Are you living the whole Christian life?
There is a better life waiting for you!
April 1
If the LORD your God enlarges your territory, as he solemnly promised your ancestors, and gives you all the land he promised them, you must designate three additional cities of refuge. (He will give you this land if you obey all the commands I have given you-if you always love the LORD your God and walk in his ways.)
Deuteronomy 19:8-9
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Are you living the whole Christian life?
Moses is giving the Israelites some further instructions for when they enter into the Promised Land. In this section of chapter 19 Moses is giving directions about the cities of refuge. These are cities scattered all around the land to provide a place of refuge for someone who has accidentally killed another person. While that is a fascinating thing in itself, it is the verses above that caught my attention.
Moses tells the Israelites that should God expand their territory they should add more cities of refuge to make sure someone is able to reach them without having to travel too far. Moses compares the land that they are going in to possess to the land that God had promised to their ancestors.
God promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob a land that would be their own for all time. God defined that land and it is estimated to have been over 300,000 square miles. The land that God defines as the Promised Land to the people that Moses is speaking to is much smaller, about 10% of what God promised to their ancestors. Why the difference?
Elsewhere God told the Israelites that He wasn’t going to drive all the Canaanites out of the land right away because then the land would be over-run with wild animals. As they grew as a nation, God would drive the Canaanites out before them. Moses then goes on to tell them how to get the other 90% of the land promised to their ancestors; love the LORD and walk in His ways.
As Christians, we have also been made amazing promises. God has promised us a life that is rich and full. The picture of the Israelites only getting 10% of the Promised Land is an example of how most people appropriate the things that God has promised them. They only ever get a small percentage of all that God wants for them.
The key to appropriating and experiencing the whole life that God wants for us is found in two things; loving God and obeying His commandments. Loving God is not a feeling but describes the manner in which we live our lives. Walking in His ways means to obey Him, whether it be the instructions found in His word or the leading of the Holy Spirit.
The Israelites were content to live a life that only encompassed 10% of what they could have enjoyed. How much of the Promised Life are you living? If it is less than 100%, ask God to reveal to you how you can move into new territory with Him. Jesus, help us to love You more and teach us to obey You better.
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