Psalms 4:3 But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him. (What has God set the Godly apart for? He has set the Godly apart for Covenant Relationship)
God is a covenant God. Everyone He is in relationship with in His Kingdom is through covenant and is intended to last forever. We can learn how he does relationships from the Bible and glean from that in our own lives. First, what is the purpose of a covenant? A covenant in the ancient world was similar to what we in the modern world would call a contract, treaty, or a will. Each covenant established the basis of a relationship, conditions for that relationship, promises and conditions of the relationship and consequences if those conditions were unmet. A covenant is meant to create a safe, secure, and stable environment in which the relationship can thrive. The terms or conditions of the covenant are the commandments. I look at these covenant commandments as the vows that we have agreed to and hold dear to our hearts. Psalms 119:159 says “Consider how I love thy precepts: quicken me, O LORD, according to thy lovingkindness.” So just like wedding vows, when we fulfill these vows we show and prove our love to God. Well, it is the same way in our relationships to others. But the difference is our covenant with God is priority over all other relationships and it takes precedence in every situation if there is any conflict between the two. And if we set our relationships in order and build according to God’s Word, they will flourish just how God intends. Let’s look at some examples of covenant relationships and learn more about them.
Jonathan and David loved each other 1 Samuel 18:1-5 1And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 2And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father's house. 3Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. 4And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle. 5And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul's servants. (Covenant relationships are based on commitment and loyalty. We only want covenant relationships with those God has led us too. And these are the people that will stay in our life. We protect each others hearts and consider them more important than ourselves. (This is a good example of a covenant relationship. Do you have people like this in your life?)
Where else does the Bible talk about this? 1 John 3:14-18 14We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. 15Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. 16Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 18My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. We see these close committed relationships in the lives of the disciples. They were loyal to each other to the death.
We see the disciples laying down their lives through love and dedication Acts 2:42-47 42And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. 44And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 46And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. (One of the definitions of Covenant in the dictionary is a solemn agreement between the members of a church to act together in harmony with the precepts of the gospel. )
Life is not about money, or careers, or possessions, or popularity, or traveling, etc. Life is about glorifying God in all that we do. And that includes in our relationships. We glorify God by loving people the way Christ loved and the way He loves His saints today. When we stand before God He is going to judge us on two things. How we loved Him and how we loved others, and everything that entails. Remember, when the Lord condemns people to hell what does He say? I never knew you! So, if we love Him we will know Him in a faithful relationship through the blood of Jesus. 1 Timothy 1:5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned. This is teaching us all the commandments are meant to teach us love from a pure heart. That means right motives. And if we love our neighbor we will not sin against them or with them, and not allow sin upon him.
It’s only in right standing in God’s covenant that we have true heavenly fellowship 1 John 1:5-7 5This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (Define Fellowship - Communion; intimate familiarity.)
God intends our closer relationships to be permanent. Ecclesiastes 3:14 I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him. ( Does this include relationships? Yes, if you want to come into a relationship with God it is on His terms and it's meant to be permanent. The Lord Jesus told us you are my friends if you do whatsoever I command you. Everything He commands of us is part of the covenant that we entered into at initial salvation. This is how God has done relationships from the beginning. These relationships should last forever because they are rooted in God, which means His truth.)
Covenant with God
God separated Abraham from the World to be in Covenant Acts 7:2-8 2And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran, 3And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee. 4Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell. 5And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child. 6And God spake on this wise, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years. 7And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve me in this place. 8And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begatJacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs.
The father of faith was given the Covenant of Circumcision Romans 4:9-12 9Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. 10How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. 11And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: 12And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised. (Abraham received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of faith. So, circumcision means something but is not the reality itself. It's the same thing with water baptism, it is a sign or symbol of the real baptism, which brings us into Christ. So, in the same way, the sign or symbol of physical circumcision is the circumcision of the heart, which causes us to live for God in the Spirit. Yes, Abraham was receiving grace through faith. This is the only way to be a friend of God!)
Learning the Covenant is only revealed by God Psalms 25:14 The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant. (There are two covenants in the Bible. We need wisdom and understanding to know both covenants. The new testament scriptures are explaining in detail what the new covenant entails.)
God has made His home inside Us John 14:23-25 23Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me. 25These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. 26But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
New Covenant: I will write my laws on their hearts Jeremiah 31:33 31Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: 32Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: 33But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
Now that we are in Covenant with God and we are obedient in all things, as He says, we are ready to be a good friend to others. Only through the covenant of grace can we truly have grace to love one another the right way. Through covenant God changes our character and causes us to be people of purpose and vision. It’s through this character and mindset that we can form Godly healthy covenant relationships, just like God intended. We were only intended to give the deeper parts of our hearts to people that will protect our hearts and be there for the long haul. So, if you learn to do relationships God’s way you will see there is a system of rules set up to protect us from hurting ourselves. Keep your heart with all diligence.
Learning the Covenant of God makes us prosper in everything, even relationships Deuteronomy 29:9 Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them, that ye may prosper in all that ye do. (We see the commandments were for us. To protect us and bless us that we must prosper, and have living covenant relationships. Remember, sin kills relationships. But obeying God through the Spirit brings life.)
Jesus' prayer was for true covenant relationship John 17:6-24 6I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. 7Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. 8For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. 9I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. 10And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. 11And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. 12While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. 13And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 16They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. 18As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. 19And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. 20Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 22And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 23I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. 24Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
Closing Remarks: God wants us to be perfectly joined together, especially at our local level. As we are discipled and preached to at church we should be working through misunderstandings of scripture together. We need to work out doctrinal differences among those who we wish to be closer with. Because two can only walk together if they are agreed. In order to have true unity in the Spirit it depends on truth agreed upon. We need to read the Bible together and be taught together discussing every disagreement. If there remains a disagreement we take it to God in prayer expecting for God to reveal the truth. This is how eternal relationships are built. By God’s Word!
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