Covenant unto Righteousness5/24/2024 Job 31:1 ~ "I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin? " As Job defends himself against the constant barrage of accusations from his three friends, he points to his determination to remain righteous in his behavior. Another translation of our text for today can read: "I have made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a young woman." And this verse today begs a question: how have we taken the very members of our "self" and committed them to a righteous life? Let me explain. When you consider your eyes, as Job had done, have you committed to the LORD that you will use them for that which will bring Him glory? There is so much worldliness positioned against us visually, and random moments of accidental views sometimes cannot be helped. But what do you choose to look at? Jesus said in Matthew 6:22-23, "The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!" What you willfully use your eyes to see may be an indication of where your heart is found. Do as Job, and make a covenant with your eyes to use them for the glory of God. And this, beloved, goes for all other aspects of our life. For it is more than just the eyes for which we must be concerned. How have you set your feet to walk in this world? Do you go toward that which is righteous or do you navigate toward things that would be detrimental to your fellowship with the LORD? How about your tongue? About what do you use your lips to speak? James 3:6 says, "And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell." Peter also addresses the use of our mouth, "Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit" (1 Peter 3:10). The list is long so we won't go into further considerations, but I trust that you get the gist of the issue. My friends, each aspect of our lives must be brought into conformity to the LORD Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul looked at it as an athlete training for his sport. He illuminates it for us in 1 Corinthians 9:25, "Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable." Do you strive to exercise control--the spiritual fruit of self-control (see Galatians 5:22)--as you walk through this world? Peter again helps us to understand the importance of walking through this world with a faithful effort to live in righteousness. We read in 1 Peter 2:11-12, "Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation." The world will despise your good deeds and speak against you. Isaiah 59:15 states, "Truth is lacking, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey." You will become prey for the haunt of jackals in this world if you depart from evil. And yet, when Christ returns on that Day of Visitation, He will receive glory from you for your desire to depart from evil. So let the statement of Job wash over your mind. Even now, determine to make a covenant with all aspects of your life so that you will strive against anything that would defile you or dishonor the name of Christ. There is truly not one believer in Christ who has lived so righteous that they never need to repent. Take this moment to examine yourself and, if needed, to repent. Covenant again with that portion of your life to do only what will bring honor and glory to Jesus. In His Grace, Pastor Michael
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