READING: Deuteronomy 5-8
I am struck by the number of commands (often repeated ones) in today’s reading. Note below this list that is so recurrent it’s tough to miss these mandates for the people of God. It is not exhaustive, but I trust it will challenge you:
- “Listen” (Deut 5:1, 6:3, 6:4, 6:12)
- “Follow them carefully” (Deut 5:1), “Follow the whole instruction” (5:33), “be careful to follow them” (6:3), “Keep the command—the statutes and ordinances—that I am giving you to follow today” (7:11), “carefully follow every command I am giving you today” (8:1)
- “Be careful to remember” (Deut 5:12), “Be careful to do as the Lord has commanded you” (Deut 5:32), “be careful not to forget the Lord” (6:12), “carefully observe the commands of the Lord your God” (6:17), “Be careful that you don’t forget the Lord your God” (8:11), “be careful that your heart doesn’t become proud” (8:14)
- “Remember the Sabbath day” (Deut 5:12), “remember that you were a slave” (5:15), “be sure to remember” (7:18), “remember that the Lord your God led you” (8:2), “remember that the Lord your God gives you the power to gain wealth” (8:18)
All of this is summed up in these words, of course: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength” (Deut 6:5). May the Lord help us to remember His blessings, carefully follow Him, and always listen to Him.
PERSONAL REFLECTION: Are you listening to God today? Following Him with all your being?
DAILY PRAYER: “God, I seek to love You with all my heart, all my soul, and all my strength.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Deuteronomy 9-12