Dear brothers and sisters, today I would like to write a lot about this but this will be the short version.
There are several covenants between God and man to be seen in the pages of the bible. In thinking about covenants, I began to think about the covenant which we live under today – a covenant that centres around Jesus. If we accept what Jesus said in many passages in John, then this covenant is quite a breath taker. It involves friendship with God (John 15:14-15), and being a full son in His Family (John 1:12, Luke 6:35, 1 John 3:1-2).
What is this covenant of promise and how does it work?
It is easy to talk about God’s Grace and the gift of forgiveness through the cross, but that’s not the whole deal Jesus taught. Everyone may have a different personal understanding of what it means to be Family with God, but the essence of what Jesus taught is Sonship. Family with God Himself – who me? Yes you!! Even though the full import of that is mind boggling and jaw dropping to extremes, this is what Jesus taught and this is what our Father in heaven is working for tirelessly with each one of us. Wow!!
John 1:12: “But as many as received Him, He gave to them authority (privilege) to become the children of God, even to those who believe on His name.” (MKJV).
I tend to think that we are somewhat numb to what this really means because we keep trying to see it through eyes that are accustomed to this world. That is understandable because we are in the world and need to function in the world, but the other half of who we are is not of the world even though we may appear “normal” in worldly terms.
What happens when we really see that we are in fact given Jesus’ place to stand in as a son? How does it work and where are the checks and balances? A summary of the way Jesus encapsulated His walk as a Son is like this: “I do what I see My Father doing and I speak from what He says to Me.” God is with you and that does mean responsibility to reflect the Father as accurately as possible, but first it means comfort.
He is reaching out to all men to offer them the ways of Life and strength. Power comes with obedience to what He has shown you, and a humble and healed heart. Jesus taught (John 4:13-15, John 7:37-39) about the wells of living water flowing from the belly of those who drink from Him, the mighty fountain within, and it works as Holy Spirit moves within you. He is with us and there’s the key to everything. What we sometimes forget to do is to keep it simple while growing and maturing into the type of sons our Father can work with and activate.
The covenant relationship is laid down in John 17:1-28. This covenant does not depend on you or me, it depends on the faithfulness of the Father to His Son and then includes us in this faithfulness. In verses 15-23 the heart of this covenant is all about our Father keeping us in the oneness that Father, Son and Holy Spirit enjoy. Oneness is the covenant that all else flows from. What we can do is to ask our Father/Dad to show us this more fully. Then engage with Dad in it through whatever Godly habits work for you. Don’t allow taunting unbelief to stop you from desiring and expecting this promise of being a son.
I will leave you with a parable.
Imagine you are the most powerful being of all. This is our Father. You have a number of babies that you would like to grow and mature. They are very powerful, because they are of your pattern, but they don’t understand who they are yet. You put them in a beautiful but often hostile environment to learn and grow because you know your enemies will try to push them around. But they are made of your substance and are strong and resilient, and more powerful than they know yet. You know that you will be there to help them as much as they want.
1. what do you do next?
2. What do you talk about with your children?