Reflections on Sunday, March 2

This past Sunday, I spoke on the last part of Ephesians 2 beginning with verse 11. As you recall, the text began with the words, "Therefore, remember." Then, the Apostle called the faithful to recall who they were as Gentiles before God and to remember the great difference the Cross had made in their lives. Before, they were aliens to the covenants of God, but now, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, they were now included.

Did you know your Bible is divided along these lines? We have the Old Testament and the New. The word Testament means COVENANT. The Old Testament is the record of the old covenant that God made to the Jews through Abraham, Moses, and David. The New Testament means this part of the Bible is the record of the new covenant that God made to all people through the blood of Christ.

We are not accustomed to using the word "covenant." The word speaks of a promise made between at least two parties. At the beginning of every Christian marriage ceremony, the minister will use the word covenant to declare what is being done throughout the ceremony. In marriage, a covenant is being made between two people based on promises they make to each other during their vows. In describing the covenant during the ceremony, the words, "forsaking all others" are used to describe the priority of this covenant over all other covenants that either party may be in.

When you think about it, we are all bound by many covenants in our lives. We have covenants with our employers (i.e. they promise to pay us, and we promise to work). We have covenants with our parents, our brothers and sisters, and many of our close friends. We even have covenants with our children and out grandchildren. The phrase "forsaking all others" means the relationship with a man and a woman in marriage will always have priority over all other covenants. It doesn't mean all other covenants will be forsaken and ignored, but it means this covenant is of such great importance that it will eclipse all other covenants.

The blessings of God that attend two people spending their lives trying to keep this covenant are breathtaking! The mystery here is great. To fully keep this covenant necessitates moments when each individual appeals to God for wisdom, direction, and intervention to know how best to keep those special marriage promises. It is wonderful to see God work this way in marriage.

At the end of the day, after children leave the nest and your jobs are through, you will only have each other. Then you will see the indescribable blessing of two people who made, and through God's help, have kept their promises to each other.