Choose Life!
Moses lays out the law in an extended sermon in the book of Deuteronomy. He defines the rewards of faithfulness to God's Covenant and the dire consequences for disobedience. Hence the Deuteronomic principle.
Deu 30:15 "Today I am giving you a choice between good and evil, between life and death. Deu 30:19 I am now giving you the choice between life and death, between God's blessing and God's curse, and I call heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Choose life.
Rarely has the point been made in starker more pointed terms. Moses is about to ascend Mt Nebo for a last look at the Promised Land which he knows he will not get to see in person. He foresees Israel's failure to live up to their covenant responsibilities, their exile; but he also knows that a loving God will protect and prosper those who keep his commandments.
The Psalm continues the theme of rewards for the just and punishment for the unjust.
For the Epistle we are given almost the entire letter to Philemon, Paul's shortest letter. It is to be hand-delivered by Onesimus, whose name means useful, to his master Philemon and the congregation at Colossus. Before God and the congregation Paul appeals to a slave owner in a letter delivered by a run-away slave to waive his right of execution for his death would serve no useful purpose. Rather than make this an order Paul appeals to Philemon's sense of loving justice. No word on the outcome.
This lesson ties into today's theme in the sense that our treatment of those most vulnerable amongst us illustrates how we observe God's Commandments and how we demonstrate God's love and forgiveness.
Moses iterated the costs of not following the Covenant; Jesus goes him one better and states the cost of Discipleship. Once more the point is made in vehement even hyperbolic terms.
Luk 14:33 In the same way," concluded Jesus, "none of you can be my disciple unless you give up everything you have.
Jesus seems to be saying that being my Disciple is not some feel-good fad, an insurance policy you bring home and file in a drawer for safe-keeping. No, it is a total commitment and before you embrace it you would do well to count the costs and be certain your allegiance is complete and not a half-hearted passing fancy. It is not a pledge you can fulfill by showing up at church on Sundays and forget about the rest of the week. It is not enough to simply obey The Law, you are expected to observe the Spirit of the Law. This is not a popularity contest, in fact some of the choices you will be forced to make will make you distinctly unpopular.
Take up your cross and follow me. Tough words indeed.
Moses lays out the law in an extended sermon in the book of Deuteronomy. He defines the rewards of faithfulness to God's Covenant and the dire consequences for disobedience. Hence the Deuteronomic principle.
Deu 30:15 "Today I am giving you a choice between good and evil, between life and death. Deu 30:19 I am now giving you the choice between life and death, between God's blessing and God's curse, and I call heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Choose life.
Rarely has the point been made in starker more pointed terms. Moses is about to ascend Mt Nebo for a last look at the Promised Land which he knows he will not get to see in person. He foresees Israel's failure to live up to their covenant responsibilities, their exile; but he also knows that a loving God will protect and prosper those who keep his commandments.
The Psalm continues the theme of rewards for the just and punishment for the unjust.
For the Epistle we are given almost the entire letter to Philemon, Paul's shortest letter. It is to be hand-delivered by Onesimus, whose name means useful, to his master Philemon and the congregation at Colossus. Before God and the congregation Paul appeals to a slave owner in a letter delivered by a run-away slave to waive his right of execution for his death would serve no useful purpose. Rather than make this an order Paul appeals to Philemon's sense of loving justice. No word on the outcome.
This lesson ties into today's theme in the sense that our treatment of those most vulnerable amongst us illustrates how we observe God's Commandments and how we demonstrate God's love and forgiveness.
Moses iterated the costs of not following the Covenant; Jesus goes him one better and states the cost of Discipleship. Once more the point is made in vehement even hyperbolic terms.
Luk 14:33 In the same way," concluded Jesus, "none of you can be my disciple unless you give up everything you have.
Jesus seems to be saying that being my Disciple is not some feel-good fad, an insurance policy you bring home and file in a drawer for safe-keeping. No, it is a total commitment and before you embrace it you would do well to count the costs and be certain your allegiance is complete and not a half-hearted passing fancy. It is not a pledge you can fulfill by showing up at church on Sundays and forget about the rest of the week. It is not enough to simply obey The Law, you are expected to observe the Spirit of the Law. This is not a popularity contest, in fact some of the choices you will be forced to make will make you distinctly unpopular.
Take up your cross and follow me. Tough words indeed.
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