Tuesday, October 18, 2011

October 19, 2011

“This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the LORD. I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the LORD,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the LORD. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”  Jeremiah 31:33-34

Not only was Israel set to receive a new heart, but God also promised, "I will place My Spirit within you." God's Spirit would enable them "to follow My statutes and carefully observe My ordinances." Ezexiel 36:27

The promises of God's covenant had been based on Israel's obedience to His Word. But their struggle to obey the law demonstrated that the human heart is wicked. In our own strength we cannot keep God's law. We need our hearts rest, restored, and revived. We need God's life inside of us, His eternal Holy Spirit. There's no other way to live the kingdom life. Kingdom people don't pull themselves up by their own bootstraps. They submit to God and give God's power a clear, obedient path. Jeremiah described that path in the above Scripture.

We are the recipients of this new covenant. These prophetic Scriptures were a sign that a new age was dawning, a time when God would "pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground (and) pour out My Spirit on your descendants and My blessing on your offspring." (Isa. 44:3) It foretold of a coming One who would have "My Spirit on Him" (Isa. 42:1) and would epower the people of His kingdom to obey His Word and experience His full blessing. The world was preparing for Jesus. The kingdom was coming in force!

Thank God for the presence of His Holy Spirit in your life today. Pray for His ongoing guidance to help you to obey His Word and experience His blessings.