God Promises a New Covenant

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REFLECTION

A New Covenant

by Elaine Pierce

Are you ever amazed that God hasn't given up on the human race? At times, I wonder why he puts up with us. All you have to do is open a newspaper, or log onto your phone and check your social media or news feed, and you will see example after example of failure:

- we have failed to be good stewards of the earth;

-we covet what our neighbor has, and we're not content with what we have;

-we refuse to listen to others, and we insist that our way is best;

-we are quick to anger and slow to forgive;

-we seek out temporal pleasures instead of leaning on God's goodness and mercies;

-we fill our minds with junk instead of what is good, pleasing and pure;

I think I'll stop for now. Friends, we have certainly not held up our end of the bargain. And yet, listen to what God says through Jeremiah:

"I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel [and that includes us, as grafted into God's family through adoption as sons and daughters.]

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....For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."  

As we read the Old Testament through the lens of the New Testament, we know that God sent his son, his only son, and through his blood we have forgiveness for our sins. No, we can't earn that forgiveness. But we do have to accept it. As Jesus taught us, every day we get on our knees and ask God to forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.

What joy, what hope we can know when we accept Jesus' grace and mercy.  And, yes, our God is waiting for us, waiting to accept us, to love us, and to offer us eternal life. As we long for the day when "his will be done, on earth as it is in heaven," we ask for forgiveness, and we claim that new covenant. And rejoice in the love our Father has for us.

UALC’S CAMPAIGN OF PRAYER

SUNDAY - PEACE - Blessed are the Shalom-makers, for they shall be called the children of God. We confess that we have all sinned and fallen short of your glory, O God. We have broken the peace and wholeness of your good world. Forgive us, lead us, and restore us. Reform us into peacemakers instead of peace-breakers.