Believe and Become
God is pursuing each person in order that they would believe in Him and become who they were made to be.
“Then the Lord said to Moses, “Come up to the Lord...He got up early the next morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain and set up twelve stone pillars representing the twelve tribes of Israel. Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They responded, “We will do everything the Lord has said; we will obey.” Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, “This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.” The Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and stay here, and I will give you the tablets of stone with the law and commandments I have written for their instruction.”
Exodus 24:1-2, 4, 7-8, 12, 17-18
In the Old Testament there was distinct separation and structure. People would come to a set place to worship and follow set laws set forth by the covenant. God's intention for this was to bring together community and create a community of holiness because He cares.
Have you ever thought you needed to be a certain place, pray a certain way, or follow set rules to be in right standing with God?
“God is my King from long ago; he brings salvation on the earth. The day is yours, and yours also the night; you established the sun and moon. It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth; you made both summer and winter. Have regard for your covenant"
Psalms 74:10, 12, 16-17, 20-21
David sings of his salvation and stands on God's promises. How do you incorporate these practices in your life? Singing God's praises and standing on His promises help cleanse our hearts as we live out our faithful covenant with our King.
“Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness. Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord. There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off. Listen, my son, and be wise, and set your heart on the right path...My son, give me your heart and let your eyes delight in my ways,”
Proverbs 23:4, 17-19, 23, 26
The covenant we make is a covenant of dedicating our hearts to God. Wisdom tells us that as we give our hearts to God we will see His goodness in our lives. There is a direct correlation between devotion and daily delight. Have you devoted your heart fully to God? Is there anywhere you have segmented your heart or held back from trusting God fully?
“Say to them, ‘This is what the Lord says: “ ‘When people fall down, do they not get up? When someone turns away, do they not return? Why then have these people turned away?...But my people do not know the requirements of the Lord."
Jeremiah 8:4-5, 7, 18
Wouldn't it be nice if our schools taught the truth of how to closely follow God? The Bible says my people do not know the requirements. There is a breakdown of teaching and learning the practices that help us best draw close to God and each other. What does God desire? He wants us to turn to him, not from Him.
“On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them...By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.”
John 7:37-39
Jesus came to set us free from the ways in which sin twists the intentions of the original covenant. He said He did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it. In the new covenant that Jesus brings we learn that devotion to God is not about going to a place, following set religious practices, nor being perfect. The new covenant is a relationship with the person of Jesus Christ where we worship in Spirit and in Truth.
What does He promise us? If we believe in Him we will have rivers of living water. Doesn't that sound amazingly refreshing? Do you want to be refreshed today? Seek Him and remember the words of David. We were made to worship God with our lives as we sing out His praises, surrender our hearts, and stand on His promises. No longer do we have to go to the mountain because the mountain maker came to us. Seek Him. See today how He wants to send living water to your thirsty soul and through you to give hope to others.