And all these blessings shall come upon you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God. Deuteronomy 28:2
To a child, a large backyard looks HUGE. It’s filled with trees to climb, a sandbox to play in, possibly even a swing set – what more could a child want? When Mom says ” You can play anywhere you want in the entire backyard, but you can’t leave the yard,” that doesn’t sound restrictive at all. Who would want to leave the yard when the yard offers so much?
It’s not a perfect analogy to how we should view the idea of obedience to God, but it is close. He gives us the entire kingdom of God to “play” in and only asks that we don’t get distracted or tempted by the kingdom of the world on the other side of the fence. Just to make sure the Israelites understood, God gave them long lists of the blessings they would find and experience within the limits He asked them to observe – and likewise, the difficulties they would suffer outside those limits. (Deuteronomy 28) Obedience is always the choice that leads to blessings.
As parents, we ask our children to obey for a reason – a reason called love. God does the same with us. Obedience begins at the point of believing that God knows best. Trust that He limits because He loves. Love never forces obedience! God’s Love for our Redemption in this Sin Stricken World is always invitational. Opportunities abound to pull up a chair at His table and to be invited to be cultivated in an “abiding anchored community,” to both grow and be nourished to flourish by the Fruits of the Spirit; Love, Joy, Peace, Forbearance, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-control, (Galatians 5:22-23).
Prompted by and expanded from Destination: Your Journey With God by David Jeremiah May 16 reading.
BOTTOM LINE:
A hurting world needs Christ Followers grounded in the Word of God and equipped to share the Truth of the Bible in the love of Christ. The fading residual of western civilization is being shaken by today’s visible demonically influenced cultures/sub-cultures. Are you ready to engage? TEACH TRUTH. LOVE WELL!
FOR FURTHER REFLECTION:
If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honor. John 12:26
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matt. 11:29, 30
Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knows not what his lord does: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. John 15:15
Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8: 34-36. NIV
Now, read it in The Message Version, 34 Jesus said, “I tell you most solemnly that anyone who chooses a life of sin is trapped in a dead-end life and is, in fact a slave. 35 A slave is a transient, who can’t come and go at will. The Son, though, has an established position, the run of the house (or playground!). 36 So if the Son sets you free, you are free through and through.”
Free indeed!