Pastor Eric's Blog – May 14, 2019
“
My covenant in your flesh is to be an everlasting covenant.
”
Genesis
17:3b
NIV
This last weekend, my wife and I had the privilege to witness the uniting of my niece and her new husband in holy matrimony. As I sat there and watched the people looking around at the decor, the colors and the atmosphere that was set for the occasion, I was moved by the ceremony and the covenants that each made in the vows they had written and chosen to give to one another.
“From death do us part…” Have you considered the vows the Lord God Almighty has made to you and me? The covenant He has made to us is everlasting and undeserving. Scripture details that covenant of transformation and favor. His covenant wasn’t sealed by a ring or words but by the shedding of His blood! He is faithful and true and not only does He means every word of it. He will bring us to completion with Him in glory! (Philippians 1:6, Jude 24).
We spend the entirety of our lives here on earth discovering the fathom of the promises and breadth of His covenant with us. (We never really completely grasp the height, width, length and depth of His covenant with us. (Ephesians 3:18) But what about us? What is the covenant we make with Him?
What are the promises and commitments we make with Him? Think about it…we receive Him into our lives and we commit to follow Him but what are the boundaries of our covenant with Him? What are the vows of the Bride of the Groom? Do the vows we make in a wedding reflect the vows we make with our Lord and Savior?
Jesus the Groom:
With my blood, I pledge my love to you and receive you as my loving Bride. With my blood, I promise to be true to you even unto my death and nothing shall separate us (Romans 8:38-39) My blood and sacrifice will more than cover your debt and pay every expense for your redemption, healing, deliverance and eternity. I give you the authority of my name! You can use my name to move mountains and I will give you whatever you ask for. You will be lacking nothing in me.
Your Name the Bride:
I
Your Name
, take you Jesus to be my Lord and Savior With Your blood I promise to be true to You as I stand in the Grace of Your righteousness, I give You my life, relationships, dreams, goals and passions for your will and purpose. I will hold Your Name above every other even unto death (Revelation 12:11). I will fulfill Your mission and carry Your plan to the world around me. I vow to be poured out and fruitful in being about Your business and building Your Church!
Most of us simply prayed a simple prayer when we asked Jesus into our lives. Paul tells us in Romans 10 “if we confess with our mouth and believe in our hearts we will be saved” I challenge you to consider your vows and commitment to the Lord. Our covenant is a process as we continually surrender to Him. My wife and I will be married 32 years this July. As I reflect on the vows I have made with her, I am challenged with all that those vows entailed. They are real and relevant to my marriage today as we progress forward in our relationship. I trust your reflection on the vows you have made with Jesus and may they be relevant today as your progress in your relationship with Him.
Have a great week!
Pastor Eric
