The culture of covenant

« God raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after my own heart, who will do all My will. » (Acts 13:22)

During the winter of 1943 a ship carrying nearly a thousand men crossed the north Atlantic to carry American soldiers to the North African theatre. It was sunk by two torpedos fired from a Nazi submarine. As the ship began to sink, 4 military chaplains worked together to save as many soldiers as they could. A Catholic priest, a Reform minister, a Methodist pastor and a Jewish rabbi helped soldiers to the life boats; and when the life vests ran out, they gladly gave theirs away. One of the surviving soldiers told of the last time the four shepherds were seen. They were holding hands, praying together and blessing each other in the name of God.

It is amazing that a man with as many character flaws as David, is not only heralded in Scripture as the great king of Israel, the founder of Zion, and the ancestor of the Messiah, but described by God as « a man after my own heart. » God is not a liar, thief, adulterer, or murderer – all sins of which David was guilty. But David is not remembered for his errors, faults and sins. He obtained from God the testimony of being a man after God’s own heart. That begs then the question: What is God’s heart? In fact, God is a God of covenant; everything He does on the earth He does through the context of a covenant. David learned this early in life and it became the single guiding light that led him until his death.

There is a spirit of consumerism very much at work in the Church today. It has seduced many Christians into thinking that Christianity consists primarily of obtaining as many divine blessings as possible, while giving back the least possible. The culture of covenant is just the opposite. It doesn’t shy away from genuine self-sacrifice, in the belief that by helping others we can make a difference in the world.

It is the culture of covenant that made Israel strong against her enemies throughout the Old Testament. It is this culture that made the early church strong in spite of great hardships. It is this culture that brought together 4 military chaplains during World War 2 and gave them the ability to over look their differences in order to help hundreds of young men and women fulfill their purpose in life.

ACTION POINT: Renounce the spirit of consumerism that seeks to rob the Church of the living God from her vitality. Decide today, that regardless of your character flaws, like David, you will henceforth be a man/woman of covenant. Next, renew your covenant with God; then renew it with your spouse (if you are married). Finally, renew your covenant towards your spiritual family, the local church where God has planted you. Decide now, that whatever happens this year, you will remain faithful to God and to the people He has placed in your life.

PRAYER TARGET: Pray that the Church of God learns to walk in covenant.

If you want to learn more about the meaning and power of covenant, you can download Pastor Robert’s ebook here or watch the video podcasts on the theme here.