2023_05_12 Insight Post- Emma Keeton
This week’s reading-Deuteronomy 28-30, Hebrews 9
“Now if you faithfully obey the Lord your God and are careful to follow all his commands I am giving you today, the Lord your God will put you far above all the nations of the earth. All these blessings will come and overtake you, because you obey the Lord your God.” Deuteronomy 28:1-2
When I’m told to do something that I am not fully invested in, I am likely to complain and may even rebel completely. If I have passion for whatever I’m asked to do, I follow through with a good attitude. This is human nature. We all have things we must do whether we like them or not, but it’s easier to do them with a full heart and a good attitude.
In Deuteronomy 28, God commands the Israelites to obey him faithfully and follow all his commands. If they do, blessings will follow them. These blessings will set the Israelites apart from other nations, and God’s favor and majesty will be on display for others to see. For the Israelites to faithfully obey the Lord their God, they will have to follow the greatest command first:
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your strength.” Deuteronomy 6:5
And so it is with us. If we don’t fully love God, obedience will only go so far in helping us follow God. But we can’t love someone we don’t know. It’s so important to prioritize our relationship with God and hunger to know Him. Experiencing God’s mercy and grace helps us to love Him more as time passes, and we can see firsthand His friendship toward us.
New Hope has 7 heart attitudes that serve to keep us a healthy church community. They are:
- Be humble
- Be authentic
- Be teachable
- Do reconcile
- Do serve
- Do give
- Do follow
If we followed these heart attitudes out of obedience only, we would be living under the weight of them. When we follow these guidelines because we love God, our lives will be transformed.
The following prayer by John Wesley is not an easy one to pray, but it speaks of someone who knows and loves the Lord their God with all their heart, soul and strength. May we grow in loving God so following His ways will be natural.
Covenant Prayer
I am no longer my own, but yours.
Put me to what you will, place me with whom you will.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be put to work for you or set aside for you,
Praised for you or criticized for you.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and fully surrender all things to your glory and service.
And now, O wonderful and holy God,
Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer,
you are mine, and I am yours.
So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
Let it also be made in heaven. Amen.
Emma Keeton
Prayer Team Lead