God doesn't really ask much of the Israelites: only to 'fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, 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?' (v12-13)
God doesn't want half-hearted people, he will not be one among many of our life priorities. This is of course God calling the Israelites - it doesn't directly apply to us - but it is a model for our relationship with God through Jesus, and he called us to leave Father and mother and fields and everything behind to follow him, he called us to take up our cross and follow. If we're going to follow Jesus, we need to count the cost.
But we also need to weigh the benefit - these laws and demands on the Israelites lives were for their own good. Living God's way is very demanding, but it is also the best way to live - in serving God with our whole heart and soul we find our greatest joy.
He is the owner of everything, from the highest heavens to the smallest details of planet earth. And isn't it remarkable to think about the enormity of the universe, which we can't even measure it is so huge, we are still discovering new stars and new things about this universe. when we reflect on how enormous and complex the universe is, we realise just how small and insignificant we are. Which makes it so remarkable that God would set his affection on us. The busyer and more important a person is, the less time you expect they will have for little old me. But here is the God and creator of the universe - who has set his affection on me!
Serving the LORD was never a rule or a law based thing - It has always been a matter of the heart, as verse 16 makes clear.
And just as God has set his love on us for no other reason than as a great demonstration of his love and affection and grace (just look back at the McLaughlin's wedding verse in Deut 7:6-9) so we should show grace and love and affection to the lowliest and the poorest of people around us. Of all the people in the world, it is the Jews and Christians who know love and grace and who are able to show love and grace to those around them. Just take your pick of aid and welfare organisations in Australia and then google how that organisation was founded and 9 times out of 10 you'll find that it has a Christian heritage. That heritage may have been sabotaged along the way (how this happens is a sad story for another day), but the initiative and motivation to show grace and to care for the needy in our society is almost always a demonstration and an overflow of the love and grace of God in Christ.
Let's continue to demonstrate that love and grace by being the first to call our friends at work when they are away for a few days: 'How you doing, heard you've been sick and just wanted to check you are ok?'. Being the one to remember their children's names and take an interest in their welfare. Being the first to visit our friends or family sick in hospital, and being the ones who respond to famine and need in Africa and elsewhere. This is just part of who we are - since this is how our Saviour Christ has treated us. Because we are the weak and lowly ones who have been rescued from our sins by our loving gracious saviour.
God asks a lot from his people, he asks that we trust and obey him for our good and that we live in love towards others in the same way he has already demonstrated towards us.
yours in Christ,
Ben Boardman (Assistant Minister)
Tomorrows Readings: Deuteronomy 11, John 17
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