The Party of the First Part

It was a solemn vow, a contract between two parties. It was much more than a business arrangement, a convenience for the mutual benefit of both. And it is interesting to note that on God's part it was a "love, honour and cherish" commitment but expressed as though the other party would need to learn to love, honour and cherish as the relationship developed.

Here is what Moses said as he finished his message to the Israelites.

"You have declared this day that the Lord is your God and that you will walk in his ways, that you will keep his decrees, commands and laws, and that you will obey him. And the Lord has declared this day that you are his people, his treasured possession as he promised, and that you are to keep all his commands. He has declared that he will set you in praise, fame and honor high above all the nations he has made and that you will be a people holy to the Lord your God, as he promised" (Deuteronomy 26:17-19, NIV).

The sense of the passage here strikes a cord. I thought I loved Jesus when I entered into a relationship with Him more than fifty years ago. I did—but not to the extent that I love Him now. For Him, the love He showed me was already perfect, whole. For me there was only a spark, a spark that would be gently caressed by the wind of the Spirit and fanned by the strength of His love and commitment. My little light of love would grow, bolstered by His immense feeling for me.

He only asked obedience but look what He offered in return. We are His treasured possession, objects of praise, fame and honour, in His eyes if not in the eyes of the world. He has declared us holy, set apart for Him and for His purposes.

It doesn't get any better than that!