Promise for Today - Cutting Covenant

Then the Lord told him, “I am the Lord who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land as your possession.”

But Abram replied, “O Sovereign Lord, how can I be sure that I will actually possess it?”

The Lord told him, “Bring me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” So Abram presented all these to him and killed them. Then he cut each animal down the middle and laid the halves side by side; he did not, however, cut the birds in half. 

After the sun went down and darkness fell, Abram saw a smoking firepot and a flaming torch pass between the halves of the carcasses. So the Lord made a covenant with Abram that day and said, “I have given this land to your descendants, all the way from the border of Egypt to the great Euphrates River..."
Genesis 15:7-10, 17-18 NLT

"So the Lord made a covenant with Abram..." The phrase "to cut a covenant" comes from this practice, where BOTH parties would walk between the divided parts, invoking a curse upon themselves if they failed. This was covenant sealed with the shedding of blood. 

The ritual of cutting an animal in two and walking between the severed pieces communicated that a person was pledging their very life to fulfill their promise. Astonishingly, none other than God, in the form of a burning torch, walked the path between the severed pieces. God had made a promise to Abram, and now, with this ritual, He was telling the terrified man, "I pledge My own life for the keeping of My promise. I am willing to suffer and die in order to follow through with My love for you and all the peoples of the earth. I am a God who keeps a covenant at any and all cost to Myself." (Excerpts from Strong's Concordance)

Throughout history, mankind has failed and continues to fail in the promises we make to God. This extraordinary act of inexpressible love and care - God's unique passage as a smoking oven and flaming torch in Genesis 15 - showed He took the curse upon Himself, guaranteeing His unbreakable promise. 

The ritual foreshadowed the Cross, where God's promise was sealed by Jesus, the ultimate sacrifice, who took the penalty for us because of our inability to keep our part of the covenant.  Mark 14:24 NKJV,  And He [Jesus] said to them, “This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many." He fulfilled it and sealed it for all eternity in the Crucifixion; Jesus' body broken and spilled out for us. 

Prayer:

Father,

          We pray as Paul prayed. For this reason we bow our knees to You, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that You would grant us, according to the riches of Your glory, to be strengthened with might through Your Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith; that we, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that we may be filled with all the fullness of God.
       Now to You who can do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to You be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Lent - Day Thirty-Nine - Jesus' Compassionate Prayer

 Lent Devotions from Concordia University 2024

“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who [j]will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
John 17:20-23 NKJV

How does our Lord face the hour of tribulation – the final moments before arrest and trial, mere hours from crucifixion and death? With prayer. In doing so, he demonstrates how we may rely on the Father in our own trials. “Christ not only speaks about endurance of evil but puts himself forward as an example. After his admonition that ‘in the world you would have tribulation,’ he himself turns to prayer in order to teach us that in our testing we are to leave everything behind and flee to God. He had shaken their souls in his admonition but raised them up again by this prayer.” 1

What is on the heart of our Lord as he turns to the Father in prayer? He prays for those who belong to the Father because of his testimony and the truth of his sanctifying word. In essence, Jesus says:

Father keep my disciples in your name. Join them to us as partakers of your grace.

Father, give them joy, not any joy, but my joy, the joy that comes because of the life and salvation I give.

Father, leave them in the world, as bad as the world can be at times, but cover them with your hand of protection, preserving them from Satan.

Father, continue to be at work in them, purifying and consecrating them through your word.

Father, I pray this not just for these disciples, but all who are yet to believe in me because of their testimony.

The deep compassion of Christ is expressed in this prayer. It shows us the heart, mind, and grace of our Lord which led to that night in the garden and unfolded the events that would take place in the coming hours. It also gives us an example of how to face our own difficulties of life. It helps to shape our hearts and prayers to include not just the removal of difficulties from our lives, but these very concerns that our Lord himself held as the highest priority.

Prayer: 

Father, 

           Keep me in the true faith. Strengthen my brothers and sisters in Christ around the world who find themselves persecuted for their faith. Guide my days and deeds that, in all I say and do, others would come to know and believe that You love them and sent Your Son for them. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

1 Quote by Chrysostom, cited in Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture; New Testament, volume IVb p. 227. 

Reading Further - John 17:1-26

1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

6 “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. 8 For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. 9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.

20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. 24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. 26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

Historically Speaking

Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face continually.
Psalm 105:4 NASB

Psalm 105 is considered to be one of two historical psalms, Psalm 78 being the other. But with every recollection of what God has, there is a call to praise Him for His wondrous works. A reminder of everything He promised, everything He has done, and all that He will do.

Every covenant God has ever made is STILL in effect. Historically speaking, covenants were/are binding contracts for life until both (or all) participants died. To this day, we still have rainbows. Genesis 9:13-16 NLT,  I have placed my rainbow in the clouds. It is the sign of my covenant with you and with all the earth. When I send clouds over the earth, the rainbow will appear in the clouds, and I will remember my covenant with you and with all living creatures. Never again will the floodwaters destroy all life. When I see the rainbow in the clouds, I will remember the eternal covenant between God and every living creature on earth. Every time we see a rainbow and admire its beauty, God is also looking at it and remembering His covenant with us! Think about that! 

Let us rejoice, remember and reiterate this awesome Truth - our GOD IS NOT DEAD. Therefore, we still have and always will have cause to praise Him!

Prayer:

Father,

          We will give thanks to You, Lord, and call upon Your Name. We will make Your deeds known among the people. We will sing to You, sing praises to You; and tell of all Your wonders. We will boast in Your holy name. We will seek You, Lord, and Your strength. We will seek Your face continually for You have remembered Your covenant forever, the Word which You commanded to a thousand generations. Remind us, O Lord. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

To Ezra

I will confirm my covenant with you and your descendants after you, from generation to generation. This is the everlasting covenant: I will always be your God and the God of your descendants after you.
Genesis 17:7 NLT

This promise is a foundational Truth in my life. And as I look into the face of my first great-grandson, Ezra, at the ripe old age of 22 months, the promise has become flesh and life is good.

Twenty years ago, I could not have imagined the reality of this moment in time. However, I have been able to stand on the Truth of God's Word knowing that His everlasting covenant would never fail; that He would be my God and the God of my descendants after me. For each generation until Jesus returns to take us all home. What a mind-boggling, breathtaking promise of God!

Prayer:

Father,

          Thank You for making an everlasting covenant with all my generations! Your promise to always be our God is the most loving, miraculous event next to the Crucifixion. Thank You for that and for this precious child as a living witness to Your faithfulness. Help us to guide these generations toward You, Father. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Psalm 111 - A Good Word

Psalm 111:1-10 NKJV
Praise the Lord!

I will praise the Lord with my whole heart,
In the assembly of the upright and in the congregation.

The works of the Lord are great,
Studied by all who have pleasure in them.
His work is honorable and glorious,
And His righteousness endures forever.
He has made His wonderful works to be remembered;
The Lord is gracious and full of compassion.
He has given food to those who fear Him;
He will ever be mindful of His covenant.
He has declared to His people the power of His works,
In giving them the heritage of the nations.

The works of His hands are verity and justice;
All His precepts are sure.
They stand fast forever and ever,
And are done in truth and uprightness.
He has sent redemption to His people;
He has commanded His covenant forever:
Holy and awesome is His name.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
A good understanding have all those who do His commandments.
His praise endures forever.

Prayer:

Father,

          Let Your living Word be alive in us and bring forth a tremendous harvest. Relight the fire of desire to not take one step unless You go with us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Past the Storm

When I send clouds over the earth, the rainbow will appear in the clouds, and I will remember my covenant with you and with all living creatures. 
Genesis 9:14-15 NLT

I was on my way home and saw the storm clouds begin to gather. Thick and dark and rolling in like tumbleweed, but every now and then, I'd catch a quick glimpse of sun in the cloud break. Then about halfway home, I saw a snippet of a rainbow behind the bloated clouds. It winked out a few times, and just as I arrived home, the clouds parted and the rainbow appeared - as beautiful and vibrant as the covenant it represents. Mere moments later, it was swallowed up in clouds as though it had never been, but I still knew it was there.

It was a great illustrated sermon of the storms of life. If we know God and we know His Word, we should know that we can trust Him no matter what we see. Yes, the storms of life will come. Yes, the clouds will gather and life will seem dark. Yes, the winds will blow, and we may not see what we want to see. But this we know - above it all - the Son of God still reigns. His covenant with us is forever.  As God's Word assures us in 2nd Corinthians 4:18, So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

Look past the storm. You will find Him. He is there.

Prayer:

Father,

            Thank You for illustrating Your love and promises to us. Thank You that Your covenants are forever. You always provide what we require to be able to trust You. What a loving Father You are! Keep us ever mindful to look past the storm. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Confirming the Covenant

Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.
1st Corinthians 14:12 NKJV

Unless we are born independently wealthy, most of us have to work at something to make a living. God laid out all sorts of guidelines for working. It was never His intention that any of us should be slackers. He gave each of us gifts and/or talents with which to make that living. However...

Often in our climb up the ladder, we forget some very important things, and the most important is this - If it wasn't for what God gave us, we would have nothing and no hope. He gave us ALL of our abilities, no matter what they are. A keen mind, a gift of hospitality or generosity, a gift of organization, service, singing, speaking, writing. The ability to be a friend. God will develop all that He has given us if we give it back to Him as a sacrifice of our lives. God wants us to be successful MORE than we want to be successful, but not for the same reason.

Deuteronomy 8:17-18 tells us, If you start thinking to yourselves, "I did all this. And all by myself. I'm rich. It's all mine!"—well, think again. Remember that God, your God, gave you the strength to produce all this wealth so as to confirm the covenant that he promised to your ancestors—as it is today. It's to establish and confirm the covenant. It's to edify the Body of Christ - the Church. He equipped us for His glory, to fulfill HIS purpose in us, through us, FOR us...for each other. It's our Promise for Today and every day - Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.

Prayer:

Father,
             For those gifts we recognize at work in us, and for the latent that lie waiting for You to make room for them in our lives, we pray Your blessing and increase so that we may excel in the edification of Your Church. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen