A Christian once said to me, “The Christian life is the simplest in the world—only one Person to please and only one thing to do.” True! And Moses the servant of God said so explicitly: “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil” (Deuteronomy 30:15, Berkeley). The alternatives are surprisingly clear-cut; yet the results are far-reaching. If I choose to obey God, the result will be “blessing” (v. 19); but if I disobey God, the result will be a “curse” (v.19).
Often I have heard people say, “The Christian life is too hard!” And on occasion I have felt that way myself. Yet Moses says, “The word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may observe it” (v. 14, italics added). Too often I have been overwhelmed by the goals of the Christian life instead of being concerned about the conditions. If I will simply meet the conditions, the goals will take care of themselves.
The Bible knows nothing about instant success. How long did it take God to deliver the Israelites from Egypt? To construct and execute the plan of salvation? There are times when blessing seems to be immediate, when miracles seem to happen on the spot, but the conditions that brought those things about were in operation long before the finished product.
I must concern myself with the elementary: Am I willing to do God’s will immediately and thoroughly, without regard for the consequences? If so, God’s blessing will assuredly be mine; if not, I will be cursed with the fruits of negligence. Nothing exults the heart of God more than my willingness to follow Him: “The Lord … will save. He will rejoice over you with delight … He will be joyful over you with singing” (Zephaniah 3:17, Berkeley).
“Bless our God, O peoples, and sound His praise abroad, who keeps us in life, and does not allow our feet to slip” (Psalm 66:8–9).
Daily with the King 