love
O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below-you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way. (1 Kings 8.23)
God Keeps His Covenant
In the movie “Jingle All the Way”, a disappointed boy says, “You’re the Dad. You’re supposed to keep your promises!”
Probably all have experienced the disappointment of a promise not kept. And some of us have gone through deep valleys of despair because of promises not kept. But we can be assured that God keeps his promises:
He remembers his covenant forever… (Psalm 105.8)
… ‘I will never break my covenant with you.’ (Judges 2.1)
Do you keep Covenant with God?
- God’s Covenant Calls for Commitment
Benefits vs. Responsibilities
The overuse of the word “membership”
in our society has turned some off to "church membership." It is not
about "joining" and gaining "member benefits"; it is about covenanting
in relationship and knowing that relationship takes work! There are
benefits of covenanting with God, but there are also
responsibilities. The United Methodist Baptismal Covenant
responsibilities include: Prayer, presence, gifts and service.
- God’s Covenant Calls for a Relationship
Do you nurture your relationship with God through worship, prayer, bible reading and study, etc.?
- God’s Covenant Calls for Obedience
God speaks to Moses on Mt. Sinai saying, Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant … (Exodus 19.4-6)
Jesus also instructs, If you love me, you will obey what I command. (John 14.15)
This Week read and meditate upon Exodus 20, The Ten Commandments
- God’s Covenant is a Matter of the Heart
Genesis 17.9-14 The Covenant of Circumcision
Romans 2.28-29 The Covenant of the Heart
A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code …
When our heart is circumcised, when we covenant with God and give to him our all, we assume responsibilities out of our love relationship with God. They are not just rules or laws or duties, they are gifts of love or labors of love to the One we love.