“I Will If You Will!”

Dear Friends,

Repeatedly in our reading through the Bible to date we have read, “If you will keep the commandments, statutes and judgments, the Lord your God will keep the covenant and mercy He swore to your fathers.”   God has made it very clear that He has expectations in regard to every aspect of our lives, including family, marriage, relationships and finances; just as He had for the Israelites.  Have you noticed how often God asked the Israelites to give a tithe, offering or sacrifice?  Has our primary focus been on God’s mercy, which is given to us, and not on what God asks us to give in return?   

The Jews called the first five books of the Old Testament, “instructions for life”.  Because our lifestyle, culture and traditions as Gentile believers are so different from those of these Jewish people, we do not always understand why God gave certain commandments.  We perhaps do not take them as being applicable to us in any way.  Maybe we think that because Jesus came that the requirements of the law were destroyed.  However, Jesus himself said that He did not come to destroy the law, but to fulfill or correctly interpret it. 

As we continue our reading through the Bible, we will learn that there are principles in the Torah, or the five books of the law, that still are valid and important for us even though the actual practice of living them out may look somewhat differently as Gentile believers.  God is still asking us to give tithes, offerings and sacrifices and to involve Him in our everyday living.  In return, He has promised,

 “Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who loveHhim and keep His commandments.  If you pay attention to these laws and are careful to follow them, then the Lord your God will keep His covenant of love with you.”  Deuteronomy 7:9 & 12

Will you respond? 

Judy Swindle on behalf of the Leadership Council