Click here to watch my video reflection on our text for today, or keep reading for my written reflections: 

Today as one of our readings, we look at Deuteronomy 10: 12-22:

12 So now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you? Only to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 and to keep the commandments of the Lord your God[a] and his decrees that I am commanding you today, for your own well-being. 14 Although heaven and the heaven of heavens belong to the Lord your God, the earth with all that is in it, 15 yet the Lord set his heart in love on your ancestors alone and chose you, their descendants after them, out of all the peoples, as it is today. 16 Circumcise, then, the foreskin of your heart, and do not be stubborn any longer. 17 For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who is not partial and takes no bribe, 18 who executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and who loves the strangers, providing them food and clothing. 19 You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. 20 You shall fear the Lord your God; him alone you shall worship; to him you shall hold fast, and by his name you shall swear. 21 He is your praise; he is your God, who has done for you these great and awesome things that your own eyes have seen. 22 Your ancestors went down to Egypt seventy persons; and now the Lord your God has made you as numerous as the stars in heaven.

Today in our readings, we look at what could be seen as the postscript to the Law.  The Law has been given a second time, and soon the people will cross over Jordan into the Promised Land.  But before that happens, the Law must now be their own.  The Law was given the first time to their parents, now it is given to the children.  God’s Law is something that every generation must accept for themselves.  

We see the Law distilled – Love God. Fear (or respect) Him.  Keep His commandments.  Worship Him. Give Him your heart.  Give justice for the widows and orphans, take care of the strangers, for you once were strangers.  

Notice this flow – love God.  Follow God.  Keep His commandments. Take care of the needy around you.  I’ve talked in this Lenton season – fasting is an assumed norm for the Christian, the Bible just assumes that will fast.  Its instruction is more on how to fast or giving examples of fasting, it isn’t trying to convince you to fast.  

That is how the Law is with loving our neighbor and taking care of the needy.  Of course, we’ll do it. We are God’s people.  We are following God’s Law.  So of course we will take care of the widow and the orphan.  Of course, we will take care of strangers. This law just assumes that we will do these things because of course, we will.  

But we see also this truth there – this is for our well being.  This is for our own good.  Following God is always, always for our own good. Always. 

So, today, let’s be faithful.  Let’s love God.  Let’s take care of each other.  Let’s live our God’s love for all the world.  Let’s make a difference for the kingdom. 

This is all for God’s glory. And for our good. 

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