Walking in 2020 within God's Blessing

Deuteronomy 6:4-15

In the New Year, we need to be alert to what God wants us to hear. God has plans and instructions for us, so we need to heed this for blessings and survival.

This year the Onnuri message is "Love the Lord Your God with All your Heart."

In the Exodus journey from Egypt to the Promised Land, the Israelites had seen the power of God and experienced many miracles. They put their confidence in God after God had destroyed Pharaoh’s pursuing army. They gave glory to God. Later in Exodus 17, the Israelites complained because there was nothing to drink and they believed they would die. They quickly forgot about what God had done. Many died and there were many demonstrations of love, contempt, mistrust, faithfulness, and death over 40 years.

In Deuteronomy, the Israelites are about to enter the Promised Land, but they have wandered for 40 years because of mistakes they had made. Moses gives them these words to encourage and direct them.

"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
Deuteronomy 6:4-5 ESV

In 2020, just like the Israelites who were about to enter, we need to hear these commands. The command is clear that we need to focus on God with all that we have. God is our master, and we are His servants.

But not only are we to serve God with all that we are, but also we are to love God. God wants us to give our lives to God. It means that God will control our lives. In everything we choose to do, it needs to be distinct to God.

The Israelites were very aware of the history they had and how they failed and were punished. They also remember all the times they praised God when things went well and then they moved away from God. To experience the goodness of God Moses gave these instruction to move towards God and stay with God.

Do everything possible to make those words (Deuteronomy 6:4-5) a part of you.

And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.
Deuteronomy 6:6 ESV

We need to give back our love back to God by governing ourselves to His word. We have to keep them all the time, every day and especially when we find ourselves have fallen. His mercies are new every morning.