Today's Reading: Deuteronomy 10:12-21
Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 11:1-25; Matthew 12:1-21

"And now, Israel, 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 with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the LORD and His statutes which I command you today for your good?" (Deuteronomy 10:12-13)

In the Name + of Jesus. If only it were that easy! Yahweh says, "Do this!" and we should just do it, right? Some people say that God would not have given us the commandments if we could not keep them. Paul says otherwise. He says the Law was given to "increase sin" and to show us that we CANNOT do it.

There is only one person who walks in all of God's ways, loves Him, and serves Him with all His heart and soul and who keeps His commandments. That's Jesus.

So the obvious question might be, "Well then, why does God give us the commandments? Why do we even bother?" Because the commandments show us that we need Jesus. The catechism teaches us this, as you can see if you run through the meaning of each commandment. Are those things you don't do or do like you're supposed to? No? God's wrath awaits those who break His commandments.

So Jesus comes to say, "I will take your sin. Let your breaking the commandments be Mine. And let My keeping them be yours." With that blessed exchange of His righteousness for our sin on Calvary, we are saved. His righteousness and obedience are given to you at the font and supplied by Absolution and the Word and His Supper. Those gifts always declare that in Jesus, your sin has become His and His perfection and obedience are yours.

So now reread the words above. Is that you? In and of yourself, no way! But in Jesus? Absolutely! For all that He has is yours. And it is His obedience which counts for you before your heavenly Father. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Mine is the sin, but Thine the righteousness;
Mine is the guilt, but Thine the cleansing blood;
Here is my robe, my refuge, and my peace:
Thy blood, Thy righteousness, O Lord my God.
("Here, O My Lord, I See Thee Face to Face" LSB 631, st. 5)

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Duane Bamsch