Exodus 19:5 “Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine.”
Dear God,
Thank You that Your love for us is all encompassing, even though as God, You order events in all the universe, it is apparent that we the people of earth are not insignificant to You. For example, You loved the Children of Israel and could not bear to see the oppression they were enduring and it came time to fulfill the promise to bring them out of slavery in Egypt. So to prepare the way for their release, many miracles were performed, revealing Your mighty power. These miracles were really performed to bring about the release of the Israelite nation from Egypt, by the pharaoh, but also impressed the surrounding nations of the supremacy of the Israelite God, as well. Your miraculous interventions, continued from the departure of Moses and the people, on through the sea out of Egypt, and eventually to the Promised Land.
In beautiful imagery, You reminded the Children of Israel, of how “I bore you on eagles’ wings and bought you to Myself.” Then and now, You desire to have a close relationship, with all who love You. The Israelite’s were sinful, as we are; all of us can only have a continuing close relationship with You, when obedient to Your wishes, contrite for all our sins and keep Your commandments.
You cannot be in a place where sin is, and You abhor sin. If I willingly and knowingly hang on to my sin, I could not expect You to be in communication with me. It has always been, that all I have to do is listen to the Holy Spirit prompting me to repent and confess my sins, and my heart will be cleansed and able to have, Your influence in my heart again.
Father, You know how often I and others look upon You with a mind tainted by sin and totally miscomprehend Your purity, majesty and power. Forgive me and others for unthinkingly treating You without total reverence. Your glorious not defiled presence kills any who looks upon You.
It is not a helpful alternative to allow Satan fill us with futile pride in our own abilities and ability to run our life, for all through the Bible are reports of the misery he causes people. Many of us can recount our own experiences of his ploys and deceptions, which have caused us disquiet and problems.
I understand that from early apostolic times after Christ’s death, Christians have been known as Spiritual Israel. I find in the New Testament that we are no less a special treasure to You, than were the Children of Israel, known as the Chosen People.
When I follow the example of Your righteous people in the Old Testament and New Testament, I enjoy Your blessings also; then in gratitude and need, I humble myself before You in prayer and supplication as they did. I find I can be close to You, and be Your true representative as the Patriarchs, even if to a lesser degree.
Your love begets love within me, needing to be expressed, and I sincerely thank You that this is so.
Amen