FEBRUARY 8 READINGS…Exodus 22:16-24:18.
In yesterday’s readings we read what is called the “Ten Commandments”. These ten are broken down into two categories which coincide with the words of Jesus when asked what was the greatest of the commandments. His response was, “Love the Lord your God…and the second is to love your neighbor as yourself”…in these two are contained the whole of the law. The first four of the commandments relate to God…and the next six relate to how we treat others. You will also notice then the readings go on to talk about how these ten are to relate and apply to the people of God. These commandments are given to those who are followers of God…while they are generally good for all people, they are specifically for the people of God. There is no possibility for those who reject God to even begin to follow His commandments. The reason for this is because all of them flow from the first one, and the greatest one that Jesus says incapsulates them all. This is why the call of the church is not to primarily change the culture…it is to share the Gospel so that people’s hearts can be changed and they can then receive and walk in the truth and law of God.
In today’s readings the Lord challenges His people with the truth of His holy law, and with the need for them to make a decision as to whether they would or would not follow the Lord and His way. This includes a call to holy and right living…and a call to honesty and treating both the oppressed and the foreigners with justice. God promises His presence for His people to both protect and go before them to prepare the way in which He would lead them. Israel accepts the Lord’s covenant with them…which makes them responsible to the Lord. They entered into the covenant with full knowledge of what the Lord required of them. The covenant with God is sealed, like the ultimate covenant would be sealed, with blood. God has called us to be His people…that means we are called to live, act, and love like we are the people of God!
Please share any of your thoughts on today’s or yesterday’s readings. I hope you can see how God is creating a relationship with His people. Our God is a God of relationship…all relationships require full knowledge of what the relationship means and accountability to that relationship.
TOMORROW’S READINGS…Exodus 25:1-28:43.
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