Notes to New Covenant

In my own quiet time, I’m currently working through a scripture reading plan called, ‘The Essential 100’.  There’s been some great times for me in reflection of some of my favorite accounts of scripture, as well as some that I didn’t quite remember- or even some moments where I think- I NEVER remember seeing that before.  I was reading the story of David and Bathsheba a few days ago, and all of David’s screw-up’s, sins, and junk surrounding that story.  You might remember afterwards, the prophet Nathaniel called David out!  Nathaniel uses the  illustration of a guy who had all the sheep vs. a guy who only had 1 sheep.  David gets all mad, that a guy with a lot of sheep would take the sheep from a guy with only 1…and then Nathaniel points out the obvious irony, and more importantly the obvious sin.

And then there’s this passage as Nathaniel- the prophet speaking on behalf of Almighty God says:

2 Samuel 12:7-9a 7  …This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul.8 I gave your master’s house to you, and your master’s wives into your arms. I gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more.9 Why did you despise the word of the Lord by doing what is evil in his eyes? 

That got me thinking…here’s David…the King…and we know the story.  What he did was wrong.  God says, ‘Look, if this was an issue of not having enough…I would’ve EVEN GIVEN YOU MORE’!  But WHY would you despise the Lord by doing what is evil in His eyes? 

God is willing to give- even so much more!  We talked about ‘The New Norm’ on Sunday- which calls us to be weird, or to be different and turn away from what the world around us says is ‘ok’, or ‘acceptable’ and to live by HIS way.  His purposes.   We’ve justified things away by saying, ‘it’s ok because…’, or ‘I deserve…’, or ‘it only affects me so…’ and GOD SAYS WHY WOULD YOU DESPISE THE LORD BY DOING WHAT IS EVIL IN HIS EYES? 

There are places in my life where I have to establish a New Norm. The truth is- as a follower of Christ, I AM called to a higher standard.  YOU ARE called to a higher standard.  We must begin to live ‘The New Norm’…it means we might be a little weird.  A little different. 

1 Peter 2:11 Friends, this world is not your home, so don't make yourselves cozy in it. Don't indulge your ego at the expense of your soul.12 Live an exemplary life among the natives so that your actions will refute their prejudices. Then they'll be won over to God's side and be there to join in the celebration when he arrives.

This is true in our relationships, our finances, our perspectives, and every other area!  Make sure to join us for wk 2 of ‘The New Norm.’