Listen and Obey

Deuteronomy 5-6; Psalms 43; Mark 14 

“Go near and listen to all that the Lord our God says. Then tell us whatever the Lord our God tells you. We will listen and obey. ‘…I have heard what this people said to you. Everything they said was good. Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!’”

Deuteronomy 5:27-29

From Moses until Jesus Christ, God’s relationship with his people was mediated by the Levites as priests. The commandments required Israel to listen and obey, and that would be their righteousness (Deuteronomy 6:25). It would be in relationship with God that Israel would learn to fear the Lord and obey him. They were to be holy as God was holy. We know that was a very difficult requirement. Jesus came to bring fulfillment to God’s plan to save and redeem his people and bring them into intimate communion with himself. Through the gift of the Holy Spirit the Church was birthed. Listening to the Word became available to all God’s children. His desire is still that our hearts would be inclined to fear him and obey him through the Spirit, even as we are overwhelmed with his love for us through Christ. 

“Father God, continue to make me holy as you are holy, for your glory.”