Today’s Reading, Jeremiah 30-31
Focal Scripture: Jeremiah 31:33 ““Instead, this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days” — the Lord’s declaration. “I will put my teaching within them and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.”
Covenants have a big meaning and a big purpose. A covenant is different than a promise, it is a legal contract. Which means by definition the one making the covenant has an obligation to fulfill what they said they would agree to with the other party. Why does this matter? Because you can break a promise and you can break a verbal agreement. However, you can’t break a covenant legally. You are bound to the agreement no matter what happens.
In today’s reading we see the Lord make a covenant. His promise was after the days of judgement and after the days of being sent away he would write his word on their hearts and put his teaching within them. He would be their God and they would be his people. This covenant was made even though the Jewish people kept breaking their word and following other gods. Here God is making a way for them even when he doesn’t have to, because he is good.
What we need to learn from this is that God keeps his word. When he makes a declaration and when he makes a promise we know he will keep it without question. Knowing this should give us a sense of confidence when we approach our life. We can have confidence that he will be with us and give us words to speak when we speak about him. We can have confidence that our eternities are secure and he is preparing a place for us that will last for all time.
The biggest truth we can take to heart is that our sins are forgiven and he will not hold them against us any longer. The Father and the Son has made divine agreement and that agreement has worked perfectly. This covenant is that God would judge sin and punish the guilty and Christ would provide forgiveness of that judgement by trusting in him. This is a good promise. It is our hope.
Be encouraged today that our God keeps his word. He knows what we need and when we need it in our lives. He is good and faithful. He is a covenant making God that keeps his word. Let us walk around with that knowledge and let it empower us to live for him daily.
Tomorrow, I plan on reading Jeremiah 32-34
