Verse of the Day (October 9, 2019)

Verse of the Day (October 9, 2019) – Loyalty to God because of his grace is the theme of this section. Israel was not to “follow” other gods (12:30), “go after other gods” (13:2), or “serve other gods” (13:6, 13). Rather, they were to love God with complete loyalty (13:3). Why? Because in his great grace, God had brought them out of slavery (13:5, 10) and dispossessed the Canaanites (12:29) in fulfillment of his gracious promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (13:17). Israel was to demonstrate this loyalty based on grace by not being conformed to the ways of the Canaanites (12:30–32), but rather walking in the ways of the Lord (13:4, 18). This same pattern is articulated in the New Testament. The apostle Paul, for example, urges believers not to be conformed to the world but to be transformed so as to live a life pleasing to God based on his mercy (Rom. 12:1–2). The practical teaching in Romans 12:3–15:13 shows believers what this loyalty looks like in daily living. As his redeemed and utterly secure children, it is our delight to yield ourselves fully to the Lord and his ways. (Gospel Transformation Study Bible) #BMSeminary