Doing The Words Of God
When Moses delivered the words that God had told him to the children of Israel, the people responded with "one voice." They were united in their reply to Moses, when they affirmed, "All the words which the Lord has said we will do."(Exodus 24:3) This is a very significant answer for several reasons.
First of all, it shows that they knew they could not pick and choose what they would believe of God's Word. We cannot see the Bible like a cafeteria. God does not expect us to read through the Word and throw out what we don't want, while keeping the things that please us. Jesus told us when He came to earth, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God."(Matthew 4:4) If we are to be blessed by the Lord, we must receive all of His Word and live by it in the power of His Spirit.
Also, we see in the answer of the Israelites that they realized the need to set the bar of obedience high in our own lives. They knew that when people seek to do as little as possible, they can't please the Lord. They said they would do "all" of His words, because they were committed to setting the bar very high. Holiness is striving to be like Jesus. We must do what is right, and we must stay away from what is wrong. We only do that when we do all of the words of God.
I pray that we will all respond to God like the Israelites did. I hope we will do this as individuals and as churches. There is no limit to what God could do with a church willing to make this affirmation. I would love to be a part of that, and I am so glad to be the pastor of a church which truly wants to do all of the Word of God. I pray that we will do it with all of our hearts.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Exodus 26-28.
First of all, it shows that they knew they could not pick and choose what they would believe of God's Word. We cannot see the Bible like a cafeteria. God does not expect us to read through the Word and throw out what we don't want, while keeping the things that please us. Jesus told us when He came to earth, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God."(Matthew 4:4) If we are to be blessed by the Lord, we must receive all of His Word and live by it in the power of His Spirit.
Also, we see in the answer of the Israelites that they realized the need to set the bar of obedience high in our own lives. They knew that when people seek to do as little as possible, they can't please the Lord. They said they would do "all" of His words, because they were committed to setting the bar very high. Holiness is striving to be like Jesus. We must do what is right, and we must stay away from what is wrong. We only do that when we do all of the words of God.
I pray that we will all respond to God like the Israelites did. I hope we will do this as individuals and as churches. There is no limit to what God could do with a church willing to make this affirmation. I would love to be a part of that, and I am so glad to be the pastor of a church which truly wants to do all of the Word of God. I pray that we will do it with all of our hearts.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Exodus 26-28.