Covenant Conformity

“You shall not move your neighbor's landmark, which the men of old have set, in the inheritance that you will hold in the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess.” -Deuteronomy 19:14

Upon redemption, God's people are invited into a new life, one that conforms to his purpose and holiness. For Israel after the exodus, that meant respecting property rights among many other things. It was not a burden for them but a blessing; after all, they had land for the first time!

Life in Christ is similar and maybe even more glorious. We are justified by the blood of Christ and invited into covenant conformity. We are to live as Jesus calls and engage in the works he has prepared for us. It is not a burden for us but a labor of joy to live out the name and identity we have been given in Jesus. It is the adventure we were created for—living in response to his gift of grace, pursuing his holiness.

Our flesh wants to see this as a restriction, but it is a wonderful promotion into the fullness of life. Today, rejoice, for you have been given the opportunity and empowerment to live well in the goodness of Christ's work for you.

Let's Be Exclusive

“[T]ake care that you be not ensnared to follow them, after they have been destroyed before you, and that you do not inquire about their gods, saying, “How did these nations serve their gods? — that I also may do the same.” You shall not worship the LORD your God in that way, for every abominable thing that the LORD hates they have done for their gods, for they even burn their sons and their daughters in the fire to their gods.” -Deuteronomy 12:30–31

God has promised to give his people a land, and in the getting of that gift, they will remove or encounter those who dwelled there before. He then tells his people to be careful not to pursue the forms of worship they come across, but instead worship Yahweh alone.

God wants to be exclusive when it comes to our worship and obedience. Fast-forward to our day, far from the Promised Land, after plenty of examples of where Israel got it wrong. On this side of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, God still desires and commands exclusivity.

We cannot worship him while mingling in worship of other sorts. We cannot have multiple deities we bow down to. Jesus says there is no other way to the Father than through him, and this claim of exclusivity is to resonate in our ears for eternity.

No other way. Only Jesus. That we would exclusively worship God. The good news is that Jesus has empowered us to do just that. He has given us entry to the holy hill, the place of worship, and he has actually, by his blood and the indwelling of his Spirit, made us the temple of God. In belief in him, we take care to maintain the temple, which is reserved only for God and we live to worship.

Today is the day to set aside the subtle ways we allow little idols into our realm of worship. Review what takes your time and your thinking, and re-center it on Jesus, that you would exclusively worship him. Rejoice that he has called you to worship and given you reasons to do so.