Our Obedience is a Loving Response to Christ’s Love
6/29 Reading Portions: Joshua 1; Psalms 120-122; Isaiah 61; Matthew 9
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6/29 Reading Portions: Joshua 1; Psalms 120-122; Isaiah 61; Matthew 9
Joshua 1:17
“Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you. Only may the LORD your God be with you, as He was with Moses!”
GRATITUDE
The words of Israel bore witness against them. How often did they chide Moses and blame the LORD about their circumstances? Their disobedience and disgruntled behavior occurred from their deliverance from Egypt until their refusal to enter the Land of Promise, and was displayed throughout their wilderness wanderings. They disobeyed the Law of Moses time and again. This was prophetic of the true Joshua to come, the Lord Jesus Christ. The religious leaders, conspiring to murder Jesus, were breaking the Law and were disobedient to Moses. For two-thousand years it has been likewise among the Jews. In their disobedience to Moses and their inability to keep the Law, many descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob have been partially hardened in their hearts to the gospel truth (Rom 11:25). Nevertheless, we have been witnessing an awakening of many Jews by the truth of the gospel of Christ in these last days. Our verse today also carries with it a blessed truth for all of us, whether Jew or Gentile. When we fail to acknowledge the obedience of Messiah Jesus as having fulfilled the Law of Moses perfectly for our sakes (who obeyed Moses in all things), we will find it difficult to obey the true Joshua, Adonai Y’shua, in all things. Christian obedience does not spring forth from selfish motives or egotistical gain or ambition, but because of God’s grace; and through faith in the Lord Jesus, by obedience to Him, we honor Him with praise, and thank Him for His grace, mercy, and love. Our obedience is a grateful response in love to Christ’s love for us, as it is written,
We love because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Obedience doesn’t justify
Our works before the Lord—
It springs from faith, and from within
We praise and thank Him through the Word.