Easy as Pie

A good baker might see the phrase "easy as pie" as at least a little bit ironic. Making the pie filling might sometimes be easy (depending on your particular recipe) but that pie crust can be down right tricky! However, generally speaking it is easy... with a bit of a tricky spot. That seems fitting to what God gives us... it won't be too hard for us, but He doesn't promise us a seamless life without gliches. We'll be able to "handle" it.

It's Not Too Difficult to Obey

11 Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. 12 It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, "Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?" 13 Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, "Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?" 14 No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.
15 See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. 16 For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. -Deuteronomy 30:11-16

This verse stands out to me this morning, because it reminds me of what I read recently in Romans. Paul uses these words to rephrase this within the context of the new covenant. His whole pretense is that these old laws still stand firm and are useful, while Jesus has brought the aspect of grace... so that we should follow the commands not out of fear but out of thankfulness and appreciation and love.

These commands are not too difficult. They are very near to us- in our mouth and heart. He says, in essence, "You already know what you're supposed to do. So do it!" I'm reminded of a parent who gives "the look" to a child. And the kid looks up, "What?" "You know!" is all that the parent needs to say. They've already been told how to behave. God has already taught us how to follow Him, how to choose life. Now, we just have to use the words we can recite and knowledge of our heart and act upon that. It's not too difficult.


It's Not Too Difficult to Follow

1 Then Moses went out and spoke these words to all Israel: 2 "I am now a hundred and twenty years old and I am no longer able to lead you. The LORD has said to me, 'You shall not cross the Jordan.' 3 The LORD your God himself will cross over ahead of you. He will destroy these nations before you, and you will take possession of their land. Joshua also will cross over ahead of you, as the LORD said. 4 And the LORD will do to them what he did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, whom he destroyed along with their land. 5 The LORD will deliver them to you, and you must do to them all that I have commanded you. 6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."
7 Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, "Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the LORD swore to their forefathers to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance. 8 The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.-Deuteronomy 31:1-8

Sometimes it's harder to follow God's leading than to obey His commands, although I ask- is it really possible to do one without the other? If we truly love the Lord our God, we will follow in the ways He instructs us. Moses calls Joshua and tells him to be strong and courageous. This is a huge responsibility, but "the Lord himself goes before you." While there's certainly a tricky crust (the Amorites), there is a sweet cream to top it all off (God's protection). Don't be afraid, it's as easy as pie!

So it is with our faithfulness. As we follow Him, it might not be easy 100%, but at least it's as easy as pie. We can handle it, when He is leading us. "He will never leave [us] or foresake[us]." It might involve us taking risks, making decisions that this world believes is 'crazy,' but He will be there... and that makes it all worth it.