Commit to God's Covenant

Confirming Our Covenant: From Ancient Rituals to Modern Faith
In the journey of faith, there are moments that define us - moments where we must stand up and be counted, where our commitment is put to the test. These pivotal instances aren't just about words spoken or rituals performed; they're about the heart's true allegiance and the life that follows.

The book of Deuteronomy paints a vivid picture of such a moment for the ancient Israelites. As they stood on the cusp of entering the Promised Land, Moses laid out a ceremony of covenant renewal. This wasn't just another religious observance; it was a defining moment for an entire nation.

Picture the scene: two mountains, Gerizim and Ebal, standing as silent witnesses. Large stones, carefully plastered, bearing the weight of God's law written upon them. An altar built, sacrifices offered, and a meal shared in the presence of the Lord. Can you feel the gravity of the moment?

But why all this pageantry? Because if God's people desire to live under His blessing in the place He provides, they must commit wholeheartedly to His covenant. It's a principle that echoes through the ages, from those ancient hills to our modern lives.

The ceremony Moses described wasn't just about the outward actions. It was a call to ponder deeply the commitment being made. As the Levites stood between the mountains, voicing blessings and curses, the people were to respond with a resounding "Amen!" to each declaration. This wasn't a passive agreement; it was an active embracing of God's ways, a public declaration of allegiance.

The curses outlined weren't just arbitrary rules. They touched on the core of societal and personal ethics:

• Honoring God alone
• Respecting parental authority
• Protecting the vulnerable in society
• Maintaining sexual purity
• Valuing human life
• Upholding justice

Each "Amen" was a promise to live differently, to be set apart as God's people in a world that often chose darkness over light.

But here's where we need to pause and reflect. How often do we treat our faith like a checklist of dos and don'ts, thinking that if we just follow the rules, we're "in"? The Israelites fell into this trap repeatedly, generation after generation. They had the ceremonies, they knew the law, but their hearts often wandered far from God.

This brings us to the heart of the matter - the New Covenant established by Jesus Christ. While the ancient ceremony at Mounts Gerizim and Ebal is no longer our practice, the principles behind it remain vitally important. We still confirm our covenant. We still confess our commitment. We still are called to keep our promises to God.

The difference? Our covenant is built on the solid rock of Jesus' finished work, not on our ability to keep the law perfectly. Romans 10:9-10 reminds us: "If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Our confession is one of faith and repentance, recognizing Christ as Lord and turning from our old ways to embrace His life.

We confirm this covenant through beautiful ceremonies like baptism and communion. Baptism serves as that initial, public declaration of faith - a powerful symbol of dying to our old self and rising to new life in Christ. Communion, which many churches celebrate weekly, becomes our ongoing reminder of the covenant's foundation: Christ's sinless life represented in the bread, His sacrificial death symbolized by the cup.

But here's the crucial part - our covenant keeping isn't about earning God's favor or maintaining our salvation. It's a joyful, celebratory obedience that flows from our new identity in Christ. Jesus Himself said, "If you love me, keep my commands" (John 14:15). This obedience isn't a burden; it's the natural outpouring of a heart transformed by grace.

So, what does this mean for us today?

1. Examine your foundation: Are you trying to earn God's approval through religious observance, or is your faith firmly rooted in Christ's finished work?
2. Make your commitment public: Have you publicly declared your faith through baptism? Do you regularly participate in communion as a way to reaffirm your covenant with God?
3. Live it out daily: How does your faith impact your everyday decisions, even when no one is watching? Remember, God sees the secret things of the heart.
4. Embrace joyful obedience: Don't view God's commands as restrictive rules, but as loving guidance from a Father who wants the best for you.
5. Rest in grace: When you fail (and we all do), don't let guilt drive you away from God. Instead, let it drive you back to the cross, where forgiveness and restoration are always available.

The beauty of our covenant with God through Christ is that it's not written on stones that can erode or on tablets that can be lost; it's written on our hearts, transforming us from the inside out. So, let's not settle for a surface-level faith or mere religious observance. Instead, let's wholeheartedly embrace the covenant God offers us in Christ. May our lives be a living "Amen" to His promises, a daily confirmation of our commitment to Him. In doing so, we'll discover the true blessing, purpose, and abundant life He intends for us.