A New Covenant

The book of Ezekiel is full of dark, foreboding words of judgment prophesied against the nation of Israel for their disobedience. After hundreds of years of living in the Promised Land with various degrees of wandering from God’s law, God decided to discipline his people. In Ezekile, Chapter 6:14, the prophet writes, “And I will stretch out my hand against them and make the land a desolate waste from the desert to Diblah—wherever they live. Then they will know that I am the Lord.’”

God’s holiness demands obedience yet his grace offers forgiveness. In fact, in the 16th chapter, Ezekiel records God’s promise that, after he has completed his devastating punishment on his people, he would bring a renewed, everlasting covenant. This new relationship will be eternal because it will be established on the basis of Jesus’ work on the cross, forever satisfying God’s righteous anger.

Biblical covenants are voluntary relationships built on promises from both parties. Some are conditional upon the obedience of the human participants while others are unconditional. Ezekiel’s reference to the establishment of a new covenant implies a culminating act of God’s mercy. In other words, God makes the gracious offer to have a relationship with him but it requires a response from us.

Have you responded to his offer? Are you experiencing all that the new covenant offers?

Dear Lord, renew in my heart the desire to believe in your promises and to respond to you in thanksgiving and faith, knowing that whatever is happening in my life is temporary and you are eternally good. Today, I reclaim the promise of salvation through the new covenant of forgivensss and relationship through Christ. Amen.

Throughout the Day: When did you last break a promise? When did someone break theirs to you? How did you respond each time? Does that experience influence your relationship with God? Talk with him about it.

Additional Resource: Have you received the promise of salvation in your heart? Watch this video, and then if you’d like, fill out the form to have one of our free, online mentors contact you.