Joshua 21-22

I have always heard about the stark divide between the God of the Old Testament and the God of the New Testament. I hear how the God of the Old Testament is full of wrath and legalism, and how the God of the New Testament is One of mercy and grace.

When questioned about the law of the Old Testament, Jesus summed it up by saying in Matthew 22:37-40, "And He said to him, " 'You shall love the Lord with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments depend the whole Law and Prophets." It was a message of love. There is that God of the New Testament, so loving and kind.

However, I don't know if you have noticed, but time and time again as I have read through the Old Testament, I have continued to read and reread those same commands! In fact I can't even remember how many times I have seen them, "Love the Lord" or "Love your neighbor." A quick count on Crosswalk.com revealed that we have seen them at least 16 times so far! No wonder I couldn't keep track! And we can't forget that when Jesus summed up the law, He didn't give a new command, but simply quoted from the OT.

Just as in the New Testament, over and over again the God of the Old Testament called on His people to enter into a loving relationship with Him and with each other, even the "aliens" among them. This truth has not changed even from the very beginning. God created us to love Him, "cling" to Him, and put no one else above Him. There is no distinction between the Testaments. He is the God of the Bible.

And that love relationship still extends today for whosoever will come. By His gracious gift on the Cross, God continues to woo nonbelievers into relationship with Him and believers into deeper relationships with Him.

What does your relationship with the God of the Bible look like? Can you say it is characterized by love? If not, the issue is not on God's side. It is we who must be reconciled to God and live in the truths declared in the Bible. What does God ask of us? To love Him in return.

If you are struggling to love God, start afresh today by rereading Joshua 22:5 and remember that it was He first who loved us, and by that love has called us to love in return.

""Only be very careful to observe the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, to love the LORD your God and walk in all His ways and keep His commandments and hold fast to Him and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul."