A Two-Way Relationship

"One Year Bible" Old Testament History Passage
Deuteronomy 26:1-27:26

"Today you have proclaimed the Lord to be your God, and that you will walk in His ways and keep His statutes, His commandments, and His judgments, and that you will obey His voice.  Also today the Lord has proclaimed you to be His special people, just as He promised you, that you should keep all His commandments, and that He will set you high above all nations which He had made, in praise, in name, and in honor, and that you may be a holy people to the Lord your God, just as He has spoken."  Dt. 26:17-19 (NKJV)

Relationship with God is a two-way relationship.  In our weakness, we often want to make it a one-way relationship:  Him toward us.  But it is a two-way relationship.  Many people get confused about this and think that man can have NO RESPONSIBILITIES toward God.  We fear this lest we fall into WORKS RIGHTEOUSNESS.  In no way can we EARN the blessing of God.

But wait.  There is a really fantastic place to which God calls us.  This is not works righteousness or "earning God's favor."  But it is rising to the high place He wants for us.  It is a "covenant relationship" with the Living God.  Here's how it works according the passage above:  WE PROCLAIM HIM TO BE OUR GOD and HE PROCLAIMS US TO BE HIS PEOPLE.  Sounds simple.  But it is more than just a formula. 

We become UNASHAMED.  We own up to Him in all areas of life.  We boast in Him and confess Him openly.  When we are unashamed of Him, He is unashamed of us.

This does not require perfection.  Far from it.  We will find that many times we may fall or fail.  But in all these things we still seek to make Him famous.  Such a people will rise to the fullness of their destiny.  Later, in Dt. 27:9, God says, "This day you have become the people of the Lord your God."  In other words, you have lived up to who you REALLY ARE.  We own up to Him just as He owns up to us.  That is the place of richest blessing.  Jesus said it:  "If you confess Me before men, I will confess you before My Father" (Matt. 10:32)