God promises...we respond

A covenant is a formal agreement between two people, but it is much closer to a marriage vow than to a business contract. It is a solemn promise always to be there for the other person in every possible way.

God promised Noah to protect the earth. God promised Abraham and Sarah that they would become parents of a great nation. God promised Moses and the people of Israel that "I AM" would always be with them, no matter what.

Because God's promises, unlike human ones, are not made to be broken, the covenant God makes is unwavering. God is steadfast, staying in relationship with us whether we are aware of it or not, whether we greet it joyfully or try to evade it, whether we express this truth in the way we live or do everything we can to deny it. We cannot weaken God's commitment.

What God decides is set in stone; and before God determined anything else about our world, God decided to love us.

God's plan is that we will reciprocate this love, living out our days in intimacy with our Creator and extending this harmony to other people and to the world around us.

But God does not force us to make this choice. One of the peculiar things about covenants is that they require freedom from both parties. Just as a 'shotgun wedding' is not true marriage at all, our participation in God's covenant cannot be compulsory. God hopes that we will freely choose this. Freedom is a double-edged sword, however; and in order to be free to accept it, we must also be free to reject it. Out of deep respect for us, God allows us to be free - free to stay or free to walk away.

Andy Langford and Mark Ralls, in Along the Way: Beginnings and introduction to Christian Faith, p74.

Beth Dawson's story

One of my most favorite memories as a child reminds me of God’s covenant love for all of us. I was about eight years old and playing out in my back yard. It was a beautiful summer day, sun shining, big puffy clouds in the sky. As one of the clouds passed over the sun, streams of sunshine came pouring through. I remember thinking that this must be God pouring His love and light over me. I was totally awestruck at the sight and the feeling.

This is how I like to think of God’s covenant love to me. When life gets too hard or when I get too arrogant, I try to take myself back to that time and place of childlike wonder of how much God can love. There have been many times when I have failed and faltered in faith and life, but knowing that God will never leave or forsake me keeps me in a place of wonder and hope.