God's Laws Show God's Love for Us - Deuteronomy 14-16 and Mark 12:28-44
As you read Deuteronomy 14-16, think of all of the ways that each of these laws show God's love for us. He did not just make up laws without having reasons for the laws. His main reason for each law was His love for people. Some people dislike God's laws, because they see them as restrictions. They were never intended to restrict, but to set people free from living a life that is against God's will and therefore, harmful to the individual. Let me just mention a few of these things from these chapters.
God did not want Israel to mourn like the pagans who had no hope. Therefore, He told them not to follow their practices, but to remember they were His special people. He gave them laws about foods, and in each case we can see that the unclean foods were possibly harmful to the people. He knew that greed was a big problem, so He ordered the release of debts every seven years, and He commanded His people to take care of the poor. He knew that slavery could be a hopeless situation, so even in His laws about slavery, we see the infusion of His hope and His love. The law of the tithe was to remind Israel that they received all of their income from the Lord, and they needed to trust Him and show their dependence on Him. Finally, the feasts and the special days were a reminder of all that God had done for them. He knew they needed to remember the past, so they could move forward with Him. I hope you can see the love of God in each and every law in the Old Testament.
Then, as you read Mark 12, consider your response to God's love. Since God loves you, are you going to love Him back with all of your heart? Since God loves all people, are you going to love them, too? That is God's desire. He wants us all to see His love in His Son, Jesus Christ, and to respond in love and faith as David did. He wants us to move beyond the legalism of the Pharisees to a love relationship that is real and personal. I believe that is why He pointed out the widow who gave her last two coins. Why did she do that? I know the Bible does not tell us her motivation, but I must believe that it was love for God and trust in Him. She was not trying to manipulate God to bless her by giving her money. She was saying, "I love you" to God. She was saying, "I trust you, and I worship you with all I have." I believe that is why Jesus commended her over all of the people who put in much more money. They were just giving out of their abundance. Love gives even when it hurts. Consider God's love for you and your love for God. His love for us should motivate us to love Him sincerely and completely.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Deuteronomy 17-19 and Mark 13:1-20.
God did not want Israel to mourn like the pagans who had no hope. Therefore, He told them not to follow their practices, but to remember they were His special people. He gave them laws about foods, and in each case we can see that the unclean foods were possibly harmful to the people. He knew that greed was a big problem, so He ordered the release of debts every seven years, and He commanded His people to take care of the poor. He knew that slavery could be a hopeless situation, so even in His laws about slavery, we see the infusion of His hope and His love. The law of the tithe was to remind Israel that they received all of their income from the Lord, and they needed to trust Him and show their dependence on Him. Finally, the feasts and the special days were a reminder of all that God had done for them. He knew they needed to remember the past, so they could move forward with Him. I hope you can see the love of God in each and every law in the Old Testament.
Then, as you read Mark 12, consider your response to God's love. Since God loves you, are you going to love Him back with all of your heart? Since God loves all people, are you going to love them, too? That is God's desire. He wants us all to see His love in His Son, Jesus Christ, and to respond in love and faith as David did. He wants us to move beyond the legalism of the Pharisees to a love relationship that is real and personal. I believe that is why He pointed out the widow who gave her last two coins. Why did she do that? I know the Bible does not tell us her motivation, but I must believe that it was love for God and trust in Him. She was not trying to manipulate God to bless her by giving her money. She was saying, "I love you" to God. She was saying, "I trust you, and I worship you with all I have." I believe that is why Jesus commended her over all of the people who put in much more money. They were just giving out of their abundance. Love gives even when it hurts. Consider God's love for you and your love for God. His love for us should motivate us to love Him sincerely and completely.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Deuteronomy 17-19 and Mark 13:1-20.