22 March 2022
It is within your reach.
For this commandment which I command you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it out of reach. It is not in heaven, that you should say, "Who will go up to heaven for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may observe it?" Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, "Who will cross the sea for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may observe it?" But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may observe it. (Deuteronomy 30:11-14 NASB 1977)
The Word is in your heart already. Consider that Israel's prophets reminded them regularly that God chose them knowing they were about the hardest of heart among the nations. Genuine Hebrew people have a very hard time coming to Christ. If you aren't Hebrew, then the Covenant of Life is even more within reach for you than for Jews.
You can do this. You can walk in the Covenant. All it really takes is your conscious commitment to Christ as Lord. Decide that you will take His teachings seriously -- all of them. Determine that you will try to understand the Hebrew frame of mind. And frankly, for that the primary issue is to decide you will dismiss the western mind. Become aware of it as an issue.
Even the Lord has made it clear that He is patient with you working your way along this path. In Exodus 23, starting in verse 20, the Lord warns that clearing away the occupants of the Promised Land wouldn't happen all at once. The whole idea is that they were to occupy the land and turn its use to God's glory. This is a symbol of your life; the land we conquer today is our own lives. We are the turf in this war against sin. He won't simply chase all your demons out at once, but will lead you in a progressive occupation of your life for His glory.
It's the same thing Jesus meant when He spoke of how demons operate starting in Matthew 12:38. He was condemning the Scribes and Pharisees for seeking a sign, something that would logically compel their intellects to admit that Jesus was the Messiah. The only sign would be the Resurrection, and even that wasn't going to be enough. They were too hard-hearted to receive the truth. He mentioned how other nations seemed to have a lot less trouble turning to the Lord after just preaching with no miracles. He then talks about how a demon driven out might come back to find the soul unoccupied -- it hadn't been converted to God's purpose. It was still empty, so that the demon brought in seven friends who were more wicked. Do you suppose that represents the Pharisees and Scribes who can't be bothered to repent and obey the Lord?
Turn your life around; embrace the Covenant with your heart. Move your conscious awareness into your convictions. Just get started and stay on the path. That will keep the demons from having a place to feel welcome in your soul.
Yes, we can talk about spiritual birth, but that doesn't keep you inside the boundaries of the Covenant. Being born-again won't give you any shalom in this life if you don't repent and turn things around. The Lord is not looking for a bunch of spiritually stillborn children. He wants you alive for His glory. Start examining what your convictions demand of you and follow them.
You can do this. You can make the Covenant come to life.
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