YEAR 2, WEEK 21, Day 1, Monday, 19 May 2025

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Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Monday, 19 May 2025:

Deuteronomy 27:1 – “Keep the whole commandment that I command you today.”

How serious and diligent are you in your obedience to the Lord? Your obedience reveals the truth of your relationship with God. Jesus said it plainly, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (John 14:15) John, known as the apostle of love, added, “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.” (1 John 5:3) In other words, if you wholeheartedly love God, obedience is not a burden but rather a joy—your earnest desire. When we lovingly obey God, we abide in His love and experience His joy – “Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.” (1 John 3:24)

In today’s reading, Moses warns the Israelites to keep the “whole commandment.” Likewise, Jesus, who quoted Deuteronomy more than any other book, commanded us in Matthew 28 to teach others to observe “all” that He commanded. Partial obedience is disobedience. The more we grow in our love for the Lord, the more earnest our desire to remove any sin that hinders our relationship with Him and our witness to others.

• Hebrews 12:1 – Let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith…
• Song of Solomon 2:15 – Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes that spoil the vineyards…
• Proverbs 25:26 – Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.
• 1 Peter 1:15-16 – …but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct…

For some, the word obedience is a killjoy—associated with legalism, guilt, and restriction. But biblical obedience is not about earning God’s love; it’s about experiencing it, displaying it, and living it out. Obedience is the natural overflow of a heart transformed by grace.

• Matthew 7:21 – “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
• Luke 11:28 – But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”
• Luke 6:46 – Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?
• John 14:23 – Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word…”

Jesus modeled perfect obedience—not from duty, but from love.

• Philippians 2:8 – …he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
• 1 Peter 1:14 – As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance…
• 2 Corinthians 10:5 – …take every thought captive to obey Christ…
• Romans 1:5 – …to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations…
• James 1:22 – But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

Obedience and love are inseparable:

• 1 John 3:10-11, 14, 16-18, 23 – By this it is evident who are the children of God… we should love one another… Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
• 1 John 4:7-12, 16-21 – Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God… Whoever loves God must also love his brother.

The foundation of all God’s commands is love. Love fulfills the law. And love is not merely emotional but practical, sacrificial, and obedient.

• 1 Timothy 1:5 – The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

Jesus rebuked the Pharisees not because they obeyed, but because they obeyed without love. They were outwardly righteous but inwardly empty.

When obedience feels like a burden, we must still obey—but not from pharisaical pride. Instead, we obey from humility, asking God to transform our motives by His Spirit. As we practice loving obedience, we grow in Christ-like character.

• Matthew 21:28-31 – “Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you.”

Our acts of obedience, even when imperfect, help condition our hearts. We may start from duty, but God leads us toward delight. The goal is joyful obedience, born from abiding in the love of Christ.

• Matthew 11:28-29 – Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest… For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Deuteronomy 27:6 – “You shall build an altar to the LORD your God of uncut stones.”

Worship God with no embellishments—no man-made pride, no showy performance. God wants our worship to be about His work, not ours. The altar made of uncut stones reminds us that God is the builder, and our sacrifices point to His grace, not our effort.

Deuteronomy 27:9-10 – “Keep silence and hear… you have become the people of the LORD your God. You shall therefore obey…”

Talk less; obey more. Let reverence and readiness mark your relationship with God. Listen before speaking. Act before rationalizing.

Deuteronomy 27:12-13 – The tribes were split between Mount Gerizim (blessing) and Mount Ebal (curse).

The placement was symbolic—Gerizim was lush and green, Ebal barren and bald. Facing Gerizim meant facing toward Jerusalem. Facing Ebal meant turning your back to the holy city. The visual impact drove home the message: obedience brings life and blessing; disobedience, death and cursing.

The tribes on Gerizim were largely the sons of Jacob’s legitimate wives, Leah and Rachel, while the tribes on Ebal included children of concubines—though with some exceptions (like Reuben and Zebulun). Reuben had forfeited his blessing (Gen 35:22), perhaps explaining his position on the mount of cursing. Some aspects still remain mysterious, but the point is clear: obedience blesses, disobedience curses.

Deuteronomy 27:15-26 – A series of curses are pronounced for sins done “in secret.”

Obedience isn’t just external—God sees the hidden things. Sin isn’t just about public scandal; it’s about private betrayal. The refrain “And all the people shall say, ‘Amen’” is communal accountability—we’re responsible to one another for walking in truth.

Life and obedience to God is all about relationships—with Him and with others.

“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 19 May 2025: Examine your heart today: Do you view obedience as a burden or a joy? Ask the Lord to reveal any hidden areas of disobedience and pray for His Spirit to align your heart with His will. Obey out of love—even when you don’t feel like it—and trust that joyful obedience will follow. Fix your eyes on Jesus, who both authored and perfected your faith.