Understanding commands

We are viewing the chapters in John that reveal the nature of the covenant Jesus made for us. The chapters 13-17 are filled with covenant expectation and actions as Jesus prepared His disciples for the testing His covenant ministry would be to them. Such brutality and violence that would be loosed against their beloved Messiah were totally beyond their ability to comprehend. Jesus knew their human reaction would be the testing of their lives. Their human expectation of a kingdom and their place in it filled their minds and emotions, leaving no room for what they were soon to witness. This opened the door to their discouragement and defeated fear of what would happen to them. Turning to anything that would be a comfort and distraction from their unhappiness was natural to human nature. It is still a common reaction to events in a Christian's life that cannot be "explained" in their expectation of what they want God to do. Coming to the end of human understanding and seeking God to reveal His will, gives the Spirit the opportunity to lead us into spiritual wisdom and understanding.

The Holy Spirit gave new meaning to the days of agony and confusion the disciples had passed through. Peter's message gave new meaning to those who heard him of the terrible cloud that had blanketed that Passover. John was led to give us the account of the words and actions of Jesus as He prepared for His sacrifice in covenant.

Jesus began to give them the "expectation of covenant" that would be continued by the revelation to them by the Holy Spirit. As His chosen apostles, they would continue the New Covenant's expectations as the doctrines they would teach the Church. The Holy Spirit continues this as He writes on our hearts. Expectations of covenant were a part of the covenant ceremony when two people met to make a covenant. When God makes a covenant with man, the expectations of that covenant are not revealed to man in that one ceremony, but they continue in the generations to come. It was not until Moses, in his obedience and response to God's commands, that God gave the written "expectation" of the Abrahamic covenant, and, as covenant procedure demanded, were written by His own hand and sealed with His own blood.

The New Covenant has "expectations" of God and demand covenant response. A failure to give covenant response is sin. That was Adam's sin and it brought terrible consequences to every human being born since that time. We are born in sin and come into a realm of darkness, cut off from God and destined to judgment. But God made a way of escape. If we ignore His covenant provision, we simply go on in our dark destiny. The chapters 5 through 7 in Romans were always difficult for me until I became acquainted with covenant meaning. Paul is speaking of his own experience of trying to live under the Old Covenant expectation. He understood the inescapable penalty of broken covenant. He also understood the human inability to never fail and always live up to God's expectation. The "expectation" of God's covenant are called "commands". Man has no idea of God's holiness or His purpose for mankind except through His Word. Therefore, man has no idea of how his actions and manner of life are viewed by God. Man has no idea of God's justice and mercy and His great love for us. Only when God reveals this to us do we begin to understand. Getting only a glimpse of His great love for us creates great joy in us and suddenly we see through eyes that are enlightened by His light. To walk in His love means a growing light. Proverbs 4:18 (NLT) The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day. This continuing action of following Him as He leads us deeper into His Nature is a response that God needs to lead us as He desires. Hosea 6:3 Oh, that we might know the Lord! Let us press on to know him. He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring.” This growing revelation or light is necessary if we are to "see" where God is leading us and we are to know the day in which we live. He gives understanding as we walk in His Way.

What God reveals and the way in which He reveals to us is dependent on our Covenant response. However, Satan, the great deceiver, knows our human reluctance to walk in continual response and so he hold out an "easier" way and makes religion of the revelation by lulling us into our comfort zone. We still want God and we still want the results of following God, we just don't want to become "fanatics" or seem too zealous. We give God a portion of our lives and continue living the rest the way we desire. I have no problem with comfort and relaxation and fun. There is a way that we can enjoy what God has provided for us. Colossians 3:15-17 (NLT) 15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. 16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. 17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. What this means to me is simply living an undivided life. My whole life belongs to Him. That means when I am cheering my favorite football team, or visiting friends, or enjoying my family, I am joined to Him. He "reads over my shoulder" the book I am enjoying. He listens to all my conversation and I am aware of His Presence. I am instantly aware of that which I do or say that does not please Him and I instantly repent and change my course. It isn't difficult. What is difficult is turning away from His peace and going back into the stress of my own way. People feel guilty about enjoying life. Don't forget He made and has provided "all things to enjoy" in this realm He has created for us. He wants us to laugh and enjoy and be happy. He created the sense of humor. Satan has degraded and vilified everything in our culture with suggestive language and filthy humor. That does not change what God has given. We can have all that God has provided and revel in His love and peace.