Covenants between men during Old Testament times, were used to bind good intentions and loyalty between parties. However, covenants between God and man were more significant and serious than ones made between mortals. Overall, negotiating with God is never an option. God offers a promise and a relationship; God gives and man receives. Man is instructed by God to maintain the relationship by acts of righteousness. God called out to Abraham in Genesis 17: 1 and said: "I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless."Now, can you imagine God appearing to you and saying boldly to walk before Him and be blameless? In the lives of Noah, Abraham, Moses and David, we see how God created these covenants to seal his acceptance and relationship with man. These covenants pointed to God's pursuit of his people; they also foreshadow God's plan of salvation through the work of the Messiah, as Jesus Christ truly is the better covenant (Heb. 7:21-22). God is the initiator, we are the respondents. Question: how do we respond to Holy God in this offering of an incredible relationship?

 Holiness is the human appropriation of God's grace. God draws people to himself and not only invites us into an intimate relationship but commands us to imitate his Holiness ("Be holy, because I am holy." 1Pt. 1:16). God requires holiness. How does this look in our daily lives, relationships, home-life and worship? What comes to mind for me is humility: that I, a wretched sinner is loved, accepted and redeemed by Almighty God. We are redeemed! We are purchased back to God and set free from the confines of sin, brokenness and shame. Out of our relationship with God, how can we respond in any other way but to live lives of committed thankfulness? Doing good, acts of righteousness, acts of praise, works of invisible and visible hospitality and loving others better than ourselves are a few of many responses. What are some others?