DAY 151 - BIG PICTURE IN A YEAR - THE LAW

by Gillian D'achada July 10, 2021

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.”

EXODUS 24:7

Reading: Genesis 3: 21; John 8: 56; Romans 4: 11; Ephesians 1: 13

I well remember when I first became a Christian. I saw my sin through God’s eyes and repented of it. I turned away from all my sinfulness and swore allegiance to the Lord. I was convinced of the truth and I knew that I would never, ever sin again.

Oh dear. I had only understood Christ as far as initial salvation and the forgiveness of sin is concerned. I hadn’t yet learned the deeper truths – that as a child of Adam I was doomed to carry sinful flesh with me for the rest of my days. I hadn’t yet understood that I would never be able to stray very far from the cross.

Look at our main Reading for the day. Listen to these bold, naïve words from the people of God when Moses read God’s Law to them. “We will do everything the Lord has said. We will obey.”

Ultimately, inevitably, as is shown in Israel’s history, they failed, as did Adam before them. Like me, they had glimpsed God’s perfect and holy Law and they had agreed with it. They had covenanted to obey. But they did not yet understand that it was God’s intention to fulfill the covenant for mankind – on humanity’s behalf.

You cannot fulfil ‘your side’ of the covenant that you are part of. All you can do is thank God for Jesus, and walk daily with the Holy Spirit within.

Prayer

Lord, I choose to rely on Your Son, who has already fulfilled this covenant. Thank You for the high price You paid so that I can be with You. Show me Your ways, and help me to walk in them.

For the family

Explain

Discuss what the ways of God are and how you would discover the ways of God by reading the Bible.

Engage

Ask your children which of the Old Testament stories are their favourites, then discuss some of the ways of God that are displayed through those stories. For example, with the story of Noah, show them how God always speaks to His people, expects them to obey, and when they do, He delivers them from judgment on those who do not.