DAILY READING
REFLECTION
Obedience Due to Love and Grace
by David Thompson
The passage for today is a history lesson of sorts. God is commending the three mentioned tribes that already have their promised lands on the east side of the Jordan River. Apparently, there was not much opposition for the use of their land, as they had been commanded to help conquer the west side of the Jordan, in conjunction with the tribes that were promised the west side's land. (Numbers 32:20-22)
Once that command of God (issued through Joshua) was completed and rest was assured, Joshua instructed the three helping tribes to go to their promised lands on the east side of the Jordan and begin building cities there. The Life Application Bible recommends that we keep working at God's work and not give up part way through. God will commend you for a job well done.
I find verse five especially meaningful. It states, "But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to keep his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul." (Isaiah 43:22)
That verse is repeated throughout the Testaments. We have an obligation to do our best to live up to these admonitions every day. However, when we fail to follow His commandments perfectly, He reminds us of Ephesians 2:8-9. It states, "For it is by grace that you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast."
May we always celebrate the fact that we are saved and made right with God by the grace-causing sacrifice of His son, Jesus Christ. Our ultimate job is to love Him and to do our best, through love, to keep doing all that we know God wants us to do. If we live up to that our eternal salvation is never in question.
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for being a loving God; one that complements us on a job well done. Help us to live up to the admonitions in verse five to love you and to walk in obedience to you. It is not out of a "works religiosity," but it is done for our love for you. Keep us ever mindful of our obligations to you. Amen!
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