August 26

Morning

He has sent redemption to His people; He has ordained His covenant forever; holy and awesome is His name. — Ps 111:9 BSB

The Lord’s people delight in the covenant itself. It is a constant source of comfort to them whenever the Holy Spirit leads them into its riches and waves the banner of God’s love over them.

They love to think about how ancient this covenant is, remembering that before the stars found their place or the planets moved in their orbits, their salvation was secured in Christ Jesus!

It brings them great joy to reflect on the certainty of this covenant and to meditate on “the sure mercies of David.” They love to celebrate that it is “signed, sealed, and confirmed,” perfectly ordered in every detail.

It makes their hearts swell with gladness to know that this covenant is unchangeable. Neither time nor eternity, life nor death, can break it. It is as old as eternity itself and as everlasting as the Rock of Ages!

They also delight in the fullness of the covenant, seeing in it every provision for their needs. God is their portion, Christ is their companion, the Spirit is their comforter, earth is their temporary home, and heaven is their eternal one! In this covenant, they see an inheritance reserved for every soul with a saving interest in its promises.

Their eyes sparkled when they first discovered this treasure in the Bible, but their hearts overflowed with joy when they saw in the will and testament of their divine Savior that it was bequeathed to them!

But above all, they delight in the graciousness of this covenant. The law was set aside because it depended on works, but this covenant endures because it is founded on grace. Grace is its beginning, grace is its condition, grace is its substance, and grace is its guarantee. The covenant is a storehouse of riches, a fountain of life, a treasury of salvation, a charter of peace, and a haven of joy!

Evening

As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were filled with awe and ran to greet Him. — Mark 9:15 BSB

What a difference there is between Moses and Jesus! When Moses had been on Mount Sinai for forty days, his face shone with a brightness that the people couldn’t bear to look at. He had to cover his face with a veil. But it wasn’t like that with Jesus. After His transfiguration, His glory was even greater than that of Moses, but instead of being blinded by His radiance, the people were amazed and ran to greet Him.

The glory of the law repels, but the greater glory of Jesus draws people in. Though Jesus is holy and just, His purity is filled with grace and truth, so much so that sinners are drawn to Him. They are amazed by His goodness and captivated by His love. They come to Him and make Him their Lord.

Perhaps, dear reader, you are feeling the weight of the law’s demands on your conscience, knowing you can’t live up to it. You respect the law but find yourself hardened and discouraged by it. Oh, my friend, turn your gaze from Moses and his unyielding splendor and look to Jesus, whose glory is tender and inviting. Behold His wounds, His thorn-crowned head. He is the Son of God, greater than Moses, but He is also the Lord of love, gentler than the lawgiver.

He bore the full wrath of God in His death, revealing more of God’s justice than Sinai ever could. But now that justice has been satisfied, and it guards those who believe in Jesus. Look to the crucified Savior! Feel the pull of His love and run into His open arms. You will be saved!