And the Lord commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as it is this day. Then it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to observe all these commandments before the Lord our God, as He has commanded us. (Deuteronomy 6:24-25)

In this verse Moses stressed that everything God commanded His people is for our good. Though this may sound redundant, that means nothing but good can come about as a result of obedience to Him. I say that because, unfortunately, there are some believers who spend a lot of time arguing why they don’t have to do this or that which God has commanded. I’ve even heard arguments from some that, in certain cases, bad things will come about as a result of obedience to certain commandments. Sad to say, but there are believers who feel they have the authority to pick and choose what to obey and what not to obey.

In the Gospels, Yeshua taught a parable about two sons: one son received instruction from his father and, initially, refused to obey. Later he thought better of it and actually ended up doing what his father had asked. The second son promptly agreed to obey, yet did not. When his audience acknowledged that the first son did the will of his father, Messiah said: “Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but tax collectors and harlots believed him” (Matthew 21:31-32).

The point is that, no matter our religious pedigree or ability to argue theology, God is looking for those who will obey Him because they believe them. If tax collectors and harlots do what is right, they will be considered righteous. Furthermore, they will benefit from doing what is right. If we do as He has commanded, we will benefit from walking in His ways and it will be “as righteousness for us.” In short, if those in Messiah are regarded as the “seed of Abraham,” should they not do as righteous Abraham did? What did he do? He did what was good in God’s sight because “he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness” (Genesis 15:6).

Blessings and Shalom,  

Bill 

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