Fri.’s Devo - Renewing Their Covenant

Read: Nehemiah 9:22-10:39, 1 Co. 9:19-10:13, Ps. 34:1-10, Pr. 21:13 The people renewed their covenant with God to follow His law and they sealed it with their own seals. Ephesians 1:13 says that we who believe in Jesus are sealed with the Holy Spirit who is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession is made manifest. If the Holy Spirit is just the type, then how glorious will be the manifestation. They not only sealed their promise to follow God’s law, but they entered into a curse if they didn’t. There are always consequences to following God. They actively changed their lifestyles to follow the law which was their fruit of repentance. Repentance means to turn and walk another way. To do that always requires a sacrifice and they started offering tithes of their livelihood. Paul had learned temperance which was self-restraint in diet and chastity according to Strong’s. He related to all men in order to win them to Christ. Paul, like Nehemiah was reminding them of the covenant their fathers made to God to follow Him. We need to renew our covenant with Jesus from time to time and remember that we have been bought with a price and we belong to God. All that we do is a picture of Jesus to the world. Jesus is the same Rock that followed them in the wilderness only He is inside us. Lord, help us to renew our covenant with You and be examples of You to the world.