Life on Mission: Grow
Deuteronomy 5:32-33, 6:4-9
Before
I left for college my Mom showed me how to do my laundry. My Dad told me that
he expected me to write a letter to them every week. I guess their expectations
had been laid out for me: keep my clothes clean and write home often.
In
today’s passage Moses laid out the Lord’s expectations for the Israelites.
Israel had been wondering through the wilderness for forty years in preparation
to go into the Promised Land. The time had finally arrived, only Moses would
not be the one leading them. Therefore, he was giving them their final
instructions; their final marching orders before they crossed the Jordan River.
Although
these expectations came in the form of commandments, they were based in love,
faith and grace. They were intended for the wellbeing of the Israelites. In
fact, they were intended to help the people of Israel grow in their faith in
the Lord.
“Therefore you shall pay attention and be careful to do just as the Lord your God has commanded
you; you shall not turn aside to the right or to the left [deviating from My
commandments]. You shall walk [that is, live each and every day] in all the
ways which the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and so
that it may be well with you, and that you may live long in the land which you
will possess.” 5:32-33 AMP
“Write these commandments that I’ve given you today on your
hearts. Get them inside of you and then get them inside your children. Talk
about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk
about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at
night.” 6:6-8 MSG
These
same words could be repeated to us each and every day before we go out the door
as we face the pressures and stress of work; the temptations of the Internet; a
world system that rewards selfish behavior; unresolved anger and resentment; and
any other character defects that we may struggle with.
On
that day when I left for college the first time, I knew that I was expected to keep
my clothes clean and write my parents every week. Those expectations had been clearly
communicated to me.
God
has clearly communicated to you and to me through Moses. In fact, with a
slightly different application, it’s not all that different than my parent’s
expectations. The Lord has told us to keep our “hearts clean and to communicate
with Him often”.
In
other words, “Love the Lord your God with
all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”
