“Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation…” (Exodus 19:5-6)
We look at Exodus 19:3-8 and discover what God has done for His people and what God demanded of them. He said to, “obey my voice” and “keep my covenant.” If we do this, “…then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people.”
God said to them, you can be a treasure unto Me. This is a place of value and honor; this puts you in a place of communion and oneness with Christ; it places you in His Inner Circle. You see, He has redeemed us, prepared us, and invested in us just for Himself (Deuteronomy 29:13-15). So if we will obey His commands; that is, give ourselves completely in body, soul, and spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20); then we become precious to Him, as we are a witness to all around us of His love, mercy, and grace.
Then God said, “And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests.” We will do priestly duties; we will be working in His Kingdom as servants of Righteousness. If we obey Christ, He will use us; He will bring to light His “investment” in us: His plan, purpose, and preparation of us in His training school of trials, valleys, and loss of “things” for His sake. If we obey, we will be counted worthy to be His servants. Also see Romans 12:1: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
“Our reasonable service” or our priestly duty is to present our bodies a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to God.
God continues, “…and an holy nation,” a separated people; see 1 Peter 2:9-10. Also look at 1 Peter 1:16, and see 2 Corinthians 6:17-18:
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. (1 Peter 2:9-10)
Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. (1 Peter 1:16)
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6:17-18)
You see, God blesses “obedience,” or walking by faith. See Hebrews 11:6, also Hebrews 10:38, and then Galatians 2:20:
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)
Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. (Hebrews 10:38)
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)
Obedience is walking by Christ, for Christ is “The Faith.” Are you walking in Faith, in Christ? Are you walking in obedience to Him?
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