By Mike Caton

Exodus 12:28, “The Israelites did just what the LORD commanded Moses and Aaron.”

This is one of those verses I have read before, but I somehow missed it. But it is a verse that thrills my heart. I do remember Noah; in Genesis 6:22 and 7:5 where we are told Noah did everything just as the Lord commanded him. Those words are simple for us to read, but imagine how hard they were for both Noah and the Israelites to carry out. Noah was to build a boat, to prepare for a flood that no one could imagine. And these Israelites were to kill an animal and smear blood on their houses. When you think about it, those things don’t really make much sense.

But are we trying to please men or are we trying to please God? Noah was ridiculed for the 120 years he worked on the ark. The Israelites only had one night to do this. Have you ever wondered what their neighbors thought? Maybe they had doubts and wondered about what Moses was telling them to do. And we are not called to build boats or smear blood, but we are called to live different than the world, different than we did before. We are to treat people not as the world treats them, we are to be generous, loving, compassionate, helpful. We are to avoid many of the things the world considers pleasure. But when we really look at those things, they cause more pain than pleasure. Who are you trying to please?

I mistyped the first sentence in that paragraph, but it jumped out at me, and I corrected it. But I think maybe the error might have been better. I typed, But are we trying to please me or God. That is the whole of the matter right there, we love ourselves more than we love the Lord. We want to do what we want to do more than we want to do what the Lord wants us to do. And that, my friends, is sin in a nutshell. So, let’s recognize that, and let’s repent of that, and let’s live our lives for the Lord.

Father, help me to do everything you command. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Mike Caton is the preacher at Mount Olive Church of Christ in Belhaven. He volunteers at the Ponzer Fire Department and works full time with Hyde County EMS. If you would like to receive daily devotions in your inbox, email mikecaton@centurylink.net.

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