There was a season where it felt like the only way to earn a seat at the table was another degree.
Another credential. Another line on the resume. Another proof point that said, you belong here.
Between the two of us, Lane and I have chased that in different ways. Not because learning is wrong — it is good — but because somewhere along the way it can quietly turn into something else. A belief that respect is earned in layers. That your value increases with every accomplishment.
And if we are honest, it is easy to carry that mindset right into our faith.
We start to believe we need to prove something to God too.
But Scripture corrects that quickly.
In the book of Deuteronomy, Moses is delivering a series of final sermons to the people of Israel. They are about to leave 40 years in the wilderness and step into the Promised Land. Moses knows he will not go with them, so he makes sure they understand exactly who God is and exactly who they are.
Because everything is at stake, and Moses does not want them to blow it.
In verse 7, Moses makes it clear. God did not choose Israel because they were big, strong, or important. In fact, there was almost nothing to them.
God chose them because of His love and His commitment to keep His promise.
That truth is hard for us.
Because we still want to believe we bring something to the table. That we have earned a little of God’s favor.
But the redemptive work of God through Jesus Christ is all God’s idea. It is not something we earn, build, or deserve. It is one hundred percent God’s grace and mercy.
God’s…
Sheer love.
Steady loyalty.
Unshakable promise.
Then in verse 9, Moses reminds them of something we cannot afford to miss.
God is God.
He is not partial. He is not shifting. He is not something we shape to fit our lives. He is the real thing. Fully dependable. Completely faithful. A God you can rely on — and a God we must take seriously.
And then Moses gives both good news and hard truth.
The good news is this.
God can be depended upon. He is faithful, reliable, and steadfast.
He keeps His covenant of loyal love with those who love Him and obey His Word for generations.
The hard truth is this.
God deals justly with those who reject Him. He repays them. His timing is not slow. It is right on time.
We have to take that seriously.
Because this is not about building a resume for God.
It is about responding to a God who has already chosen, already loved, and already made a way.
So this week, spend some time meditating on that.
God is faithful.
God keeps His promises.
God is loyal to those who love Him and walk in His ways.
Not because we earned it.
But because He is that compassionate and good.
Now that’s BombDiggity.
This Week’s Scripture
Deuteronomy 7:7–10 | The Message
“God wasn’t attracted to you and didn’t choose you because you were big and important — the fact is, there was almost nothing to you. He did it out of sheer love, keeping the promise he made to your ancestors. God stepped in and mightily bought you back out of that world of slavery, freed you from the iron grip of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Know this: God, your God, is God indeed, a God you can depend upon. He keeps his covenant of loyal love with those who love him and observe his commandments for a thousand generations. But he also pays back those who hate him, pays them the wages of death; he isn’t slow to pay them off — those who hate him, he pays right on time.”