Honoring God's Covenant

King James Bible Daily Devotion – Learning Scripture One Day At A Time
Date: Tuesday, September 01, 2015
Chapters: Ezekiel 16-18 http://imfollowingjesus.com/Bible-Reading-244.html
Message Title: Honoring God's Covenant

Hello My Friend,

Covenant, a mutual consent or agreement of two or more persons bound by a contract either written or verbal. God takes covenants very seriously, the second a person believes in and receives His Son as their Savior He makes a covenant with that persons soul, a covenant that saves that soul from the punishment of death and hell due to sin. Our salvation is not a free pass to do as we please and not suffer for living in a way that is displeasing to God. We should all be living in a way that honors God and shows Him through our actions. “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” - Hebrews 13:20,21.

Again, God takes covenants very seriously, if we make an agreement with God of any kind we are bound by the contract to fulfill it, should we break it, just like any other contract that is broken a penalty is enforced. When God chose Jerusalem to be the godly example that would bring others to Him, He didn't do it because they were the most righteous group of people, He did it because He made a covenant with David. Now, they are in captivity in Babylon and complaining about the punishment they got. Through Ezekiel, God reminds Jerusalem of how He cleaned them up and blessed them, but they cheated on Him and He had not choice, but to judge them for it. He compares them to an adulteress woman, who was more corrupt than their heathen sisters, but He also reminds them that He did not forget the covenant He made.

“Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord GOD, and thou becamest mine. How weak is thine heart, saith the Lord GOD, seeing thou doest all these things, the work of an imperious whorish woman; Thou hast borne thy lewdness and thine abominations, saith the LORD. For thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even deal with thee as thou hast done, which hast despised the oath in breaking the covenant. Nevertheless I will remember my covenant with thee in the days of thy youth, and I will establish unto thee an everlasting covenant.” - Ezekiel 16:8,30,58-60.

The everlasting covenant, eternal life through Jesus Christ. God's promise to all who believe in and accept Christ means that no matter what we do we are still saved. Those of us who know Jesus Christ personally as their Savior ought to be living their lives in a way that the world can see Him through them. Sadly, that is a rarity these days as some are living more wickedly than those in the world. God is unchanging in His character and He will not bless those who assume He will overlook their sinful lives because they are saved. Only when we turn to Him and repent of our sins can we see truly honor Him as we should be and see His blessings. “But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” - James 1:25.

When God sent Babylon to Jerusalem to capture the Jews and bring them to Babylon He did so in order to get the Jews out of the corruption and wickedness invading His city. Some people escaped the capture and were intent on doing what they wanted. God on the other hand was not please and used Ezekiel to tell the people what was about to happen as the result of their breaking their covenant with God.

“But he rebelled against him in sending his ambassadors into Egypt, that they might give him horses and much people. Shall he prosper? shall he escape that doeth such things? or shall he break the covenant, and be delivered? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely in the place where the king dwelleth that made him king, whose oath he despised, and whose covenant he brake, even with him in the midst of Babylon he shall die. Neither shall Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company make for him in the war, by casting up mounts, and building forts, to cut off many persons: Seeing he despised the oath by breaking the covenant, when, lo, he had given his hand, and hath done all these things, he shall not escape. Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; As I live, surely mine oath that he hath despised, and my covenant that he hath broken, even it will I recompense upon his own head.” - Ezekiel 17:15-19.

There are people who live in the world who are honestly good people, they are quick to help those in need, try to do the right things, and even believe in God. The truth is, we have all done something wrong at one point in our lives, it is pride that keeps us from admitting that. Whether we feel we deserve it or not, God says the punishment for sin is hell. Through Ezekiel, God explains why the wicked can be saved, the good can end up in hell, and why none of our own righteousness can save us. “Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die. The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.” - Ezekiel 18:4,20-22.

We are children of God, He lives inside of every believer, yet, day after day many chose to defile the very soul that was given eternal life. God does not want to see anyone one of His souls living immoral and corrupt lives, He most certainly does not want to see any soul end up in hell. Through Ezekiel, God explains this further. “Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live? But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die. Yet saith the house of Israel, The way of the Lord is not equal. O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal? Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.” - Ezekiel 18:23,24,29,30.

Since God is our Creator, He has control over our souls, we can do whatever we want with our body but in the end, the soul is God's, and He decides where it will end up when our flesh dies. Sin is any wrongdoing that we have ever done from the time we knew we can get away with something, sin is sin in God's eyes, whether a person has killed someone or lied, it is still sin, and the punishment is hell. That is why righteousness cannot save us, the second we sin again, all of the good gets cast out. It's like when you make one mistake and it's only the mistake people remember for years to come. There is only one way to be redeemed and saved from hell, and that is making Jesus Christ your Saviour. “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” - Titus 3:5-7.

Today's Prayer: God, I know that I have done wrong in my life, but thanks to Your mercy, grace, and sending Your Son to die for me all the wrong is now erased, never to be remembered by You. God, forgive me for subjecting my mind, body, and living soul to things that are shameful to You. Lead me and guide me, show me the path to take that leads me to the godly, Christ filled, joyful life that brings life not only to my soul, but mind, spirit, and body too. I love You, Lord and ask these things in Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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