The more I understand God’s covenant blessing, the more my love for God grows. And the more my love for God grows, the more my love for other people grows too. This is how God works in us. He does not just want us to know religious words or enjoy spiritual benefits. He wants our hearts to change.
One of the biggest keys to growing in God is learning to obey Him even when our flesh does not want to. The flesh wants its own way. It wants comfort, control, pride, revenge, and selfish desires. But the Spirit of God living in us is greater than the pressure of the world around us. First John 4:4 says, “The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” That means we are not powerless. God has given us His Spirit to help us live in a way that pleases Him.
Everything God does, He does through covenant. Covenant is God’s way of relating to His people. A covenant is much deeper than a contract. A contract usually says, “If you do this, then I will do that.” But covenant is built on love, commitment, faithfulness, and relationship. God’s covenant does not begin with us. It begins with Him. It comes from His heart, from His throne, and from His desire to show love and mercy to people.
Many people in today’s world think life is all about themselves. They ask, “What can I get? How can this help me? What do I want?” But covenant thinking is different. Covenant thinking begins with God. It asks, “Lord, what is Your will? How can I walk with You? How can my life line up with Your heart?”
Sadly, some people approach salvation like a contract instead of a covenant. They want the blessings of Jesus, but they do not want the lordship of Jesus. They want forgiveness, peace, protection, and answered prayer, but they do not want obedience, surrender, or change. That kind of thinking treats Jesus like someone we use for benefits instead of someone we love with our whole heart.
Jesus said in John 14:15, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” In simple words, Jesus was saying, “If you truly love Me, your life will show it.” Obedience is not how we buy God’s love. Obedience is how we respond to God’s love. We do not obey Him to earn salvation. We obey Him because He has saved us, loved us, forgiven us, and brought us into covenant with Himself.
God’s commandments are not given to hurt us or hold us back. They are boundaries of protection. Just like a loving parent gives instructions to protect a child, God gives commands to protect our hearts, our lives, and our future. The world may call obedience restriction, but God calls it love. His commandments keep us from things that steal, damage, and destroy.
When we live outside of covenant, we begin chasing other things. We chase approval, pleasure, money, power, relationships, and anything else we think will satisfy us. But those things cannot give us what only God can give. They may look good for a season, but in the end, they leave the heart empty. Covenant keeps us close to God, where true life is found.
God’s covenant is not about forcing God to do what we want. It is about allowing God to shape us according to His will. Sometimes people try to use faith as a way to make God agree with their plans. But true faith says, “Lord, align my heart with Yours.” The goal is not to make God follow us. The goal is for us to follow Him.
To be conformed to the image of Christ means we are being changed to think more like Jesus, love more like Jesus, forgive more like Jesus, and obey more like Jesus. This does not happen by our strength alone. The Holy Spirit helps us. He teaches us, corrects us, comforts us, and gives us power to say no to the flesh and yes to God.
The more we walk in covenant with God, the more we understand that His ways are good. His commands are not a burden. They are a blessing. They lead us away from darkness and into life. They teach us how to love God, how to love people, how to live with integrity, and how to remain close to Him.
So when the flesh resists, do not give up. When obedience feels hard, remember who lives in you. The Spirit of God is greater than the pull of the world. Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. God has not left you to fight alone. He has given you His Word, His Spirit, His grace, and His covenant promise.
As our understanding of God’s covenant blessing grows, our love should grow too. We begin to love God not just for what He gives, but for who He is. We begin to love others because His love is working in us. And we begin to obey, not out of fear, but out of love. That is the beauty of covenant: God draws us close, changes our hearts, and teaches us to walk with Him in love.
Minister A Francine Green, August 2026