SCRIPTURE: Deuteronomy 4
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
“Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.” [John 14:21]
Even though the message of Jesus is grace, He does not stop talking about obedience.
Obedience is not what we need to do in order to be loved but because we are loved.
Doing what God wants, living as God intended, loving as God loved – this is the evidence of a person’s response of love.
We love because He first loved us [1 John 4:19].
Moses stresses how God has loved and blessed Israel.
He urges them not to forget God’s amazing love. He reminds them that love for the God that loves them is best expressed by obeying His commands.
Jesus brings the same message.
Though the specifics of Moses’ Law no longer apply, the moral law does.
Jesus modeled love for God and love for people.
The qualities of humility, patience, self-denial, sexual purity, faithfulness, justice, truth, etc. remain as laws to be obeyed.
This is the life that we were created for; this is the life that we were saved for; this is the life that eternity will be made of.
God came to Israel in a unique, amazing way.
He was present with them, He spoke with them in a way no other nation could claim.
Moses stresses that this will continue, if they remain in Him and His will.
He will continue to love them and show Himself to them.
Jesus has the same message.
God has revealed Himself to the world in a unique, amazing way – in Jesus.
He walks with us, talks with us, a living manifestation of God’s presence and power among us.
If we remain in Him, and walk in His will, then we will continue to experience God’s love, and He will continue to show Himself to us.
This message needs to be repeated again and again.
God loves us, He is with us, He will bless us.
Therefore, put Him first.
With His help, strive to show our love by living according to His will.
When we do, He reveals His love even more, and we experience Him even more.
Do we realize that how we live, how we treat others, how we respond to life and challenges, communicates our attitude to God?
What is the message that my actions and reactions give the Lord?
Can He tell that I love Him by how I live?
Do I do what I do because I want to honour Him?
If I want to experience the ongoing presence and power of God in my life, I have to live in such a way to help that happen.
PRAYER:
Lord, may my life please You today. May my actions and reactions be how You would have them be. I choose to obey You. Show Yourself to me!