Two Covenants and Two Hearts
Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied.
Acts 9:1-5, New International Version (NIV)
Last night, while reading chapter nine of the Book of Acts, which tells the conversion story of Paul the Apostle, I began to view the story in a new light. By the time I reached verse five, where our Lord declares, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting,” I began to see more clearly the depth of God’s presence in covenant, and the weight of importance that He places on His role in the New Covenant of our salvation, and the Marriage Covenant of believers.
Christ so deeply assumes these responsibilities that He completely identifies Himself with us. A role that is based on and completely in alignment with the fact that, as Christians in covenant, we are in Christ, thus part of Him.
For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.
Colossians 2:9-10, NIV (emphasis mine)
In the West, we have little experience in covenants or oaths and tend to believe they are much less serious than what God has decreed. Throughout the Old Testament and within the New Testament (Matthew 5:33), we are warned not to take them lightly, as well as being warned of the consequences of not living up to their terms, or their lifetime commitment.
I now see more clearly that the Marriage Covenant and the New Covenant rest not on our commitment alone, but also on God’s presence and commitment even more so. Recognizing that the “fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,” it behooves us to acknowledge this and to determine to fulfill our commitments to both Christ and our spouse.
Read MORE on this topic in The Fulfilled Marriage: The Three Doors
It is necessary to maintain a right perspective of how God feels about all covenants, and in our case the marriage covenant specifically.
Love-in-Christ, Ted
