God's Standard for Every Day

“...but this shall be the covenant that I will cut with the house of Israel: After those days, says Jehovah, I will put My Law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” (Jeremiah 31:33)

Jeremiah prophesied about the New Covenant. It was not to be like the covenant that God had made with them when they left the slavery of Egypt. They broke that covenant with their idolatry so it’s no longer in force. “...not according to the covenant that I cut with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which covenant of Mine they broke, although I was a husband to them, says Jehovah;” (Jeremiah 31:32) In that covenant, they were to be a special jewel to the Lord, a kingdom of priests, rulers and holy. “And now if you will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then you shall be a peculiar treasure to Me above all the nations; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words which you shall speak to the sons of Israel.” (Exodus 19:5-6) Isaiah also mentions that they broke the covenant. He calls it the everlasting covenant. “And the land is defiled under its people; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, and have broken the everlasting covenant.” (Isaiah 24:5)

The New Covenant would be different. It would not depend on unfaithful people but on God Himself. He would put His laws in them. The New Covenant, which we know to be the covenant Jesus ratified with His sacrifice on the cross and shed blood is different. It depends on God’s faithfulness. It depends on the holiness of the sacrifice. It depends on a supernatural relationship with God and a supernatural empowering and saturation of God in our being by God. Our Scripture of study confirms that Israel will come to know their Messiah and be saved. God said it and everything that God has spoken has been and will be fulfilled.

The New Covenant is already in effect in “whosoever” believes. This is the time of the Gentiles, meaning that it’s the time for non-Jews to come to God, but there are some Jews who have embraced Jesus as their Messiah in this time. The time of the Gentiles will come to an end with the Great Tribulation. Jesus will come and deal with the enemies of Israel and reveal Himself as the Messiah. “... After those days...” means in the end times, Israel will be saved. “And they shall no more teach each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, Know Jehovah; for they shall all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says Jehovah. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sins no more.” (Jeremiah 31:34) This time will be a grand time for Israel.

Why is this important to us? We have to realize our time is short and will come to an end. There are future brothers and sisters who have not heard the Gospel. There are brethren still on the fence. They believe but are still ruling their lives. So how should we live? In simple terms Jesus said, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33) This verse is quoted when we have need. We remind ourselves and others that we believe this and God will supply all our need. But this needs be the rule that we follow. How can we follow this mandate let’s say in our finances? Are we thinking of what we can purchase with the surplus after all our obligations are met or are we thinking how we can use the surplus for enlarging God’s kingdom? Many think ok, I give my 10% that belongs to the Lord, extra offerings to the church and to other ministries, but the rest is mine. Is this in error? How does the thinking that “the rest is mine” fulfills the mandate to seek first the kingdom of God? Yes, the Lord gives us the desires of our hearts and wants us to be well supplied. But in all things, we must see how we are seeking first the kingdom of God. This is true for all areas of our lives, our marriages, raising our children, our secular jobs, our conduct in all our relationships and our free time. Remembering this rule and running all things against it, we will not be caught short of the commandment. This one simple rule to follow can revolutionize how we live and reset our priorities in all things.  

Briefly, there is a time coming when Israel will be saved.  God has said it and it will be fulfilled. God has had mercy on us during this time of the Gentiles. It’s His grace and love for all people to come to Him and receive life. This time is short and will end. Jesus has given us the rule by which to live a life pleasing to Him. If we can use that standard in all areas of our lives, it can help us avoid living for the things of this world.

Let us pray:

Father God, thank You for Your abundant provision in all things. You bless me because You love me and because You are a Good Father Who gives good gifts to His children. Thank You for Your favor and mercy in my life. Thank You for the new life You have given me. Help me to remember to live it like You want in every area. I love You my Lord and I want to live my life in the spirit and not in the flesh, not in the world nor in things that will perish, but on the eternal things that count. Father remind me through Your Holy Spirit to pray for the nation of Israel, for that time to come when they will turn to their Messiah, Jesus. In the Name of Jesus I pray, amen.