Saturday, March 9, 2013

Two Covenants


Deu 8:1 All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers. 
Deu 8:2 And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.
Deu 8:3 And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.
Deu 8:4 Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years.
Deu 8:5 Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee.
Deu 8:6 Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him.

They were to obey God's commands and he provided manna, food from heaven for body and soul. He provided their needs all the way. Their clothes did not wear out, nor did their feet swell from years of walking with him. They were tested to see if they would obey and most failed the test. He had to punish them as a loving father.

Now consider the walk of God's people under the new covenant. God still wants obedience, we are tested by trials and he does provide for us when we follow him.

Mat 6:31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
Mat 6:32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
Mat 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Jesus gave us a sample prayer as a guide for our prayers.

Mat 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Mat 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Mat 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread.
Mat 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Mat 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

He will provide our daily bread and Jesus is our Manna, the Living Word of God. We are to get up early and gather it, eat it, and meditate on it.

Joh 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

Last night in a private chat room twelve of us gathered together for a communion service. First we had to pray to ask forgiveness for any sins we had. Then we took the elements; the unleavened bread, the body of Christ broken for us. We did eat it. Next we took the juice of the grape, symbolizing his blood. We drank it, as a reminder of his blood shed for our sins. What is the difference between the old and new covenant? Jesus gave us grace. He kept all the laws that we could not keep. We still are to obey God, but if we fail, grace keeps us from the eternal punishment of separation from God. Trials and tests will come. He loves us and will make a way for us to escape them (1cor 10:13). He may still correct us as a loving father, but we stay close to him all the way to the eternal kingdom of God.

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