Before I knew the Lord I was all about doing things my way. I talked how I wanted to talk and acted how I wanted to act. I did whatever 'felt good' to me—I spent my money the way I wanted to, treated my body however I pleased, and filled my head with whatever ideas suited me best. Even relationships, more often than not, were a means to an end. Life was on my terms, and I answered to no one.
The only problem? My way wasn't working. It didn't matter how many people liked me, how intelligent or healthy or attractive I tried to be, what I did or how much money I had—still, something was deficient. There existed some nameless void in my heart that never had its fill, no matter who or what I poured into it. The truth behind all my searching and striving was a lack of peace. My soul was in rebellion against God.
In Deuteronomy 9:15–17, Moses retells the account of Israel's rebellion at Horeb. "When I looked, I saw that you had sinned against the Lord your God; you had made for yourselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf. You had turned aside quickly from the way that the Lord had commanded you. So I took the two tablets and threw them out of my hands, breaking them to pieces before your eyes." Israel broke their covenant with God by turning to what they could see and control—what 'felt good'—rather than turning to Him in faith (Ex. 32:1–6).
Israel's blatant sin and rebellion fractured their relationship with the Lord. Before they could progress, they needed to get right with God! And they needed to do it on His terms. The first thing Moses did was chisel out two stone tablets like the first ones so the Lord could restore them, writing on them what He had written before (Deut. 10:1–2). God wanted His written word to be the first step in Israel's right walk with Him.
The Bible tells us all Scripture is inspired by God and useful to our walk with the Lord (2 Tim. 3:16). Accepting God's word as the foundation of our Christian life does not mean we will never have doubts, questions, or struggles. It simply means we have faith in the word of God, believing it to be true even as we persist in understanding it and living it out. Getting right with God means having faith in His Word.
Once the covenant was re-established, God "set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the Lord, to stand before the Lord to minister and to pronounce blessings in His name" (Deut. 10:8). God gave Moses specific instructions for the construction of the tabernacle, the ordination of the priests, and the various offerings (Ex. 35–Lev. 8). All these details and regulations served one primary purpose: They enabled the people to draw near to God.
Because of Jesus' sacrifice we are under a new and better covenant (Heb. 7:22). "The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God" (Heb. 7:18–19, emphasis added). Jesus is our High Priest, our mediator who ministers before the Lord on our behalf (Heb. 8:1, 6). His presence dwells not in a tabernacle, but within our very hearts! Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (Jn. 14:6, emphasis added). Getting right with God means accepting salvation through Jesus Christ.
After Moses prayed his prayer of intercession on behalf of the nation, God said, "Go and lead the people on their way, so that they may enter and possess the land that I swore to their fathers to give them" (Deut. 10:11). Despite the Israelites' many failings, the Lord did not wish to destroy them (v. 10). God's correction was a means of turning the people's hearts to repentance—of getting them back on the right path.
We cannot hope to move forward without a posture of complete dependence on God. True repentance is both inward and outward; it begins with a humble, submissive heart and ends with a right response. Progress may not happen as quickly as we might like, or in the manner we think it should, but "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Phil. 1:6). Getting right with God means responding to Him in repentance.
"And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord's commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?" Now Israel was ready to start living as God's chosen people again. Now they could begin the sanctifying work of walking in the Lord's will. And what is God's will for His people?
God wants us to have an attitude of reverential honor towards Him, an attitude that is hesitant to offend because it desires to please. God wants His people to walk on His road, not our own. He wants us to choose to love Him, and to live the entirety of our lives as unto Him. God wants us to know His Word, to protect it and possess it, and to understand that His commands are always for our benefit. Getting right with God results in walking in His will.
The Israelites were back on the right path, now they just needed the right motivation. Moses reminded them who God was and what He had done, saying, "...the Lord set His affection on [you]... He chose you...the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes... He is your praise; He is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes" (Deut. 10:15, 17, 21).
The desire to live a God-pleasing life should be motivated by two things: An understanding of who God is and gratitude for what He has done. Scripture says, "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him" (Col. 3:17). Service and obedience to the Lord will be the natural outpouring of an awed and grateful heart! Getting right with God results in godly motivation.
So after getting right with God, did Israel keep His commands perfectly? Not by a long shot! The Bible tells us the Israelites lived in a perpetual cycle of sin and suffering, repentance and blessing. The nation's checkered history is a stark reminder of the law's powerlessness to overcome sin (Rom. 8:2). It also serves as a blazing neon sign pointing us to the One who has: Jesus Christ!
In the face of God's standards, we will always fall short (Rom. 3:23). The apostle Paul wrote of his own struggles with sin, saying, "...I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing" (Rom. 8:18–19). God calls us to live in a manner beyond our capability to show us our need for Jesus and His transformational work in our hearts. Getting right with God results in turning to Jesus for transformation.
Where are you in relation to God today? Are you running from Him, trying to do things your own way and live life on your own terms? Are you returning to Him after a period of rebellion? Maybe you've gotten right with God and are just starting out on the path of living a life transformed. Wherever you are, know that because of Jesus' work on the cross, God waits for you not with guilt or shame or punishment, but with love and grace and arms open wide!
Lord, thank You for sending Your Son Jesus to die for my sins that I might live a life of righteousness and right relationship with You! Thank You for Your loving correction that sanctifies and transforms me—help me respond in humble repentance. Draw me nearer to You, Lord, each and every day. Anchor me in Your Word as I seek to walk in Your will. Let me live a God-pleasing life—a life of reverence, gratitude, obedience, and love for You! Thank You for Your grace that makes all this possible. In Jesus' name, amen.
Reflection Questions
- Read Luke 15:11–32. The parable of the prodigal son is a picture of how God receives those who desire to get right with Him. Does your past create difficulty in believing and receiving God's love for you? Because of Christ's sacrifice, how do you think God truly sees you?
- Second Corinthians 5:7 says, "We live by faith, not by sight." Is there a specific part of God's Word you've struggled to understand or live out? How has your faith been strengthened in the struggle?
- What are some practical ways you can safeguard your heart against self-centered motivations?
- If you're reading this devotional and you've never accepted Jesus Christ into your heart, would you consider praying this prayer right now? Jesus, I confess I've been trying to live life on my own terms and it's getting me nowhere. I need Your forgiveness and I am ready to give my life to You, to walk in the path You have for me. I believe You are the Son of God and I accept Your death on the cross as payment for my sins. I believe You died and rose again, and I receive You as my Lord and Savior. I want to trust and follow You, Jesus. Guide me in my new life with You! Amen.