The Word of God and the New Covenant – Part 2

When it comes to the Word of God, I believe we should look to Christ, who is the Living Word. Using the formula of the Bible being the Word of God and we can have anything it says – a believer could use Exodus 31:1-5 to obtain the craftsmanship skills of Bezalel or Daniel 1:17 to attain wisdom and understanding of visions and dreams, becoming ten times better than the people around you. If indeed a person was strongly led to become a craftsman, for instance, perhaps they could look believe in Exodus 31:1-5 and make it their own. But are they available to every believer?  Typically, a person would only seek after those things they feel strongly led towards – it’s their destiny.  But I feel that things like this could also become something to seek on a baseless whim.

I don’t think we can always just take a Bible text relating to another’s blessing and try to make it work for us. Notice how the Bible doesn’t say that Daniel or Bezalel made an effort to seek those blessings?  Perhaps there’s a clue here?  It seems likely that God simply chose to bless those people in that way, without them having to seek it.  Whereas, in the Bible we do read of men and women of God seeking God for something: such as Hannah for a child and Solomon for wisdom. The Bible does tell us what we ought to seek, in verses such as Matthew 6:33 and 1 Timothy 6:11.

 

³³ But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Matthew 6:33

¹¹ But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.

1 Timothy 6:11

Notice how these texts point towards the spiritual rather than the material?  I believe herein lies the clue.  We also have the Words of Jesus giving substance to this notion.

 

¹⁹ "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; ²⁰ "but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:19-21

Here is another verse along these lines, for good measure.

 

If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

Colossians 3:1-2

Ephesians 1:3 says "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ."  So it would be good to get a degree of comprehension as to what every spiritual blessing is.  It’s also worth pointing out that many issues we experience in this world have their root a spiritual, or at least mental and emotional, cause.  So it’s important to seek spiritual blessings and promises, by faith.

I’ve already mentioned what I call The Four R’s: remission of sin, redemption, reconciliation and righteousness.  1 Timothy 6:11 tells us to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.  1 Timothy 6:12 tells us to, Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life.  I don’t believe it’s a coincidence that laying hold of eternal life is mentioned after fighting the fight of faith: it seems to me that maintaining eternal life, the life of God, is a vital aspect of our application of faith. We also have James in James 1:5-8 telling us to ask God for wisdom, by faith, when we need it.  I believe there’s a key here: being honest with yourself and acknowledging before God those things that you know you need – but lack; having an attitude of faith, that you already receive it, knowing that God’s Word promises the provision of it.