The answer to the "Why?"

I love the practical feel of Deut. 6, and these last few verses are no different. Moses (through God's inspiration) knew that as the generations came and went, inevitably the question about why they had so many commands and rules would be asked by some pre-teen or teen and so he provided the answer.

Basically, it's this: "God delivered us from slavery, so why not do what He asks because He is so much smarter than we are." But the biggest advice that the people received here is in the last verse: we're not just to obey, but we're to obey while we're in the presence of God. That's the difference between religion and the life-giving relationship we have in Christ. There are always standards, but when you try to keep them without God's presence, you end up with dry religion. But with His presence, you end up keeping the same commands but only because you value the relationship so much that you don't want anything to lesson it's value.

I want that.

Created about 2 years ago