Living It

Exodus 19:1-9

I really wonder if we would commit to anything if we really knew what was ahead of us in that thing. In this conversation with the people through Moses, the Lord commits to making Israel a treasured people out of all the nations, a kingdom of priests and a holy nation, if they will obey him fully and keep his covenant (verses 5-6).

Without possibly having any idea what all that will entail, the people respond together that they will do everything that the Lord has said (verse 8). The details of the covenant will unfold in the chapters ahead, and the experiences testing it all are unknown as well. But what is even more remarkable is that the Lord, being the Lord, knows that the people will never be able to fulfill what they say they will. But the deal will go into effect anyway.

The Lord watches over all our various promises and commitments and knows we’re going to foul up on them. That doesn’t make it OK for us to foul up; it ought to make us all the more dependent on the resources of prayer and supporting fellowship and just being the Body of Christ together, whatever it is we are seeking to fulfill. That goes for specific church responsibilities, or being a spouse or parent or friend to someone.

I think it is Rick Warren who says that grace means God knows every stupid thing we will ever do and loves us anyway. But it doesn’t mean we can’t do better.

Prayer:
Lord, let us draw on the strength you provide to live our commitments more truly. Through Christ. Amen.