Can we accept the King’s authority?
Every day we're reading or listening to part of the Bible together and sharing thoughts with you. Today it’s Bern Leckie:
What did I like about today’s passage?
I like that more is revealed here about God's character. His wants people to be close to him, pure in their physical and mental lives, and honest and compassionate in their dealings with other people. In particular, I noticed the provisions people were expected to make for strangers passing through their property - people should be able to take all the grapes and grain they can eat or carry, reminding people with property that they were really looking after God's land and produce rather than defending their own.
Are there still difficult bits in this passage? Yes - plenty! God's decision to exclude certain kinds of people, and all their descendants, from his assembly doesn't square with our modern expectations. While I don’t understand and want to speak up, I’m reminded that God has sovereign authority – the Kingdom means nothing without the King, right?
That takes me right into the heart of why this book feels like a struggle when trying to apply it to life today. It’s also why I’m glad to be taking it in during a walk with Jesus through Luke’s gospel. Normally our Bible In A Year daily episodes are entirely self-contained, but this feels like time for a crossover special!
The sense I’m getting from Luke is that the struggle to recognise and obey God’s sovereignty was just as real centuries after these laws were given, even – no, especially – for so-called experts in the law. Is that because the King’s commands are too difficult, or because we struggle to give away authority over ourselves? If the latter, what is God’s plan for us?
What did it show me about Father God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit?
God’s long-term plan to restore relationship with people requires that we recognise his authority. In the covenant agreement with Israel before Jesus, God provided a clear structure through laws to set out a way of life in which this could be done. But God also knew that people would need more than laws - we would also have to realise our need for more of God’s presence, power and authority, found in Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
What am I going to do differently as a result?
I need to keep reflecting on how much I really accept God’s authority, especially when it seems to involve an uncomfortable change of mind or lifestyle. I remain thankful that I live under a new covenant in Jesus, but I want to reaffirm my commitment to accept him as Lord rather than rely on trying to master my own understanding of everything he wants, as if I could get to a point where I don’t have to ask and could never be surprised by Jesus!
Who am I going to share this with?
People I pray and follow Jesus with.