“Observe the commands of the LORD your God, walking in obedience to him and revering him.” (Deuteronomy 8:6)
In chapter 8 of Deuteronomy, Moses is speaking to the people of Israel after having administered the Ten Commandments. He is telling them to observe and obey the commands God had set forth. Blessings abound for those who do; disciple awaits those who do not. There is also a solemn warning to remember and not forget God once their bellies were full, their livestock pens were filled and their comfort is achieved, for if they do they will be destroyed. This may seem like a very odd thing to us, to be destroyed for disobedience. Punished perhaps, we can relate to that based on punishment our parents may have doled out to us at one time or another, but destruction? I believe this means that if after we have enjoyed all the blessings God has for us we become proud and feel no need of Him in our lives we will come to ruin. It may not be immediate, but if we stay on that course we will surely find ourselves severely lacking at some point. God is gracious, kind and loving. He warns us and has placed His Holy Spirit in us to guide us; however, we must take advantage of Him to direct us in our daily lives. Thinking we can make it in this life without God is risky business and foolhardy at best. We can do nothing of any consequence, nothing of any eternal value without God. Living for ourselves provides only temporary satisfaction. Living for God provides lasting peace and ultimate fulfillment.
Remembering God when times are good can be a challenge unless you have determined to diligently strive after Him. What we need to do is make Him a part of our everyday life. Establishing a relationship with God comes with salvation. Cultivating it is up to us. God isn’t going to force feed us His Word, nor should anyone else for that matter. It must be our decision or it will not stick. We must determine in our own hearts to serve and obey God. We must also be the ones to remember Him at all times, whether good or bad. Calling on Him only when we are in trouble leads to a shallow, one-sided relationship that will not profit us one iota. As we make the commitment to serve Him regardless of our circumstances we will begin to experience the true grace of God. There is nothing as satisfying as knowing we are right with our God and that He loves us without hesitation or condition. I challenge you to immerse yourself in God this day and see what a difference it makes in your life.
WALK WITH THE KING AND BE A BLESSING!
