Love the Lord your God, . . . walk in his ways, and keep his commands, decrees and laws. (Deuteronomy 30:16)Chapter 30 is where the Deuteronomic Covenant comes to a head. The rewards for compliance and the consequences for disobedience have been spelled out, and Moses asks for a decision. Choose life.
The writer of Deuteronomy didn't throw the words of verse 16 onto the table like one throws dice, just letting them go and seeing where they might arbitrarily fall. He chose his words carefully and intentionally: 1) Love the Lord your God; 2) Walk in His ways; and 3) Keep his commands, decrees and laws.
Legalism reverses this order. Legalism is mustering up the strength to keep a list of rules (commands, decrees and laws), thinking that's how we walk in God's ways, and that by doing that perhaps one day we will come to love Him. Holiness on the other hand begins with a heartfelt love for God, which can only be satisfied by walking with Him, and in walking with Him, keeping His commands comes naturally. We wouldn't want to do anything else!
So what sounds better: struggling to follow a list of rules and seeing where that leads? Or falling in love with God and seeing where that takes you?
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