The Divine Connection

This command that I give you today is certainly not too difficult or beyond your reach. It is not in heaven so that you have to ask, "Who will go up to heaven, get it for us, and proclaim it to us so that we may follow it?" And it is not across the sea so that you have to ask, "who will cross the sea, get it for us, and proclaim it to is so that we may follow it?" But the message is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, so that you may follow it. See, today I have set before you life and prosperity, death and adversity. For I am commanding you today to love The Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commands, statutes and ordinances, so that you may live, and multiply, and The Lord your God may bless you in the land you are enterin to possess. Deuteronomy 30:11-16

Does this look familiar? It should. See Romans 10:5-8. Paul confronts the Jews zeal for righteousness in this chapter. I think this is one of the draw cards of Christianity also. We know we are not right with God, want to be right and come to Christ to be made right.

The Jews had taken this further, they sought to establish self-righteousness and Paul says they disregard the righteousness from God and have not submitted themselves to God's righteousness. He then goes on to say: 'For Christ is the end of the law of righteousness to everyone who believes.' Verse 4. Have a Selah moment and think about that one. Then ask yourself the obvious question: 'what am I striving for in my zeal for God?' Is it righteousness or relationship and all it brings? Is it all about benefits and blessings or more?

Paul then goes on to say: 'but the righteousness that comes from faith speaks like this: do not say in your heart, "who will go up to heaven?" That is, to bring Christ down or, "who will go down into the abyss?" That is to bring Christ up from the dead. On the contrary, what does it say? The message is near you, in your mourh and in your heart. This is the message of faith that we proclaim: if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord", and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation. Verses 6-10

The nearness of the message of faith is at the heart and mouth of people, just as Moses proclaimed the nearness of God's revelation.(HCSB footnote)

The problem with the Israelites was that they needed circumcised hearts not just bodies, Deut 30:6 talks about God circumcision their hearts. Paul the apostle compared it to the new life found in Christ. I know that until God revealed Himself to me, although I sought Him, I could not serve Him. With a new heart I  was free to serve Him.

I have enjoyed seeing this divine connection between the Old and the New Testament. The Old by itself is dry and crisp but with the New it has meaning. 

Thank You Lord that You are the bridge to New Life. Amen!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Who Rules?

The princes of Judah are like those who move boundary markers, I will pout out my fury on them like water. Hosea 5:10 World leaders of church and state are now all highly visible. When they are not open to consultation or do not listen they make judgements that are judged as foolish by both God and man. In Australia we just celebrated Australia Day and at this time various people are honoured for their contribution to society. Our Prime Minister, Mr Abbott, without consultation, conferred a knighthood on the Queen of England's husband, Phillip. Almost to a person, Australians judged this to be foolish. Even supporters have now distanced themselves. Imagine what it is like when church leaders follow their own emotions or the emotions of their people and change what is acceptable to God. For example, no longer considering adultery something that precludes a man from ministry. We might think we are clever, but actually going with a sinful flow. Where is God in all this? My emotions ar...
Read more

Know Your Sword!

So he took Him to Jerusalem, had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, "if you are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here. For it is written: 'He will give His angels orders concerning You, to protect you, they will support You with their hands, so that you will not strike Your foot against a stone.' And Jesus answered him, "it is said: 'do not test The Lord your God." And the Devil had finished every temptation, he departed from Him for a time. Luke 4:9-11 In this third test Satan quoted scripture but Jesus knew His scripture and was not going to be deceived by his enemy twisting the truth. I am amazed at what Satan tempted Jesus with. He did not know Christ. He had succeeded in tempting the first Adam yet he was thwarted in this attempt. Jesus had lived 30 years and been tutored in godliness with contentment, he was prepared, baptised in the Spirit and sold out to the Father's purpose. Every time our enemy comes against us we ...
Read more

Little Things Grow

The boy's mother said to Elisha, "as The Lord lives and you yourself live, I will not leave you. So he got up and followed her. 2 Kings 4:30 The Shunamite woman had travelled to Mt Carmel to find Elisha after the death of her son. Although Elisha had sent his servant Gehazi to the boy with his staff the woman had come to find Elisha and was not leaving without him. I like this lady's spirit. I am sure The Lord God Almighty also valued her heart. She had a heart for God and made room for Him in her world. Now, having lost her son she knew what to do: find Elisha and not let him go until he came to restore her son. What made the Shunamite woman believe that Elisha could raise her son? Was it the same faith that made her provide him a place to stay in her home? I believe it was God working in her life. I am grateful for her faith, I can read and be encouraged. We do not know her name yet her story lives in scripture. What a little thing it was to feed Elisha and then provide ...
Read more