Nehemiah 9:38

Because of all this, we make a firm and sure written covenant

There are many occasions in our experience when we may correctly and with benefit, renew our covenant with God. After recovery from sickness when, like Hezekiah, we have had a new lease on life, we may want to re-devote our life to God. After any deliverance from trouble, when our joys burst forth anew, let us again visit the foot of the cross, and renew our consecration to God. Especially, let us do this after any sin which has grieved the Holy Spirit, or brought dishonour upon the cause of God; let us then look to the blood of Jesus which can make us whiter than snow, and again offer ourselves to the Lord. We should not only let our troubles confirm our dedication to God, but our prosperity should do the same.

If we ever have occasions which deserve to be called "crowning mercies" then, surely, if he has crowned us, we ought also to crown our God; let us bring forth again all the jewels of the divine regalia which have been stored in the jewel-closet of our heart, and let our God sit upon the throne of our love, arrayed in royal apparel.

If we could learn to profit spiritually by our prosperity, we would not need so much adversity. If we would gather wisdom from all the good God provides us, maybe we would not smart under the rod of discipline so often. Have we lately received some blessing which we didn't expect? Has the Lord enlarged the blessings in our life? Can we sing of mercies multiplied? Then this is the day to put our hand upon the horns of the altar, and say, "Bind me here, my God; bind me here with cords, even forever." Since we need the fulfilment of new promises from God, let us offer renewed prayers that we keep our old vows. Let us this morning make with him a sure covenant, because of the pains of Jesus which for the last month we have been considering with gratitude.