Mar 27 - Faithfully Obey

Moses is telling the people of Israel that the Lord will clear away many nations so that they may have inherit the land He promised them. He tells them they must not make treaties with the current residence or intermarry for they will cause them to lead astray and worship false gods. The Lord is a jealous God and would have to destroy them. "The Lord did not set his heart on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other nations, for you were the smallest of all nations! Rather, it was simply that the Lord loves you, and he was keeping the oath he had sworn to your ancestors. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands." Sounds like a wonderful God to me. "But he does not hesitate to punish and destroy those who reject him." Wonderful but jealous God:) He promises that if the people of Israel listen to his regulations and faithfully obey the Lord will keep his covenant of unfailing love with them, as he promised with an oath to their ancestors. "He will love you and bless you, and he will give you many children."

Moses goes on to tell them to remember how the Lord handled Pharaoh and the land of Egypt so don't be afraid because they are the chosen people. He finishes up telling them to remember the Lord is the one who gives them power but he will destroy them if they do not obey him. Sounds like they probably shouldn't go astray or thew will be toast.....literally in some cases.

In Luke today Jesus is eating at Pharisees house when an immoral woman enters, kneels down at his feet and begins to week. Her tears fell on his feet and she wiped them off with her hair and kept kissing his feet and anointing them with rare perfume. Now think about this love she had for Jesus. It's not like he's been walking across the desert in a new pair of Nike's' with some nice well breathing socks. His feet must have been, as my daughter puts it, Yucky! What's the first thing the Pharisee say to himself "If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She's a sinner!"

Jesus answered his thoughts with a parable for him to respond to and "Look at this woman kneeling here. When I entered your home, you didn't offer me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You didn't' greet me with a kiss, but from the time I first came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. You neglected the courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has anointed my feet with rare perfume. I tell you her sins-and they are many-have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love."

Soon afterward Jesus began to tour nearby towns and villages, preaching and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom of God along with his 12 disciples and some others including Mary Magdalene (check that out she's got her own website!) from whom he had cast out seven demons.

Proverbs 12:1 To Learn, you must love discipline; it is stupid to hate correction.