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: (Exo 19:5)
As I ponder on the above scriptures from where the topic before us has been taken, it gradually occurred to me that God is putting emphasis on NOW with a strong reference to what He has done previously. “Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself. (Exo 19:4)” Halleluyah to God for what we have seen him do to save us: what he did to set us free from the world and the slavery of sin; how he carried us on his towering wings through the Red Sea and brought us this far. Thank God for our salvation, o yes, we have been brought unto God Himself through gracious reconciliation. But that is not all. Salvation in itself is not an end; it is a means to an end: God wants to make us a treasured possession, a peculiar treasure and a kingdom of priests unto Himself.
God says “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: (Exo 19:5)”. Thank God for our salvation and how much we have celebrated our salvation experience. But God is saying “Now”, God is saying “Now therefore”. What is God Setting before us NOW and why? A condition for the next experience: “if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant…” Then what will happen? “…, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people…” Our salvation is a glorious thing, but it is not the ultimate in the heart of God. To get saved requires nothing but faith in Christ Jesus, it is a free gift. But to become a peculiar treasure, there is a price: to obey God’s voice indeed, and keep His covenant.
Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. Act 10:34 – 35
Peter fairly exploded with his good news: “It’s God’s own truth, nothing could be plainer: God plays no favorites! It makes no difference who you are or where you’re from–if you want God and are ready to do as he says, the door is open. Act 10:34 – 35
Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. (Heb 1:9)
