Fully Devoted: Life in the Promised Land
Israel is on the brink of a new era: gathered on the banks of the Jordan river, they are about to cross over into the promised land. The book of Deuteronomy is a collection of Moses' speeches to them on the river banks, all that Moses would say to them as they prepare to enter this new phase of life. It's like a graduation speech, a wedding speech, or a chat with your kids on the brink of a new life stage. As God's people, Israel have been looking forward to living in the promised land for generations. What should life there look like? Moses' words in this passage describe a fully devoted, wholehearted obedience. Obedience will bring life and blessing, but disobedience will death and curses. For us living as God's new covenant people, the command to ongoing obedience remains. But in Jesus, something drastic changes. Jesus takes on the covenant curses for us, allowing us to be in covenant with God despite our continued failures. So we live in full, joyous obedience. Not for fear of exile, but out of the true freedom that comes in Christ.
