Humanity is terminally selfish.  We almost always think firstly of ourselves. This even infects our religion.  We are there for God and not the other way around.  This is difficult for us to understand.

A little child falls in the shopping center and howls for thousands to hear.  All he is concerned with is his pain and receiving comfort and attention.  The same holds true when he want that chocolate.  He wants, wants wants ….

One day he grows up and gives his life for those he loves ….
 

A COVENANT IS A TWO WAY RELATIONSHIP

Our Bible is divided into an Old and New Testament or an old and new Covenant. The New is better but built on the Old.

Ephesians 2:19,20: you are “the household of God, and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, ...”

We are a people who walk with God and in His ways and wishes.  We cannot be a disobedient people and believe this is right.  This disobedience is robbing us of our SHALOM - peace, blessing and prosperity.

This covenant relationship is most simply stated (many times) in these words.
Exodus 6:7  " And I will take you to Me for a people, and I will be God to you. " … (also Leviticus 26:12)
Jeremiah 7:23  " ... Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people; and walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, so that it may be well with you."
Jeremiah 11:4  "... Obey My voice and do them according to all that I command you; so you shall be My people, and I will be your God"
Jeremiah 30:22  "And you shall be My people, and I will be your God."
Ezekiel 36:28  "And you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers. And you shall be My people, and I will be your God."
 

SIMPLY PUT GOD BEHAVES IN A CERTAIN WAY AND SO DO WE
GOD HAS HIS ROLE AND SO DO WE
GOD IS MASTER AND WE ARE HIS SERVANTS
GOD PROTECTS & PROVIDES
WE LOVE AND OBEY
 

BUT THE LAW IS DEAD???

Jeremiah 31:33  "But this shall be the covenant that I will cut with the house of Israel: After those days, says Jehovah, I will put My Law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people."

This is the promise of the New Covenant.  This New Testament is more encompassing than the Old.  The Old tried to regulate behavior but the New changes hearts.  Every thought, motivation and action is governed and influence by the New Covenant.

Even in the Old Testament God is really after your heart

Micah 6:8  "He has shown you, O man, what is good.  And what does Jehovah require of you but to do justice and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God?"

It is possible to be a believe and be an enemy of God.  It is possible that we behave so badly that people do not want to know Him.

Philppians 3:18,19  "For I have often told you, and now tell you even with tears, that many live as enemies of the cross of the Messiah.  Their destiny is destruction, their god is their belly, and their glory is in their shame.  Their minds are set on worldly things."
 

BASIC OBEDIENCE
Repentance before God - be sensitive to the Spirit's conviction.
Forgive others - unforgiveness can separate us eternally from God.
Sabbath worship - this is the beginning of an ordered submitted life.
Sacrifice - time energy and money - Jesus gave everything for you???
Widows and orphans - the broken are on God's heart.
Growing Love of Father, Son and Spirit.
There should be in us a hunger for righteousness and an eagerness to please Him.
“If you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15)