What you won’t find in Deuteronomy 24 are rules for daily living today. However, there are healthy principles found here for building relational health in the body of Christ. Consider the following samples:
Vs. 1-5- This law kept the ex-husband from taking advantage of his former spouse through remarriage. See Jesus’s comments from Mt. 5:31-32. To minimize the occurrence of divorce, provision was granted for newlyweds to stay at home for one year.
Vs. 11-15- No one was to be unjustly harsh with the poor, especially in the repayment of loans.
Vs. 19-22- The sojourner, fatherless, and widow were among Israel’s poorest people. Much like the early believers in Acts 2:42-47, the Israelites were to share generously with one another.
How can you practice relational health in the body of Christ? Consider the following principles for Biblical fellowship:
1. Love your spouse well- What is a new way you can love your spouse? Consider regular date nights, a marriage class, or some creative, fun activities you’ve never tried before. The first step to healing a struggling marriage is acknowledging that you need help.
2. Practice unconditional love- The Israelites were called to treat one another fairly, but also to love those who were less fortunate. Is there a consistent practice in your life of loving someone else w/o expecting anything in return?
3. Love generously- We are all prone to selfishness. Some people are called to be generous with their time. Others can be generous with finances. Maybe you have unique gifts that could be a blessing to many people. How has God called you to be generous?
Build spiritual health by being relationally healthy. Jesus died so that you would experience what it means to love biblically.
Jason Marshall