Fear, Love, and Service: Living the Call of God in Daily Life
Walking in reverence, love, humility, and justice, guided by God’s sovereign power and boundless grace.
The readings for this Monday present a rich tapestry of divine instruction, historical remembrance, and the challenging call to live faithfully in the present moment. Moses, speaking to the people of Israel, distills God’s will into its essential parts: fear Him, walk in His ways, love and serve Him with all your heart and soul, and keep His commandments.
The psalmist echoes the same spirit of reverence and gratitude, urging Jerusalem to praise the Lord for His blessings, protection, and unique relationship with His people. The Gospel, however, shifts to a moment of both grief and subtle teaching, as Jesus predicts His passion and death, then instructs Peter in a lesson about freedom, humility, and the avoidance of unnecessary offense.
Each of these readings is a layer in a larger story. Together, they challenge us to ask: What does God truly require of me? How do I live in gratitude for His blessings? And how should I navigate the complexities of a world that doesn’t always understand the Kingdom of God?
1. Moses’ Call to the Heart (Deuteronomy 10:12–22)
In this passage, Moses stands as both prophet and pastor. Israel is on the edge of the Promised Land, yet the physical journey is only half the battle. What God wants most is not merely that His people enter a land of milk and honey, but that they enter it with hearts rightly ordered toward Him.
Moses begins with a deceptively simple question:
"And now, Israel, what does the LORD, your God, ask of you…?"
It’s a question that each believer should ask themselves regularly. Our spiritual lives can sometimes feel complicated—filled with theological debates, personal struggles, and the constant push and pull of daily life. But Moses cuts through the noise: Fear God, walk in His ways, love Him, serve Him, and keep His commandments.
This is not a checklist of cold duties. In the biblical sense, "fear" of the Lord means deep reverence and awe, not terror. It’s the posture of one who knows that God is God and we are not. Walking in His ways implies alignment of life, an intentional mirroring of His justice, mercy, and holiness. Loving and serving Him with the fullness of heart and soul means that obedience flows from devotion, not from begrudging compliance.
The Cosmic Perspective
Moses quickly reminds the Israelites that God’s majesty is beyond comprehension:
"The heavens, even the highest heavens, belong to the LORD, as well as the earth and everything on it."
God’s ownership of all creation underscores His right to command, but it also highlights the astonishing truth that He chooses to enter into a covenant with a particular people. The election of Israel was not because of their merit, but because of His love for their forefathers and His faithfulness to His promises.
Circumcision of the Heart
The command to "circumcise your hearts and be no longer stiff-necked" is striking. Physical circumcision marked Israel’s covenant identity, but Moses points to a deeper reality: the true covenant sign is inward transformation. To circumcise the heart means to cut away stubbornness, pride, and spiritual dullness. It means becoming tender and responsive to God’s word.
Justice, Mercy, and Memory
Moses also emphasizes that the God of gods and Lord of lords “executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and befriends the alien.” In the ancient world, these were the most vulnerable populations. God’s care for them reveals His character, and Israel is to imitate Him: “So you too must befriend the alien, for you were once aliens yourselves in the land of Egypt.”
Gratitude for past deliverance should translate into compassion in the present. The Israelites knew what it meant to be powerless and marginalized; therefore, they were to become advocates for others in that position.
2. The Song of the Blessed City (Psalm 147:12–20)
The psalmist calls Jerusalem to praise the Lord, not in a vague, generalized way, but for very specific blessings: strengthened gates, peace within borders, abundant food, and the privilege of receiving God’s statutes.
The repetition of the refrain—"Praise the Lord, Jerusalem"—creates a rhythm of gratitude. The psalmist recognizes that the city’s security and prosperity are not self-made; they are gifts. In an age when nations sought peace through military might, the psalmist points to God as the true source of stability.
The Gift of God’s Word
The psalm closes by marveling that God has revealed His ordinances to Israel:
"He has not done thus for any other nation."
This is not a boast of superiority, but a humble acknowledgment of grace. To know God’s law is to receive a treasure that others have not yet been given. With privilege comes responsibility—to live according to that law and to bear witness to it before the nations.
3. The Cost of Discipleship and the Freedom of Love (Matthew 17:22–27)
The Gospel reading begins with a somber announcement. Jesus, on the road with His disciples, tells them plainly:
"The Son of Man is to be handed over to men, and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day."
The disciples’ reaction—being “overwhelmed with grief”—is understandable. They cannot yet see the glory beyond the suffering. We, with the benefit of hindsight, can see the resurrection as the climax of the story, but they were still processing the shock of a Messiah who speaks openly about dying.
A Lesson in Freedom and Humility
The second half of the passage feels like an abrupt change in tone, moving from life-and-death prophecy to an almost whimsical miracle involving a fish and a coin. But the two are connected by a deeper truth about freedom in the Kingdom of God.
When asked whether Jesus pays the temple tax, Peter quickly answers “Yes,” perhaps to avoid controversy. Yet Jesus uses the moment to teach. Kings do not tax their own children; the children are free. In the same way, those who belong to the Kingdom are ultimately free from such obligations.
And yet—Jesus chooses to pay. Why? “That we may not offend them.” This is not the compromise of one who is afraid to stand up for the truth; it is the humility of one who will lay aside His rights for the sake of others’ consciences.
The miracle of the coin in the fish’s mouth underscores the point: God can provide whatever is needed to meet both divine and human expectations. Jesus, the true Son of the King, submits to human authority not because He must, but because He loves.
4. Threads That Bind the Readings Together
At first glance, Deuteronomy’s covenant commands, Psalm 147’s song of praise, and Matthew’s temple tax story seem loosely connected. But a closer look reveals a shared set of themes:
God’s Sovereignty and Provision
Deuteronomy: God owns the heavens and the earth.
Psalm: God strengthens, protects, and feeds His people.
Gospel: God even provides the coin through miraculous means.
Gratitude Leading to Obedience
Moses urges Israel to love and serve God because of all He has done.
The psalmist praises God for specific blessings.
Jesus models obedience not out of compulsion, but to avoid causing unnecessary stumbling.
The Call to Live Differently
Israel is to befriend the alien and uphold justice.
Jerusalem is to keep God’s unique statutes.
Disciples are to navigate worldly systems with wisdom, humility, and peace.
5. Living This Out Today
In our own time, Moses’ question is still the right starting point: What does the Lord require of me?
For many of us, the answer feels harder than it should. We want specifics—what career to choose, what political position to take, what exact steps to follow. But God’s priorities remain consistent: reverence, love, service, and obedience. Everything else flows from there.
Circumcising the Heart in a Stiff-Necked Age
We live in an era where stubbornness is often celebrated as strength, and open-heartedness can be mistaken for weakness. The call to “circumcise your hearts” invites us to take a hard look at what we are clinging to—pride, resentment, self-sufficiency—and surrender it to God.
Befriending the Alien
This command from Moses has urgent relevance today. Whether the “alien” is a literal immigrant, a marginalized neighbor, or simply someone outside our usual social circles, God’s people are called to hospitality. We remember our own vulnerabilities—spiritual or otherwise—and extend grace as it has been extended to us.
Avoiding Unnecessary Offense
Jesus’ choice to pay the temple tax “so as not to offend” is a subtle but powerful guide for navigating today’s polarized world. It does not mean abandoning truth or avoiding hard conversations. It means recognizing when a fight is unnecessary, when yielding on a small matter may open the door for deeper dialogue and witness.
Praising with Specificity
The psalmist’s detailed praise is a good reminder: our gratitude should be concrete. Rather than vague thanks for “blessings,” we can name the ways God has strengthened us, protected us, and provided for us. This practice not only honors God but also trains our hearts to see His hand in everyday life.
6. The Glory of Our God
Moses ends with a reminder: the God who has done “great and terrible things” for Israel is their glory. This is a truth for every believer. Our identity and worth are not rooted in our own achievements, but in the God who calls us His own.
Jesus, the Son who is free from obligation, chose to pay the price—not just of the temple tax, but of our redemption. Out of love, He yielded His rights, submitted to death, and rose again so that we might share in His glory.
And so, with Moses, the psalmist, and Jesus Himself as our guides, we are invited today to walk in God’s ways, circumcise our hearts, serve with joy, praise with specificity, and live in the freedom of love.