Old Testament reading: Deuteronomy 10-11
Deuteronomy 10 declares the essence of God’s laws: “What does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways and to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the Lord and his statutes which I command you today for your good?” (10:12-13). These words may sound familiar, as a similar statement appears in Micah 6:8. But Moses’ statement is far richer than Micah’s. Note how Moses equates God’s commandments with our good, just as he did in Deuteronomy 6:24-25. Some have a distorted view of God, that He “doesn’t want us to have any fun.” They think God’s rules are restrictive to the point of being punitive. But God’s commands are for our good. As the all-knowing and perfect Father, He knows what is best for His children, the apex of His creation.
New Testament reading: 1 Corinthians 15-16
Moving from his extended treatment of spiritual gifts, Paul shifts his thoughts to the resurrection. But before beginning his treatise on the resurrection, Paul begins with the gospel. What is the gospel? Some say it is the good news, but that is merely a definition of the word; it is not the substance. According to Paul, the gospel consists of four primary facts: 1) Jesus died for our sins, just as the Scriptures (Old Testament) said He would; 2) Jesus was buried, (just as He promised His disciples in Matthew 12:40); 3) Jesus rose from the dead the third day, again according to the Scriptures (Ps 16:9-11) and His own testimony (John 2:19-21); and 4) Jesus’ resurrection was affirmed by so many so many witnesses so as to be undeniable (cf Acts 1:2-3). There can be no gospel, no good news, if Jesus had not died for our sins and was resurrected as He said. In fact, if these things were not so, I would not wish for a resurrection from the dead. If Jesus has not paid the price for my sins, I shall be perfectly content to return to the dust from whence I came, never to see the light of life again. But I thank God for 1 Corinthians 15:20 – “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”
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