You must love the Lord your God with your whole mind, your whole being, and all your strength.
Deuteronomy 6:5
Into the Text
There are two types of people in this world: those who love rules and those who detest rules. For me, I am a rule follower, but I often forget that rules are there for my protection and good rather than a means to earn favor and love.
When the Israelites had crossed through the Red Sea, God gave them rules by which to live. This is known as the law. The law was meant to reveal the people’s sin and show their need for God’s grace. It was also meant to show them what a holy life looks like.
God knew that the people could never fully uphold the law. This is why they needed a Rescuer.
In Matthew 5:17-18, Jesus states that He is the fulfillment of the law. His perfect life made way for Him to be the perfect substitute for our sin.
Through Jesus, we are now no longer under the law but under grace (Romans 6:14). We are still to love God with all of our lives and to love our neighbor as ourselves, but now we have been given new hearts that are enabled to live in this way (Ezekiel 36:26).
Like the Israelites were called to live with a surrendered heart to God, we, too, are called to do the same. We don’t follow God’s commands to earn love or favor. Rather, we live out of the assurance that we are loved and accepted by the grace of Jesus.
Prayer
Jesus, thank you that you are the fulfillment of the law. I pray that I would model my life after you and see it as an opportunity to point others to you. Amen.