Love God? Obey and Serve Him
I really enjoy watching NBA playoff basketball. The games are often close and come down to the very end before they are decided. Coaches will conserve their timeouts during the game so they have one left as the clock is winding down and time is just about to run out. The coach will use their final timeout to communicate what the team needs to do (and not do) in order to win the game. The team’s success hinges on being able to execute what the coach directed them to do during the final timeout. In Deuteronomy, Moses calls his final timeout as the leader of Israel in order to tell Israel what they must do to be successful and win when they enter the Promised Land (Deut. 5:1b–3; 10:12–13; 27:1–10). Moses told them that their success in receiving the full promise of God’s blessing would hinge on them loving God enough to obey and serve Him. Those are still the things that God requires of us in order to have a fruitful and blessed relationship with Him. I pray right now that God will bless you greatly and that you in turn will love Him enough to serve Him and follow Him in obedience. Amen.
Hear, Israel, the decrees and laws I declare in your hearing today. Learn them and be sure to follow them. The LORD our God made a covenant with us at Horeb. It was not with our ancestors that the LORD made this covenant, but with us, with all of us who are alive here today. (Deut. 5:1-3). Moses takes the time to remind a new generation of Israel of the covenant that had been made between God and His people at Mount Horeb. Moses was speaking here to a different generation than the one which initially made the covenant with God. But Moses was reminding this new generation that the covenant between Israel and God was still in effect and this generation(the living) were also expected to honor the covenant. Regardless of the relationship your ancestors had with Him, each generation is required to enter into their own personal covenant relationship with the Lord and follow Him.
And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the LORD’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good? (Deut. 10:12-13) After reviewing God’s commandments with Israel’s new generation, Moses summarized the essence of what God required of His people. First, to reverence Him. Next to walk (conduct their lives, surrender their lives) in obedience to Him. And finally, for God’s people to love Him and serve Him with all of their heart and soul. Moses made sure to point out that It is the people of God who benefit from the statutes and commands that God gave them to follow. God asks for reverence, obedience and love from His covenant people, not because He wants to control us, but because He knows that these things will work for our good!
Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people: “Keep all these commands that I give you today. When you have crossed the Jordan into the land the LORD your God is giving you, set up some large stones and coat them with plaster. Write on them all the words of this law when you have crossed over to enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your ancestors, promised you. And when you have crossed the Jordan, set up these stones on Mount Ebal, as I command you today, and coat them with plaster. Build there an altar to the LORD your God, an altar of stones. Do not use any iron tool on them. Build the altar of the LORD your God with fieldstones and offer burnt offerings on it to the LORD your God. Sacrifice fellowship offerings there, eating them and rejoicing in the presence of the LORD your God. And you shall write very clearly all the words of this law on these stones you have set up.”
Then Moses and the Levitical priests said to all Israel, “Be silent, Israel, and listen! You have now become the people of the LORD your God. Obey the LORD your God and follow his commands and decrees that I give you today.” (Deut. 27:1-10). Moses told Israel that they were to set up an alter after they entered the Promised Land. The alter would serve for the sacrifices they were to offer to God. But also it would serve as a memorial to their covenant with God, because the covenant law would be written on it. The conclusion of Moses’ message is a pronouncement over Israel that they had now become the people of God. Their final charge as God’s people was to follow His commands and decrees. As the people of God, our covenant with Him is written on our hearts. As we follow Him in love, obedience and service, He leads us to our highest good!
A covenant is an agreement between parties. It spells out what each party will do in in fulfillment of the mutual relationship. The Lord’s covenant relationship with His people is not a one-sided arrangement designed for Him to control us. In fact, He first loved us! And because of His love for us He protects us, provides for us and He offers us salvation. In return, He asks that we love Him like He loves us. And the true measure of our love for Him is that we surrender our hearts in obedience and service to Him. And when we do that…He promises that we will win!
Blessings,
Rev Glenn
