The high cost of living

Love the LORD your God, . . . obey His voice, . . . that you may dwell in the land. — Deuteronomy 30:20

When I was young, I thought the cost of living in my parents’ home was too high. Looking back, I laugh at how ridiculous it was to complain. My parents never charged me a cent for living at home. The only “cost” was obedience. I simply had to obey rules like CLEAN up after myself, be polite, tell the truth, and go to church. The rules weren’t difficult, but I still had trouble obeying them. My parents didn’t kick me out for my disobedience, however. They just kept reminding me that the rules were to protect me, not harm me, and sometimes they made the rules stricter to protect me from myself.

The cost of living in the Promised Land was the same: obedience. In his final address to the nation, Moses reminded the people that the blessings God wanted to give them depended on their obedience (Deut. 30:16). Earlier he had told them that a good life would be determined by obedience: “Observe and obey . . . that it may go well with you” (12:28).

Some people think the Bible has too many rules. I wish they could see that God’s commands are for our good; they allow us to live in peace with one another. Obedience is simply the “cost” of being part of God’s family on this glorious globe He created and allows us to call home.              — Julie Ackerman Link

Heavenly Father, may we not

see obedience as a burden but as

a privilege. Help us to be grateful

for Jesus, who shows us how

to live, and for the Holy Spirit,

who empowers us to obey.

READ: Deuteronomy 30:15-20

The Bible is not a burden

but a guide to joy-filled living.