January 6 - For Your Own Good

        Deuteronomy 10:12-13 - "Now, O Israel, what does Yahweh your God ask of you, except to revere him, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve him with all your heart and soul, and to observe his commands and decrees that I [Moses] am giving you today for your own good?"

         Many non-believers who give excuses for not wanting to follow God's rules do not realize the truth in the above verses. God has given us laws and rules to follow in order for our lives to be blessed, for things to go well, and in order to keep from being self-destructive. Isaiah 48:17-18 follows this theme, in that God is trying to teach us what is best for us. Isn't this exactly what a loving father does for his own children?

        Jesus re-iterates the need to keep the commandments in Matthew 19:16-22, but then gets to the heart of the young man in the story. The man did not have a problem with keeping the commandments or so he thought. Jesus told him specifically to sell his possessions and give to the poor; but he left Jesus in a sad state of mind, because he had great wealth. Perhaps he was unknowingly ranking his possessions in order of importance ahead of God. Perhaps he was keeping the commandments in deed only, but not in heart. Did he really love Yahweh his God with all his heart and soul (Matt. 22:37)? Did he really put God foremost in his life (Exodus 20:3)?

        Jesus also gets to the heart of the matter in Matthew 6:25-34 - which is that our heavenly Father loves us so much, that he will take care of us. So, don't worry. Surrender your life to him, and allow him to take care of you. All of these sets of verses are really tied to the nature of God - that he loves us and wants the best for us.