Deuteronomy 22:6-7 English Standard Version

⁶ “If you come across a bird’s nest in any tree or on the ground, with young ones or eggs and the mother sitting on the young or on the eggs, you shall not take the mother with the young. ⁷ You shall let the mother go, but the young you may take for yourself, that it may go well with you, and that you may live long.”

When we find passages that imply a blessing in adherence without a penalty for disobedience we might think that it is not a law and we are not compelled to comply.

I understand that, but in taking that attitude aren’t we missing out on the opportunity for a blessing?

Deuteronomy has some very interesting comments that tell us about decent behaviors with no reference to blessings and curses associated with obedience.

Deuteronomy 22:5 “A woman shall not wear a man’s garment, nor shall a man put on a woman’s cloak, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord your God.”

This passage tells us how God feels about it without demanding it under penalty. That puts the onus on our conscience to adopt God’s opinion. It comes down to the scriptures changing our character without being coercive.

Is that even possible without the help of the Holy Spirit?

Romans 6:4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

This is the only time the word newness appears in the ESV bible.

John 3:3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Philippians 3:8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ

Beware.

Jeremiah 13:11 For as the loincloth clings to the waist of a man, so I made the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah cling to me, declares the Lord, that they might be for me a people, a name, a praise, and a glory, but they would not listen.

Hebrews 12:1

Jesus, Founder and Perfecter of Our Faith

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

We cannot run this race effectively while clinging to the old way of doing things. 

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

It begins with hearing, but we still have to find the will to obey. Romans 6:4 says “might walk in newness of life” not “do walk”.