Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 7:1-19; Matthew 10:1-23
“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord, which I am commanding you today for your good?” (Deuteronomy 10:12-13)
Oh, is that all? I'm glad that the Lord your God doesn't ask too much of you! Just fear the Lord, walk in His ways, love Him, serve Him with all your being, and keep the commandments. In short: Don't sin. I'm so glad that God isn't asking too much. (That's sarcasm, btw.)
Martin Luther said of the first commandment that if we could fear, love and trust in God above all things, the other nine commandments would be a snap. Unfortunately, we have a big problem with that first one. We don't fear, love and trust in God above all things. We don't seem to be able.
If we feared God, we would be too terrified of His judgment to do anything evil. But we're not scared of God. I guess we don't think He'll do what He warns He'll do. Maybe He doesn't exist or isn't powerful enough to do anything to us when we sin. We don't fear God.
We don't love God. If we loved God, we wouldn't do things that we know hurt Him. But we don't love God. We just go on doing the things that pain Him, uncaring of what it costs Him when we do so. Some of us sometimes even use His name as a curse! Is that what we do to someone we love? No.
Perhaps most clearly, we don't trust in God above all things. We don't even trust Him, period. If we trusted God, we'd believe that He cares for us and is looking out for us. If we trusted God, we'd believe what He said about His commandments: He is giving us these commands for our good. He wants what is best for you, and His commandments are best. His will is best for your life, but with every sin you say to Him, “I don't trust You to do what is best for me. I've got to look out for myself. I have to make my own rules.”
So that's that. Just fear, love, and trust in God above all things – that's all God demands of you. How are you doing so far? Not so hot? Then what is God going to do to someone like you, who can't even do what He demands of you? He is going to forgive you. He has bound Himself to you in Holy Baptism. He can't deny you now without denying Himself, because He has put His name on you. St. Paul wrote: “If we are faithless, He remains faithful – for He cannot deny Himself.” (2 Timothy 2:13)