Paradise Cafe Discussions - A Place For Bible Research And Christian Encouragement

Good Morning, Everyone! :hibye: Daily Scriptural Text for Sunday, February 11, 2007:

11 Be careful not to forget [YHWH] your God so that you fail to obey his commands, laws, and rules that I am giving to you today.
--Deuteronomy 8:11, New Century Version.

Complementary Scriptures:

5 Be wise in the way you act with people who are not believers, making the most of every opportunity.
--Colossians 4:5, ibid.
__________

2 Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.--2 Timothy 4:2, New Living Translation.
__________

4 They will not stay true to their friends. They will act without thinking. They will think too much of themselves. They will love fun instead of loving God.--2 Timothy 3:4, New Life Version.
__________

5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?--2 Corinthians 13:5, New International Version.
__________

My comment: Let's just say that a person, -- any person, -- did "forget" God, causing them to neglect the things told to all of us by God. Further, let's say that this person 'fails to obey God's commands, laws, and rules.' What would be the results of such a course? What would be the consequences? Would such a person benefit him/her-self? Would such a person improve their life by doing so?

17 This is what Jehovah has said, your Repurchaser, the Holy One of Israel: "I, Jehovah, am your God, the One teaching you to benefit [yourself], the One causing you to tread in the way in which you should walk. 18 O if only you would actually pay attention to My commandments! Then your peace would become just like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea."--Isaiah 48:17, 18, New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures.

The things that God has told us (through His Word, the Bible; and, through holy spirit, the Helper) are not for God's benefit. They are entirely for our benefit. If we will "listen"; and, if we will take heed.

There is simply no getting around the fact that God did give lots of "commands, laws, and rules" to the Israelite nation; because they were in a special set of circumstances (as a national "people" in a covenant relationship with God), in many different ways. Dietary "laws" were given to them to protect them from hazards of which they could not have even been aware. "Laws" to preserve the identity of the lineage of Abraham. "Commands" to help them keep themselves free from false worship and idolatry (if they had "listened" and obeyed). "Rules" for dealing with one another and those outside the nation, too.

And, then, something happened. Something that changed everything. The long-awaited "Messiah" appeared, in the person of Jesus Christ. He instituted a "new covenant" which would replace the "old" Mosaic Law Covenant (with its six hundred-plus individual laws).

19 And He took bread, gave thanks, broke it, gave it to them, and said, "This is My body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me."

20 In the same way He also took the cup after supper and said, "This cup is the new covenant [established by] My blood; it is shed for you."--Luke 22:19, 20, Holman Christian Standard Bible.

13 In his saying "a new [covenant]" he has made the former one obsolete. Now that which is made obsolete and growing old is near to vanishing away.
--Hebrews 8:13, New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures.

So, if the establishment of "the new covenant" by Jesus Christ in 33 CE made the former "old" Mosaic Law Covenant "obsolete," ... what is the situation for us now as regards, ... "commands, laws, and rules"?

36 "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37 He said to him: " 'You must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind.' 38 This is the greatest and first commandment. 39 The second, like it, is this, 'You must love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 On these two commandments the whole Law hangs, and the Prophets."
--Matthew 22:36-40, ibid.

34 "I am giving YOU a new commandment, that YOU love one another; just as I have loved YOU, that YOU also love one another. 35 By this all will know that YOU are my disciples, if YOU have love among yourselves."--John 13:34, 35, ibid.

12 "This is my commandment, that YOU love one another just as I have loved YOU. 13 No one has love greater than this, that someone should surrender his soul in behalf of his friends. ... 17 These things I command YOU, that YOU love one another."--John 15:12, 13, 17, ibid.

The KINGLY LAW OF LOVE! It's all we need! So, don't leave home without it! ;)

Have A Scrumptious Sunday Of Sacred Service, Everybody! :ok:
We Praise You, Father Of Heaven And Earth, For ALL Your Ways Are LOVE! :clap:

Much LOVE to ALL! :love: isomam