You're Set on High
6/22 Reading Portions: Deuteronomy 27:1-28:19; Psalm 119:1-24; Isaiah 54; Matthew 2
“And if you faithfully obey the voice of the LORD your God, being careful to do all His commandments that I command you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth.” Deuteronomy 28:1
The Israelites could not faithfully obey the LORD their God. They were stiff-necked people; sinful descendants of disobedient Adam. We, too, cannot faithfully obey the voice of the LORD our God. Even though we are new creations in Christ (2 Cor 5:17), saved by God’s grace through faith (Eph 2:8-9), created in Christ for good works (Eph 2:10), our flesh is the weak link because no good thing dwells therein (Rom 7:18).
But God became a Man; and as perfect, sinless Man, Jesus Christ faithfully obeyed the voice of YHVH God when others could not come close. He took care to keep and perform God’s commandments whereas all others before Him (and since) had only failed miserably. He treasured and protected God’s Word in His heart like no other human could (Psa 119:11). His obedience was so humble and so complete that it took Jesus all the way to His death upon a cross (Phil 2:5-8). Therefore, God set Him high above all the nations of the earth and gave Him a name above every name so that every knee in the eternal universe must bow to Him (Phil 2:9-11).
Because we are in Christ by grace through faith, we will one day rule and reign with our Lord (2 Tim 2:12). Yet the work of transforming grace is so powerful and effective, the heavenly reality is ours now. We do rule and reign with Christ because we are seated together with Him in heavenly places (Eph 2:6), spiritually speaking of course. Christ’s is a spiritual kingdom (John 18:36), therefore, in Christ, God has set you and me on high.
Though God’s commands we could not reach,
Christ faithfully obey’d;
In Christ, by grace, we sit on high
With crowns that do not fade.
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