Fellowship In Christ                              
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                         As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord ´

              “Igniting soul’s through the proclamation of Jesus Christ”.

 

Check this out, let’s start with a Focus in Scripture tonight, or in the morning, whenever you are reading.  “And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul, Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.  And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.”  (1 Samuel 18:1-4)

 

This scripture paints such an awesome picture, a covenant of exchange.  If anyone understood the covenant of exchange, David did.  The covenant of exchange was a practice in which two persons sealed a binding covenant by exchanging attire.  This covenant represented a basic principle, "I will become what you are, and you will become what I am, our souls are knit together as one."  Now, because Jonathan was the royal son the offspring of the first King of Israel, he was dressed in the finest royal robes.  The riches of the kingdom were at his disposal and his wishes were others’ commands.  But he desired one thing, for David to have everything he had.  Jonathan was so intent that he was willing to change places with him and to be all that David was.  David, on the other hand, was only a shepherd boy.  He came from a meager home and was a servant to King Saul.  He wore a simple cloak, which likely smelled of sweat and sheep.  Can you imagine how David must have felt when Jonathan began to remove his worn and rugged cloak and to place his own on David's back?  This passage attests to the love Jonathan had for David.  This covenant was based on Jonathan's love, not on David's.  David’s love is never mentioned. 

This is where I get excited!  Let’s look further and see the elements of the greatest covenant of exchange ever made.  1 John 4:10 says, “This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”  Now, go back and change the names in the paragraph describing Jonathan’s exchange with David.  Because Jesus Christ was the royal son the offspring of the first King of kings and the Lord of lords, he was dressed in the robe of righteousness.  The riches of the Kingdom of God were at His disposal and His Word held the power of creation.  But He desired one thing, for us to have everything He had.  Christ was so intent that He was willing to change places with us and to be all that we were.  We, on the other hand, are only sinful flesh and blood, stained with guilt and shame.  We came from a meager home and were servants to sin.  We wore a simple cloak, which was stained with blood guiltiness and the filth of this world.

Now let’s take a look at Rev. 19:13, “And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and His name is called The Word of God.”  Here we have the complete picture.  You and I stand cleansed and pure and whole before Him wearing the robe of righteousness that Jesus took off His own back and placed on us while He wears the blood-stained vesture as a memorial to the sin and shame He took upon Himself but also as a memorial to the Victory He won over death, hell, and the grave.



Let us Pray: “Father, how can we say thanks for all You have done for us? Your love, so undeserved, so pure, so awesome!  Father some of us are so aware that many, many times we go about our daily routine totally oblivious to Your will for us, not having spent the time to seek Your face and invite Your presence.  We do long to know that Your presence is with us wherever we go.  And, if it’s not, Lord, give us the courage to stay still until we know that You are with us, leading the way.  How we long to dwell in Your presence, Lord, knowing that You are with us and that You have prepared the way before us.  Father, it is You whom we seek, it is You whom we love, it is Your presence that we need, every hour of every day that we live.  Father, thank You for Your Son, for His love and for the covenant He entered into with us as we exchanged garments.  We don’t deserve such a gift, and we don’t deserve such love!  But we praise You that You saw fit to seek us out, to lavish Your love upon us, and to grant us the privilege to wear the Robe that represents the righteousness of the saints.  Thank you, dear Heavenly Father, for loving us so extravagantly.  Please help us each to see the opportunities to love others whom you place in our path everyday.  Use us to demonstrate Your love to someone tonight, today, and each day that follows.  Lord, we are so in awe of Your love, Your mercy, and Your grace, our lips offer You praise and our heart is overwhelmed with love as we contemplate this great covenant of exchange.  Help us to comprehend with all the saints what is the breath, length, depth, and height of Your love toward each of us, it’s more than we can take in.  We love You, help us honor You in all we do, everywhere we go, and in all we say.  Be glorified, Lord, in thee, through thee, and even in spite of ourself.  In Jesus’ Name, by His blood, and for His glory.  Amen”

 

Love is demonstrated, not just said.  Love goes ahead sharing itself instead of waiting until things are easy or safe.  Love redeems when all hope seems lost.  Love is not only what God is, but it is also what He does and what He gives.  Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of the Most High God, sought us out, loved us, and entered into a covenant of exchange with us!  He bore our bloodstains and we stand dressed in the clean and unspotted garment known as the Robe of Righteousness.  We could never earn such an undeserved exchange, but His love for us compelled Him to embrace us and covenant with us in the Greatest Exchange.

Praise Him today, saints, He proudly wears that vesture dipped in blood because He loves you!  Wear your Robe of Righteousness with humility and honor and never bring disgrace to the Garment of His Righteousness.  It came to Him at great cost, it was given to us freely!  As our Sister Ellie says, Hallelujah!

 

“And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul's servants.” 

(1 Samuel 18:5)

 

Love in the Lord
Paul/Hayman
To visit click here:
http://ca.groups.yahoo.com/group/FellowshipInChrist
 "Igniting passion in the people of God through the proclamation of truth."


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