I’ve been studying the book of Exodus for quite some time now and in Chapter 19 I read and listened with my heart how God so lovingly professed His love for Israel as He spoke the covenant of Abraham over them.
It read to me like this, “I saved you because I love you. Please listen to my voice; that nudging in your heart and I will lead you into all truths. I will bless you because I love you, I have chosen you because I love you, I will separate you from the rest and I will exalt you above your enemies because…I Love You.” This is God’s promise to you too!
You can read the actual verse here: Exodus 19: 3-6. Everything God said in His covenant to Abraham was based on His will, His efforts, His Love and in His words to Israel He was revealing the fullness of His promise and expressing His great love for them.
Then came the response from Israel; a response that was different from the response of their forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Israel said in one voice, all that the Lord says WE will do and they said this three times!
As I’m reading this I’m thinking, God didn’t ask you to do anything. He is professing His love and His plan for you, what do you mean, “We will do!”
“WE” didn’t pull you of Egypt, GOD did. “WE” didn’t part the Red Sea and drown the enemy, GOD did! “WE” didn’t send manna from Heaven, sent quail to the desert, or bring forth water from a rock, GOD did! After Israel’s declaration of Independence God gave them the Law, Ten Commandments based on what “they” should do.
If you have a moment, go back and read the responses of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when God revealed His covenant promise to them. Some built altars (a sign of worship) while others simply followed Him to the next destination, and even when questioned by Abraham who wondered how God would be able to do all that He promised since he and his wife Sarah was way pass childbearing age God did not chastise him He made Him a promise and gave Him a vision of hope to count the stars, this will be the number of your descendants. (Hallelujah, God give your people a vision of your will today in Jesus name.)
I think the thing that separates us from God is ourselves. The book of Romans states it well in Romans 10:3, “Since they did not know the righteousness ofGod and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’srighteousness.”
There is hope people of God and His name is Jesus Christ. Because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, -Ephesians 2:4-6.
I thank God that in Christ I am no longer under the Law that depends on my efforts but under the covenant of Grace and the finished work of Christ who fulfilled the Law for me that I may be made the righteousness of God in Christ based not on my efforts but by God’s mercy, grace and willingness to save me.
Believers I urge you through the word of God, Galatians 2:21 do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!
Do not place a burden on others that you yourself can’t bear (The Law) Know this, it’s not YOU (your efforts, your work, your self-righteousness, its HIM (God’s love, His mercy, His Son, His great work).
To God be the glory.
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