For Our Own Good

For Our Own Good When Moses spoke the words in today’s verse, the Israelites had just made their way across the wilderness to the edge of the Jordan River. They had fled from Pharaoh in Egypt, crossed the Red Sea on dry land, and fed on manna from heaven. They had constantly wavered between obedience to the Lord’s commands and rebellion in favor of their own ways. Now, after forty years of wandering, they stood— barely a stone’s throw from the long-awaited promised land. Their new home within sight, the Israelites stood in solemn silence as Moses recounted the law, reminding them to obey the Lord “for [their] own good.” Obedience. Often, we either neglect this duty or focus too much on it, looking for praise for our performance. But true obedience means trusting that the Lord calls us to obey because He has “our own good” in mind. Today, turn to the Lord in obedience, knowing that we obey not to earn grace, but to fully live the life of grace we have in Jesus.