CONTRACT or COVENANT
In the world we live in today we enter into all types of contracts, from mobile phones to contracts of employment to marriage contracts. In business we enter into agreement with our clients in order to provide goods and services for a specific period of time with a pre-determined financial reward. It is materialistic based. It is based on potential provision of financial gain. It is there because men are habitual in going back on their word and end up in court battles. It is therefore there to protect either party against the default of each other, it carries financial penalties. (e.g.: current news headline: G4S many failures in meeting contractual obligations). What is the penalty for breaking a promise to God? As Christians we serve a God that cannot lie or go back on his Word and change his mind(Numbers 23:19). His Word will never fail us or return to Him void (Isaiah 55:11). A contract is a short term means to a potentially long term financial gain. Once it is broken or reaches its stated duration both parties are free to go off into different directions in search of another fixed term contract.
The word “contract” is not used in scripture, however there is an equivalent Hebrew word “Berith” which, in English translation means “Covenant”. God works by Covenant not by contract.
Gods Covenant is His grace in our lives. His Covenant is deeper than a contract; it’s more binding than an oath and stronger than a promise. His Covenant does not protect His position against you, it brings you into line with Him and into agreements as allies. His Covenant is unbreakable and limitless (Numbers 23:19). It’s not based on your financial performance, circumstances, position nor is it conditional. Whether you mess up or not, whether you fall short of meeting the agreement, His Covenant remains, it is everlasting (Genesis 17:7). It’s His blueprint which strengthens you in your weakness. It is the gracious agreement between the offended God and the offending sinner in which God promises salvation through faith in Christ. (Galatians 2:16; Romans 5:1 & 11:6) All that is required of you is to by faith and obedience accept his Covenant (promise) and He will provide for all your needs. He will bless you through His Covenant. (Genesis 17: 1-61 Abraham was blessed through God’s Covenant with Isaac).
A Covenant is a sovereign pronouncement establishing relationships of responsibilities. A marriage is a Covenant between man and woman to come into line and agreement where two becomes one (Malachi 2:14-16) in order to protect and strengthen each other. It’s a sacred promise and an oath, not a contract to determine who retains the most at the end of the term.
Are you in a contract or a Covenant? What are your relationships based on? Is it contractual or Covenantal?
2 comments:
Relationships are birthed out of love or obligation, now god so loved the world he gave his only son to us to have a love relationship. For us to know unconditional love, he was never sent to us on a contract with paragraphs of legal terminology but out of pure unadulterated love and that is something that most people cannot comprehend or understand, for to love one another as i have love you, you would know what i know, and that is something so within your reach you can almost taste it and yet it can elude you because you limit your possibilities. You love without love, because you don't know what god truly meant by a convenant love. And Corithians 1: 13 says it all If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Now thats what covenant love looks like.....
This is a very deep and powerful word from Carl. It's not abt man. It's not abt mans gifts or strengths or his abilities. It's all abt The Lord Almighty. He is the one who makes the covenant and who keeps it. I love what our Saviour and Master said " This is a NEW covenant in My BLOOD.... Do this in rememberance of me"
Whenever Satan tells you Ur a sinner and accuses u day and nite you need to remember although u failed the covenant keeping God will never and can never fail. Amen!! Amen!! Amen!! Love u Carl. Thanks 4 that word. Pastor jerry
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