John 8:48-59 2 Chronicles 5 Malachi 2:10-17
“Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its place” (2 Chronicles 5:7). And the only contents of the ark? “The two tablets that Moses put there” (v.10), declaring the covenant the Lord made with the people of Israel after they came out of Egypt. And once the placing of the ark was completed, “the glory of the Lord filled the house of God” (v.14). The glory of the same God who made a covenant with Abraham, promising that “in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:1-3) and appeared to Moses saying, “I am who I am . . . the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob . . . This is my name forever” (Exodus 3:14,15). The glory of the same God who showed up in Jesus, declaring, “before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58). Covenant — made and kept — is proof of God’s presence, and the story of God is the story of covenant.
“Why then are we faithless to one another?” (Malachi 2:10). If God is a God of covenant, then it follows that those created by God and called God’s children will be a people of covenant, living lives of faithfulness to God and one another. But we so often fail. And when we do, we dishonor God (Malachi 2:10-17; John 8:49). It is for this reason that God hates divorce and violence and grows weary of our excuses (Malachi 2:16,17). And it is for this reason that being related to Abraham isn’t enough (John 8). Faithfulness to one another is evidence of God’s presence in the midst of the community. And yet, if the story of God is the story of covenant made and kept, the human story apart from God is a narrative of covenant made and broken . . . And still God is faithful:
“Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58). In Jesus, the God of Covenant invites us into the story of God’s faithfulness. Again. In Jesus, the same God who created us offers to re-create us and re-form our community. Again. In Jesus, we are empowered to be faithful. No matter our past. May we enter the story of God’s covenant love anew this day. And may we be faithful in love toward God and one another. Amen.
“Very truly, I tell you,
before Abraham was, I am.”
— John 8:58
Fbcsreadthruthebible's Blog 
Leave a comment