Genesis 17:9-13 (NIV)
9 Then God said to Abraham, “As for you, you must keep
my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to
come. 10 This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you,
the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be
circumcised. 11 You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be
the sign of the covenant between me and you. 12 For the
generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be
circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with money
from a foreigner—those who are not your offspring. 13 Whether born in
your household or bought with your money, they must be circumcised. My
covenant in your flesh is to be an everlasting covenant.
Long before the first Christmas God chose Abraham, set him
apart from his family and neighbors, sent him off to a new land, and promised
to make him into a great nation. He promised that from his offspring God would
raise up the great Savior whose birth we celebrate during this Christmas
season.
God made a covenant, a glorious agreement with Abraham, promising He would richly bless Abraham and all his descendants. Abraham was circumcised as a visible, physical sign to remind him daily of the covenant that stood forever between him and his God. All his male children were to share that sign of circumcision when they reached eight days of age.
In many ways, it was a one-sided covenant. God made all the promises and did all the work. All He asked of Abraham and his descendants was that they dedicate themselves to Him, love and serve the Lord alone. But repeatedly through the Old Testament, Abraham's descendants failed to keep the covenant.
Now Jesus enters that covenant in our place. He takes all its obligations upon Himself, shedding His blood to seal His allegiance to God His Father. His entire life will be one of obedience to God, loving, fearing and trusting His Father before all things. And in the fullness of time He will shed His blood anew on the cross. There He will wash away all our sins.
God made a covenant, a glorious agreement with Abraham, promising He would richly bless Abraham and all his descendants. Abraham was circumcised as a visible, physical sign to remind him daily of the covenant that stood forever between him and his God. All his male children were to share that sign of circumcision when they reached eight days of age.
In many ways, it was a one-sided covenant. God made all the promises and did all the work. All He asked of Abraham and his descendants was that they dedicate themselves to Him, love and serve the Lord alone. But repeatedly through the Old Testament, Abraham's descendants failed to keep the covenant.
Now Jesus enters that covenant in our place. He takes all its obligations upon Himself, shedding His blood to seal His allegiance to God His Father. His entire life will be one of obedience to God, loving, fearing and trusting His Father before all things. And in the fullness of time He will shed His blood anew on the cross. There He will wash away all our sins.
Thought for today:
Do I fully acknowledge that Jesus made a supreme sacrifice?
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