Not too Difficult

"For this commandment which I command you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it out of reach. It is not in heaven, that you should say, 'Who will go up to heaven for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may observe it?' Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, 'Who will cross the sea for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may observe it?' But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may observe it." -Deuteronomy 30.11-14

Reading the law that God gave Moses for the people seems overwhelming. There are so many details with it that trying to learn it all would make your head explode. But here Moses says that it is not too difficult for the people, and that the goal is in reach. He tells them that that it is not far off, but that it is very close. It is in their mouth and in their heart so that they may observe it.

God has called His people to holiness, a lofty and daunting calling, but it is not too difficult. God's desire is for His people to be holy and so He has given them His word so that they might attain it. God's desire is for His people to be holy, and He will help them to attain it. For that reason it is not too difficult or out of reach.

I had a professor in college who said something that has stuck with me, but I have amended to show God's intention for His people, "The Bible contains everything you need to know in order to become like Christ; it does not contain the answers to everything you are curious about." God has given us His written Word so that we can know who He is, what He is like, and how He intended for us to live.

Today is Christmas, the day on which we celebrate the birth of Christ, but Christmas is about so much more than Jesus' birth. Most church people will tell you Jesus came to die, but if that's the case there is a lot of wasted time between His birth and death. Jesus came to live. He came to show us what God is like and how God would live life as a human. He became man to live the model life for man. At the end of His mission, after setting the perfect example, He died on the cross and rose again so that we could be empowered to follow His example.

That is what Christmas is all about.

Men, we have been called to a daunting task, be Men of God. But this task is not too difficult or out of reach. God desires for us to be Men of God, and so He became a man to show us what it looks like.

Let us strive to become more like Christ. Let us study the written word that we have been given, and model the living word of Jesus' life. Let us realize that the goal of Christlikeness is within reach of all who strive after it.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor