Deuteronomy 11:1-12:32; Luke 8:22-39; Psalm 70:1-5; Proverbs 12:4
Obedience cannot be overlooked in our relationship with God. If we look at the two sides to our relationship. We have God’s side and our side. God took the first step to love us, care for us, provide for us, make a way for us to get back into His family and put in place any and everything we could, or would, ever need or want. In response to all that He has done, God just says, “Love me back.”
Here is where we misunderstand it. Love is not a feeling. I know when we think of God and His overwhelming love for us, it causes us to feel good. But, when God is saying, “Love me back,” He is not saying, “Have good feelings towards Me.” No, God is saying, do what I ask of you. Now in the Old Testament, this was a voluminous list of things. However, we are under grace in the New Testament so we don’t have that long list. Jesus distilled all the Old Testament law into 2 commandments.
“Jesus replied, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.'” (Matthew 22:37-40)
To love God is to obey God! Love is demonstrated in our obedience to His will for our lives. What has constantly held humanity back from the fullness of all God has for us is our disobedience. Moses went on to even tell the Israelites that they had witnessed all the miraculous signs that God had performed and their children were not privy to any of this. Their obedience is what would pass down a legacy of obedience and blessings.
Today, make your legacy to demonstrate your love to God by living an obedient life. Live with a listening ear to God’s instructions. When you read something in the Word of God or He witnesses a message to your heart, obey Him. The next generation is counting on you!
Tomorrow’s Reading: Deuteronomy 13:1-15:23; Luke 8:40-9:6; Psalm 71:1-24; Proverbs 12:5-7