Learning to obey
“For this commandment which I command you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it out of reach. It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will go up to heaven for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may observe it?’ Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will cross the sea for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may observe it?’ But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may observe it. Deuteronomy 30:11-14
From the text, Moses told the Israelites that if they were true to their commitment to God, obeying Him should come naturally. Obedience to God comes from a heart of gratitude. Moses reminded the Israelites that as they continue to renew their commitment to God, God will change their hearts and they will grow in their love for God. “The Lord your God will change your heart and the hearts of all your descendants, so that you will love him with all your heart and soul and so you may live!” (Deuteronomy 30:6). Yet, the Israelites realized that they are not totally committed to God. When Moses gathered them at Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim, he gave them God’s instructions before they enter the Promised Land. God, through Moses, told them that He expects them to obey His commands. They have a choice to disobey but it will be to their detriment. They did not listen to God’s commands and their disobedience resulted to grave consequence; God did not let them enter the Promised Land. Every act of disobedience to God’s commands will be meted with consequence. When God gives clear instructions in His word about His will for your life and you prefer to follow your own desires over His, expect that you will be at the losing end. Christian life should not be difficult to live by only if you believe that you have the life of Christ in you. “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). The Holy Spirit is in you so you will know what the will of God is. “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13). He also provided you His Word so that every time you mediate on it you will know how to live the life God gave you. “I will pursue your commands, for you expand my understanding” (Psalm 119:32). The greatest challenge every believer has to face is the ability to totally commit their lives to God. But once you start obeying Him the next instruction He gives you becomes clearer and the ability to obey becomes easier.
Blessings,
