Will You Die for Me?

Altha is my greatest supporter and encourager. She wants me to be a man of faith, accomplishing all that God has created me to do (Eph.2:10). And I hope she sees me doing the same for her. We are conscious of encouraging one another to keep pressing on and reaching higher (Phil. 3:14). This is the essence of a covenant relationship: honoring each other (Rom. 12:10), and looking out for each other’s interests, even above our own (Phil. 2:3-4). (I am not saying I always do it perfectly, but it is my intention to do so!)

When Jonathan made a covenant with David (1 Sam. 18), he gave him his royal robe, signifying he was giving up his “princely” rights in order to make David King—he sought David’s honor above his own. Next, he gave David his weapons and belt, acknowledging his responsibility as covenant partner to protect and provide. He was supplying the resources David would need for success.

This story of Jonathan and David also pictures the covenant Jesus made with us—giving us His life, His strength, and His resources—that we might do the “good works He prepared for us” (Eph. 2:10). Not unlike Jonathan toward David, Jesus made covenant with those who have nothing to offer in return. Jesus Christ, Son of God, and Ruler of the earth, covers us with His own robe of righteousness to make us glorious.

And finally, the covenant meant Jonathan and David were willing to die for each other. Jesus died to make covenant with us. And this is the spirit of covenant: those who make it die to themselves for the sake of their covenant partner. Just as Jesus died to make us glorious, so we too, make Him glorious as we die to ourselves and reflect his glory even more. (2 Cor. 3:18)

Will you die for Him?