Text:
Deuteronomy 28:1&2
Memory Verse:
“Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today…” (Deuteronomy 28:1a).
Obedience to God’s command must be voluntary; it is never compelled. OSo often, you hear God say, “if you…” as in Deuteronomy 28:1, “… if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth”; or “…if you keep the commandments of the LORD your God and walk in His ways” (Deuteronomy 28:9).
The reason for this is because God made man a free moral agent. This is why Joshua said to the people that if it seemed evil to them to serve the Lord, they should choose for themselves whom they will serve. But as for him and his house, they would serve the Lord. God respects man as one made in His image and likeness, not a robot that is compelled to do things. He expects man to obey Him out of love, appreciation of who He is and reverence for Him. “If you love Me, keep My
commandments” (John 14:15). As a man, Jesus also faced the choice of whether or not to obey His Father’s charge to die on the cross. In the Garden of Gethsemane, He wrestled with this choice, but, in the end, He yielded saying, “nevertheless, not my will, but Yours, be done.”
The implication of the privilege to choose between obedience and disobedience is that we will be held accountable for our choices and God will be justified when He judges. So, beware of your choices.
Prayer Points:
1. Father, thank You for the free will You have given me to obey or not to obey You.
2. Lord, I choose to obey You always as evidence of my love for You in appreciation of all You have done for me. Please give me the grace to honour this choice all the time.
