Covenant & Common Christian Sense

For this is the new covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts; and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people (Hebrews 8:10).

Common Christian sense, dear one, is what comes to my mind when I read scripture, with the God soaked truth resonating soundly in my soul. The law of the Lord, is written in the hearts of his people, and to those that belong to him, he is their God. Does this, make sense to you? Do you know the law of God and abide, because it is lyrical to your ears, and a song in your heart? When you read about the gospel covenant, assigned by God, and enlivened in us by him too, do your thoughts ignite with brilliant light, as a follower of Christ? 

Read now, what happens in the being of believers, according to Matthew Henry: 

God articles with his people that he will put his laws into their minds and write them in their hearts, v. 10. He once wrote his laws to them; now he will write his laws in them; that is, he will give them understanding to know, and to believe his law; he will give them memories to retain them; he will give them hearts to love them and consciences to recognize them; he will give them courage to profess them and power to put them in practice; the whole habit and frame of their souls shall be a table and transcript of the law of God. This is the foundation of the covenant; and, when this is laid, duty will be done wisely, sincerely, readily, easily, resolutely, constantly, and comfortably, Matthew Henry's Commentary, Acts to Revelation, Volume 6, page 743. 

The stone tables upon which the finger of God inscribed the ten commandments for an outward reminder to the Israelites, how to abide in the first covenant, has been replaced by God's law, written in the minds and echoing in the hearts, of his redeemed people, through Christ the Lord, our mediator. Moses foreshadowed the mediatory Saviour, and so did the covenant of old, now replaced by the gospel. What I love about Matthew Henry's commentary, is the list of gifts he records to edify readers, and reassure them that all we need, is lovingly provided by our Law Maker and soul preserver! 

He will give them:

Understanding to know, and believe his law

Memories to retain them

Hearts to love them

Consciences to recognize them

Courage to profess them

Power to put them in practice

Habit and form of our souls to be a table and transcript of the law of God

With this foundation laid, duty will be done:

Wisely, sincerely, readily, easily, resolutely, constantly, and comfortably.

What a relief dear one, to read the above. God equips his people and empowers too, so that we do not have to struggle, fuss, fight. When I am at a loss, and I pray, God, please do me a solid, he never fails to give me what I need to face a difficulty, or a challenge. It is to God I go, when an SOS is in order, and it is to him I go, to nuzzle in and feel loved up! 

Now look with me again, at Matthew Henry's commentary, in reference to God, being the God of his people: 

He articles with them to take them into a near and very honourable relation to himself. He will be to them a God; that is, he will be all that to them, and do all that for them, that God can be and do. Nothing more can be said in a thousand volumes than is comprehended in these few words: I will be a God to them. They shall be to him a people, to love, honour, observe, and obey him in all things, complying with his cautions, conforming to his commands, comporting with his providences, copying out his example, taking complacency in his favour. This those must do and will do who have God for their God; this they are bound to do as their part of the contract; this they shall do, for God will enable them to do it, as an evidence that he is their God and that they are his people; for it is God himself who first founds the relation, and then fills it up with grace suitable and sufficient, and helps them in their measure to fill it up with love, and duty; so that God engages both for himself and them, Matthew Henry, Acts to Revelation, Volume 6, page 743. 

Evidence of belonging to God can be looked for in others. We need not wonder - they are marked with a deep desire to:

Love, honour, observe, and obey him in all things. 

God's people: 

Comply with his cautions

Conform to his commands

Comport with his providences

Copy his example

Take complacency in his favour

Are filled with his grace, suitable and sufficient

And his love, giving us an awesome sense of duty

Christians know they have a part to play in the contractual agreement they have signed with the love of Christ in their mind, heart, and very soul. God is our everything, and we want to abide in all that is his, in every way possible. There must be evidence of the love of God in a Christian, and the law written in the mind and heart will be obvious, to those that do not know God and wander from his commands. It is a pleasure to be dutiful as a Christian, and it seems doleful to observes of Christ followers, that cannot comprehend why anyone would want to be a Christian. 

Lord, I want, to be a Christian, in my heart, in my heart... The Proclaimers wrote these lyrics and they echo the sentiments of those that love the Lord. Do these lyrics, dear one, echo your sentiments too? If not, here is a little god loving advice for you: 

Go to the foot of the cross and see the Saviour hanging there for your sins, and fall at his feet. Next, thank him for dying for you, and plead for forgiveness, and just as Christ resurrected on the third day to life eternal, you too, will go from death to life, in Christ the Lord of glory, AMEM.