“Observe therefore all the commands I’m giving you today so that you may have the strength to go in and take over the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess…” (Deuteronomy 11:8 NIV)
Repeated obedience builds up our strength and strength is typically required for whatever comes next.
Discipline works a bit like exercise, the more we employ it, the more our character is shaped and toned, the stronger our ability to obey becomes. We can picture it as muscle – muscle worked often is ready for prolonged and difficult tasks. Muscle untried will shake and give way when unduly challenged.
The rebellious Israelites were issued the law and then given plenty of opportunity to act it out. The Lord knew they’d need a long season in the desert to build up the obedience-strength required to possess and retain the Promised Land. The wilderness provide a well-appointed spiritual gym of sorts – a place to put the principles of God into action.
I wonder if this pandemic isn’t a similar season of wilderness? We have a long and lonely opportunity to build up our spiritual muscle. The more we employ our discipline, the stronger it becomes and the greater our obedience grows.
“The land you are entering to take over is not like the land of Egypt, from which you have come, where you panted your seed and irrigated it by foot as in a vegetable garden. But the land you are crossing the Jordan to take possession of is a land of mountains and valleys that drink rain from heaven. It is a land the Lord your God cares for, the eyes of the Lord your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to it’s end.”
(Deuteronomy 11:10-12 NIV)
The land the Israelites were poised to take would only be gained and maintained through obedience. They could not continue on as self-reliant as they were in Egypt. They needed to heed the Word of the Lord because this was His territory.
It’s true for us, too. The holy border we are moving towards belongs to the Lord. If we aren’t interested in honoring Him here, how will we live subject to Him for all eternity? To love God is to obey Him. We grow in the expression of our love when we grow in obedience.
“In fact, this is love for God: to keep His commands. And His commands are not burdensome.” (1 John 5:3 NIV)
Lord, discipline is a difficult muscle to grow. We like to go our own way. Forgive us for our self-reliance. Help us see the value of Your commandments. Strengthen our resolve as we fight to conform our flesh more into Your image. May we cling tightly to the promise of eternity with You. Amen.