Covenant: a Three Legged Race

Presented to Tisdale Corps Council October 9, 2007
by Captain Michael Ramsay

The three-legged race is always a fun one to watch at the fair. Perhaps you have noticed that some people seem to do it with ease whereas many others tend to fall down and trip all over each other. I have seen dads tied to their kids who have simply picked them up and run with them without breaking the tie that binds.It is a lot of fun but you’ll notice that the team that wins moves in sink with each other so that with every stride they are matching their partner.

When you have two independently minded people however (like siblings often) you see two people going nowhere other than to a pile-up on the ground.Over these weeks we have been and will be looking at covenants in our Bible studies and sermon series. The thing about covenants – as we discussed on Sunday – the word itself refers to being bound, tied, or shackled together, not unlike the three-legged race.

We in the Salvation Army are a covenanted people. Our soldiers pledge to uphold our doctrine and, among other things, abstain from all that can enslave the mind and body. Our officers covenant to make soul-winning a primary focus of our lives. We are bound to this. And as Christians in general we are yoked together with Christ. In this, I think we need to remember that it is difficult to move, let alone win the race, when the one you are yoked together with is going in the other direction; ...BUT when you are following in a proper covenant, the Lord’s yoke is easy! And really what can we accomplish on our own that isn’t accomplished much more easily and effectively when we were shackled to the LORD!