Today’s Reading: Deuteronomy 5; Deuteronomy 6; Psalm 43; Mark 14
Scripture: Deuteronomy 5:29 Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!
Observation: Moses, in his farewell address, recites the law to the people. Some of it sounds harsh, even petty. An example of this would be: "...for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me..." (Deuteronomy 5:9). (Even Oprah has said that these words, "God is a jealous God," caused her to reject some of the Baptist teaching and question the Christianity that she was raised with.) But if we read the whole thing in its context we see the reason that God is jealous for us: he wants us to do well and be blessed. Just as we who are parents are jealous over our children, wanting to keep them away from influences that we see as harmful to them, and doing everything we can to protect them from bad people. Likewise God is jealous for his children. We see the heart of a loving parent in the scripture that I selected, "Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!" (Deuteronomy 5:29). This isn't about God on some sort of selfish, controlling, and possessive rant! No, it's about a loving Father whose heart is toward his children and intensely wants them to have the best lives possible.
Application: God loves us so much. When he tells us to do something, or to avoid something, it is for our own good. We need to remember this because there are many times when we don't understand the reason for the command or instruction. But if we will trust God and his motivation of love; and if we will obey, even in the absence of full comprehension of the reasons, we will experience his blessing.
Bottom line: Trust and obey.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for your wonderful, kind and loving nature. Help us to listen and do what you say in every situation.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
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