'It's Not Too Difficult'

and forbearing; and the list goes on. Sometimes we have a sense of defeatism before we ever start to fulfill those commands. We throw in the towel. 

The Israelites were about to enter the promised land after being rescued from Egypt and wandering through the desert for 40 years. God then laid out the promise of blessing when they fulfill God’s commands. The reverse side is that, if they didn’t follow God’s commands, - they would experience the curse of chaos within and chaos among the surrounding nations. 

Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it. (Deut. 30:11-14)

God tells them, ‘It’s not too difficult. You can do this! Don’t be defeated.’ God wanted them to succeed. That is why He made clear what He expected of them, His commands and decrees. God didn’t give them rules that they couldn’t fulfill. God doesn’t want to punish but to bless. God wants a people who can experience the abundant life that Jesus spoke about. That is why God made us, to love God and enjoy Him forever. God was invested in their success.

In the same way, God is highly invested in His church that it would be filled with love and power in the Holy Spirit. God is highly invested in YOU that you might have abundant life in all its varied facets. Jesus is the ‘author and perfector of your faith.’ So, if God is for you, who can be against you? When Thomas asked Jesus how to follow Him, Jesus responded, “I am the Way, I am the Truth, and I am the Life.” Success as a Christian is not about performance but relationship. The key is that we don’t try to be a ‘Christian’ without Christ. Our success relies more on Jesus than it does on us. Our job is to abide in Him. Nothing is too difficult to those who are in Christ Jesus because He promises to show us the Way, to teach us the Truth, and to give us the only Life worth living.

“I always pray with joy… being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Phil 1:4-6.

Forward in Faith,

Jonathan