E-Message Bible/Commentary
"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." --- Psalm 119:105
DEUTERONOMY --- The Book of the Second Law
Hearing, Learning, Following
Moses continued speaking to the people of Israel and said, 'Listen carefully now to all these laws God has given you; learn them, and be sure to obey them!' (Deuteronomy 5:1)
Moses continued speaking to the people of Israel and said, 'Listen carefully now to all these laws God has given you; learn them, and be sure to obey them!' (Deuteronomy 5:1)
Continual learning is one
of the keys to spiritual growth. The people of Israel were in a
covenant with God, and Moses commanded them to hear, learn, and follow
His commandments. We have entered into a covenant with God through the
saving power of Jesus Christ.
We, too, are to be responsive to that
three-fold advice.
- Hear by absorbing and accepting information about God's word.
- Learn by understanding its meaning and implications.
- Follow by putting into action all you have learned and understood.
All three parts are essential to a growing relationship
with God.
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Keys to Spiritual Growth
Moses continued speaking to the people of Israel and said, "Listen carefully now to all these laws God has given you; learn them, and be sure to obey them! (Deuteronomy 5:1)
Moses continued speaking to the people of Israel and said, "Listen carefully now to all these laws God has given you; learn them, and be sure to obey them! (Deuteronomy 5:1)
Constant
learning is one of the keys to spiritual growth. The Israelites had
entered into a covenant with God, and Moses commanded them to hear,
learn, and follow His statues. We also have entered into a covenant
with God through Jesus Christ and should be responsive to what God
expects. Moses' three-fold command to the Israelites is excellent
advice for all of us as well.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________- Hearing is absorbing and accepting information about God.
- Learning is understanding its meaning and implications.
- Following is putting into action all we have learned and understood.
Are You Growing Spiritually?
Moses summoned all Israel and said, "Hear, O Israel, the decrees and laws I declare in your hearing today. Learn them and be sure to follow them." (Deuteronomy 5:1)
Moses summoned all Israel and said, "Hear, O Israel, the decrees and laws I declare in your hearing today. Learn them and be sure to follow them." (Deuteronomy 5:1)
Spiritual
growth involves three things. . . hearing, learning, and following. One
is not exclusive of the other. All three must work in conjunction with
the other two. God has made a covenant with us through His Son, Jesus
Christ just as He made a covenant with the Israelites. Therefore,
Moses' threefold command is just as pertinent to us today as it was to
the Israelites then.
We, as God's covenant people, must hear, learn, and follow the word of God. Hearing is absorbing and accepting information about God. Learning is understanding information about God. Following is obeying or putting into action all we have heard and learned. All three parts of this process are essential to a growing relationship with God.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________We, as God's covenant people, must hear, learn, and follow the word of God. Hearing is absorbing and accepting information about God. Learning is understanding information about God. Following is obeying or putting into action all we have heard and learned. All three parts of this process are essential to a growing relationship with God.
Are You Listening or Merely Hearing?
Moses continued speaking to the people of Israel and said, "Listen carefully now to all these laws God has given you; learn them, and be sure to obey them! (Deuteronomy 5:1)
Moses continued speaking to the people of Israel and said, "Listen carefully now to all these laws God has given you; learn them, and be sure to obey them! (Deuteronomy 5:1)
There
is a difference between hearing and listening. We hear with our ears,
but we listen with our entire being. Hearing means to perceive by the
ears. Listening is to perceive by the heart. Listening means to pay
attention to what is heard. It means applying it to one's own life.
Listening is an important spiritual skill. While hearing is absorbing and accepting information about God, listening is understanding its meaning and implications. The proof of listening is obedience. Obedience is the direct act of putting into action all that has been heard and understood. Hearing and listening are both essential for a more intimate relationship with God.
Are you listening or merely hearing?Listening is an important spiritual skill. While hearing is absorbing and accepting information about God, listening is understanding its meaning and implications. The proof of listening is obedience. Obedience is the direct act of putting into action all that has been heard and understood. Hearing and listening are both essential for a more intimate relationship with God.
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Constant
Reminders
Remember that you were slaves in
Egypt and that the LORD your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and
an outstretched arm. (Deuteronomy 5:15)
A reminder is just
what it says...a re-minder. A reminder is not new information. It is something
you already know, but you have to remember it. It is information you are hearing
"again" at least for the second time. A young boy did not bulge when his mother
told him to take out the trash. When asked why he didn't move, the young boy
said, "Because I know you will remind me again and again."
We live in a
world where there are constant reminders. Sometimes these reminders warn us.
Sometimes these reminders enlighten us. Sometimes these reminders tell what to
do. Sometimes these reminders tell us what not to do.
We see signs
posted along the way to remind us of irregular road patterns and dangerous
situations. We see and hear the same television and radio commercials to remind
us to buy certain products and use certain services. Our authority figures tell
us something and remind us several times later about the same thing. Why do we
need constant reminders? We need constant reminders so that we will not forget.
We need constant reminders so information might always be fresh in our
mind.
God constantly reminded His chosen people about His love for them.
He told them over and over again so they would not forget what He had done for
them. Wouldn't it be nice if God did the same thing for us? Well, He does. God
constantly reminds us through nature; through the changing of the seasons how
awesome He is. God reminds us through our own spiritual growth that He is our
constant companion. God reminds us through His word that He will never leave us
nor forsake us.
God wants to remind you of something today. He is trying to get your attention to remind
you of something important. Don't be like the little boy in the opening
paragraph. Listen to what God has to say when He says it the first time. Surely,
He will remind you over and over again, but why delay His blessings when you
could respond and be blessed the first time?
Be reminded today that God is love and
those who abide in God abide in love and God abides in them. (I John
4:16b)
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Christianity Is Not Cafeteria Style
Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commandments always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever. (Deuteronomy 5:29)
Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commandments always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever. (Deuteronomy 5:29)
God
wants us to keep ALL His commandments; not just some. God wants us to
obey Him ALWAYS; not just sometimes. God wants all of our devotion all
the times. God frowns on us when we pick and choose which one(s) of His
commandments to follow. Christianity is NOT cafeteria style whereby we
pick our own commandments to obey. If God gave a commandment in the
Bible, He wants us to follow it.
There is no need to rationalize that since you prayed today, there is no need to praise God today, or since you worshipped God on Sunday, there is no need to worship Him on Monday. In the above scripture, God said "to keep all my commandments always that it might go well with you." When you are picking and choosing, how do you know which choice God will truly bless you? Therefore, it is so important not to choose one commandment from Genesis and two from Matthew. Obey God in ALL things at ALL times so that He will bless you and your children forever.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________There is no need to rationalize that since you prayed today, there is no need to praise God today, or since you worshipped God on Sunday, there is no need to worship Him on Monday. In the above scripture, God said "to keep all my commandments always that it might go well with you." When you are picking and choosing, how do you know which choice God will truly bless you? Therefore, it is so important not to choose one commandment from Genesis and two from Matthew. Obey God in ALL things at ALL times so that He will bless you and your children forever.
Some Things You Never Forget
Then beware, lest you forget the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. (Deuteronomy 6:12)
Then beware, lest you forget the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. (Deuteronomy 6:12)
There is a song, "Jesus, I'll Never Forget" in which the lyrics indicate that there are some things you never forget. "Jesus, I'll never forget what you've done for me. Jesus, I'll never forget how you set me free."
God
had a fault with the Israelites. They saw how the Red Sea opened up for
them to cross over on dry land. Then they quickly forgot the miracle of
God. They began to murmur and complain about not having food to eat.
God sent them manna from heaven. They still complained. They wanted
meat. Then God sent them quails. They abused the gift, and some of them
died while still eating. They forgot God. They forgot the source of
their supply. God told Moses to remind the Israelites over and over so
that they would not forget His many blessings.
God reminded us of His love through the death of His Son, Jesus Christ. And He continues to remind us through His grace and His mercy. There are some things you just never forget!
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________God reminded us of His love through the death of His Son, Jesus Christ. And He continues to remind us through His grace and His mercy. There are some things you just never forget!
Do the Right Thing
And you shall do what is right and good in the sight of the Lord, that it may be well with you, and that you may go in and possess the good land of which the Lord swore to your fathers. (Deuteronomy 6:18)
And you shall do what is right and good in the sight of the Lord, that it may be well with you, and that you may go in and possess the good land of which the Lord swore to your fathers. (Deuteronomy 6:18)
A
few years ago, Spike Lee made the movie, "Do the Right Thing." My
mother (who died last August) always told us, "Do the right thing and
the right things will follow." In the above scripture, we are told that
we shall do what is right and good in the sight of the Lord, and then
we may go in and possess the good land.
Doing wrong does not bring about good results. People do the wrong thing; yet they want a good outcome. They do wrong to people, but expect people to treat them right. They act nasty toward others; yet, they demand respect. It really doesn't work that way and it goes against God's word.
God wants us to do what is right all the time. He has provided what is right in His manual, the Bible. It is our standard to live by. Let's read the Bible often, and then let's do the right thing. Let's put ourselves in the position to possess the good land. Take the advice of my mother: "Do what is right and right things will follow."
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Doing wrong does not bring about good results. People do the wrong thing; yet they want a good outcome. They do wrong to people, but expect people to treat them right. They act nasty toward others; yet, they demand respect. It really doesn't work that way and it goes against God's word.
God wants us to do what is right all the time. He has provided what is right in His manual, the Bible. It is our standard to live by. Let's read the Bible often, and then let's do the right thing. Let's put ourselves in the position to possess the good land. Take the advice of my mother: "Do what is right and right things will follow."
"I'm
Dreaming of a RIGHT
Christmas"
Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is
the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of
those who love him and keep his commands. (Deuteronomy
7:9)
- Be RIGHT with God. How can you enjoy the gift of the Son if you are at odds with His Father? The best way to be in right relationship with God is to read His word and do what He says.
- Be RIGHT with others. If you want to have a right Christmas, forgive those who have hurt you whether it was their fault or yours. Stop harboring insignificant grudges of the past. Mend those broken relationships.
- Be RIGHT with yourself. One of the best gifts you can give yourself this Christmas is to have peace within. Trust God to give you that peace when you establish a RIGHT relationship with Him and a RIGHT relationship with those around you.
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Gradual Changes
But the Lord your God shall deliver them before you, and will throw them into great confusion until they are destroyed. (Deuteronomy 7:23)
But the Lord your God shall deliver them before you, and will throw them into great confusion until they are destroyed. (Deuteronomy 7:23)
Moses
told the Israelites that God would destroy their enemies, but not all
at once. God truly had the power to destroy them instantly, but God
chose to do it in stages. God can miraculously and instantaneously
change your life. However, God changes you gradually by teaching you
one lesson at a time. Rather than expecting to have an instant solution
to all your problems, trust God to work on one problem at a time,
making up the difference between where you should be and where you are
now.
You will soon look back and see that a miraculous transformation has occurred.
You will soon look back and see that a miraculous transformation has occurred.
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Why Christians Shouldn't Play Cards
Do not bring a detestable thing into your house or you, like it, will be set apart for destruction. Utterly abhor and detest it, for it is set apart for destruction. (Deuteronomy 7:26)
Do not bring a detestable thing into your house or you, like it, will be set apart for destruction. Utterly abhor and detest it, for it is set apart for destruction. (Deuteronomy 7:26)
They say we should use a deck of cards to measure the portion of meat
we eat. That's about the only thing a deck of cards is useful for as
far as Christians should be concerned.
The first deck of cards was made in 1392 for the insane French King Charles. The inventor evidently hated God and the Bible and designed a message in the cards which was the exact opposite of the truth of scripture. This is why it is common to find decks of cards possessed by prostitutes, gamblers, thieves and murderer. Decks of cards are found in taverns, brothels, prisons, insane asylums, but NOT at prayer meetings.
The first deck of cards was made in 1392 for the insane French King Charles. The inventor evidently hated God and the Bible and designed a message in the cards which was the exact opposite of the truth of scripture. This is why it is common to find decks of cards possessed by prostitutes, gamblers, thieves and murderer. Decks of cards are found in taverns, brothels, prisons, insane asylums, but NOT at prayer meetings.
Witches, physics, and Satan worshippers use playing cards for
divination and to cast spells and curses. It is a bit difficult to see
why any born again believer would want to be in contact with such a
tool of Satan.
It is unwise, even dangerous, to have playing cards and other abominable things in your home (Deuteronomy 7:26). This could bring a curse on you and your household. It is time that Christians clean house and destroy the hidden works of darkness (1 John 2:15-17; Romans 12:1; 2 Corinthians 6:17, 18; 1 Timothy 6:12)
It is unwise, even dangerous, to have playing cards and other abominable things in your home (Deuteronomy 7:26). This could bring a curse on you and your household. It is time that Christians clean house and destroy the hidden works of darkness (1 John 2:15-17; Romans 12:1; 2 Corinthians 6:17, 18; 1 Timothy 6:12)
How to Enjoy Your Desert Experience
Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commands. (Deuteronomy 8:2)
Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commands. (Deuteronomy 8:2)
All of us have had or will have a
desert experience. A desert experience is a time period when things are
dry in your life. A desert experience is that time when you are not
producing and you see no chance of producing. A desert experience might
involve your household, your business, your ministry or your entire
life. It is that time when you are not growing at all. In fact, you
feel like you are dying on the vine.
A desert experience shouldn't be looked at as being negative. Yes, a desert experience is different. And it can be difficult. While in the desert, like the Israelites, you will not have the comforts you are accustomed to. You will have to endure hunger and thirst and the heat of the day. But God is your manna from heaven (Exodus 16:31). He is your keeper and the shade at your right hand (Psalm 121:5 ).
God brings desert experiences into our lives to humble us, to test us, and to see what we are really made of. He takes us out of our comfort zone to see if we will still love, adore and praise Him. It is easy to say, "God is good" when things are going well in our lives. But how many of us can praise God when we are going through the desert?
Enjoy your desert experience by knowing that you are not in the desert alone. God is walking beside you to guide you. Remember this: No one gets to the Promised Land without going through the desert. So, you might as well enjoy the journey.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________A desert experience shouldn't be looked at as being negative. Yes, a desert experience is different. And it can be difficult. While in the desert, like the Israelites, you will not have the comforts you are accustomed to. You will have to endure hunger and thirst and the heat of the day. But God is your manna from heaven (Exodus 16:31). He is your keeper and the shade at your right hand (Psalm 121:5 ).
God brings desert experiences into our lives to humble us, to test us, and to see what we are really made of. He takes us out of our comfort zone to see if we will still love, adore and praise Him. It is easy to say, "God is good" when things are going well in our lives. But how many of us can praise God when we are going through the desert?
Enjoy your desert experience by knowing that you are not in the desert alone. God is walking beside you to guide you. Remember this: No one gets to the Promised Land without going through the desert. So, you might as well enjoy the journey.
"God, I Love
You!"
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God
with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
(Deuteronomy 6:5 KJV)
Whenever I babysit
my two-year old granddaughter, she always amazes me by what she says. Last
weekend when she was playing, she stopped abruptly and came to me for no other
reason than to say, "Grandma, I love you!" I said, "And who is this who loves
me?" She said, "Grandma, you know. I'm Tori Michal Lewis." Then she ran off to
play again.
It would be so wonderful if in the midst of whatever we were
doing we would stop and say, "God, I love you." God would be so pleased to hear
us say those few words without asking Him for anything in return.
Stop
whatever you are doing right now just for one moment to say, "God, I
love you!" Then return
to whatever you were doing.
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But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today. (Deuteronomy 8:18 NIV)
There
is a tremendous danger in learning, quoting, or living by part of a
scripture. The above scripture is a good example of a scripture that
some might live by partially. Some people have no problem accepting
that God gives them ability to get wealth. The part that gets lost in
our thinking is that God gives us the ability to get wealth so that his
covenant might be fulfilled. This two-part covenant is a binding
agreement that says: "God will do and I will do."
Prosperity might lead to forgetfulness about the source and purpose of our wealth. God wants us to remember that it is He who has given us the ability and resources to get wealth. He also wants us to remember that there is a correspondent covenant faithfulness on our part. The wealth that God has enabled us to get is to help establish and perpetuate the Kingdom of God on earth. God is keeping His part of the covenant. We should keep our part of the covenant as well.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Prosperity might lead to forgetfulness about the source and purpose of our wealth. God wants us to remember that it is He who has given us the ability and resources to get wealth. He also wants us to remember that there is a correspondent covenant faithfulness on our part. The wealth that God has enabled us to get is to help establish and perpetuate the Kingdom of God on earth. God is keeping His part of the covenant. We should keep our part of the covenant as well.
What To Do With Bad Habits
You must destroy all the heathen altars wherever you find them -- high in the mountains, up in the hills, or under the trees. Break the altars, smash the obelisks, burn the shameful images, cut down the metal idols, and leave nothing to remind you of them! (Deuteronomy 12:2-3)
You must destroy all the heathen altars wherever you find them -- high in the mountains, up in the hills, or under the trees. Break the altars, smash the obelisks, burn the shameful images, cut down the metal idols, and leave nothing to remind you of them! (Deuteronomy 12:2-3)
A
habit is a pattern of behavior acquired by frequent repetition. It is a
customary manner or practice. A habit can also be referred to as an
addiction. It is something that you do routinely without much thought
or effort. It takes about 7 days to acquire a habit and about 14 days
to break a habit. Therefore, it is so important not to develop bad
habits because it takes twice as long to rid yourself of them.
To break a bad habit is NOT easy. In the above scripture, Israel had picked up a bad habit of worshipping pagan gods. To rid them of the habit, God instructed them to DESTROY all the pagan altars whenever they found them. God was very specific. He told them to BREAK, SMASH, BURN, CUT DOWN and do whatever else was necessary to rid themselves of the altars. Then God said, "Leave nothing to remind you of them!" In other words, God says, "Remove the temptation!"
That's our lesson for today. In order to acquire new pure habits, we certainly must make room for them. If anything is in our lives that might tempt us to hold on to a bad habit, let's destroy, break, smash, burn, cut it down and leave nothing to remind us of it. Bad habits deserve no mercy.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________To break a bad habit is NOT easy. In the above scripture, Israel had picked up a bad habit of worshipping pagan gods. To rid them of the habit, God instructed them to DESTROY all the pagan altars whenever they found them. God was very specific. He told them to BREAK, SMASH, BURN, CUT DOWN and do whatever else was necessary to rid themselves of the altars. Then God said, "Leave nothing to remind you of them!" In other words, God says, "Remove the temptation!"
That's our lesson for today. In order to acquire new pure habits, we certainly must make room for them. If anything is in our lives that might tempt us to hold on to a bad habit, let's destroy, break, smash, burn, cut it down and leave nothing to remind us of it. Bad habits deserve no mercy.
A Treasured Possession
For you are a people holy to the Lord your God; it is you the Lord has chosen out of all the peoples on earth to be his people, his treasured possession. (Deuteronomy 14:2)
For you are a people holy to the Lord your God; it is you the Lord has chosen out of all the peoples on earth to be his people, his treasured possession. (Deuteronomy 14:2)
"Treasure" is defined as wealth,
money, jewels, precious metals or something of great worth. Treasures
are cherished because they are valuable to the owner. We are God's
treasured possessions.
In the above verse, Moses tells the Israelites how God feels about them. He gives them three distinguishing privileges. In the Book of Romans, Paul tells us we have these same privileges.
ELECTION: "The Lord has chosen you." Out of all the peoples of the earth, God chose the Israelites to be His special people. God has also chosen YOU! (Romans 9:11)
ADOPTION: "You are the children of the Lord your God." We are children of God not because God need children but because we are orphans, and we need a Father. (Romans 8:15)
SANCTIFICATION: "You are a holy people." Those whom God has chosen and adopted, He set apart to do His work. (Romans 1:1)
Therefore, God considers us to be His treasured possession. How do we know? Because He elected us, adopted us and then He went on to sanctify us unto Himself. That's why we can say, "Our Father, which art in heaven . . ."
_____________________________________________________________________________________________In the above verse, Moses tells the Israelites how God feels about them. He gives them three distinguishing privileges. In the Book of Romans, Paul tells us we have these same privileges.
ELECTION: "The Lord has chosen you." Out of all the peoples of the earth, God chose the Israelites to be His special people. God has also chosen YOU! (Romans 9:11)
ADOPTION: "You are the children of the Lord your God." We are children of God not because God need children but because we are orphans, and we need a Father. (Romans 8:15)
SANCTIFICATION: "You are a holy people." Those whom God has chosen and adopted, He set apart to do His work. (Romans 1:1)
Therefore, God considers us to be His treasured possession. How do we know? Because He elected us, adopted us and then He went on to sanctify us unto Himself. That's why we can say, "Our Father, which art in heaven . . ."
Only If You Would Hear From God
Only if you would carefully hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all these commandments which I command you this day. (Deuteronomy 15:5)
Only if you would carefully hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all these commandments which I command you this day. (Deuteronomy 15:5)
God
is very clear about how to please Him. The Bible records verse after
verse about God's provisions, protection and power. In order to
experience the fullness of God, you must first hear from God. Then you
must be diligent to obey all (not some) of God's commandments.
Only
if you would hear from God, you would enjoy a deeper relationship with
Him. Only if you would hear from God, you would enjoy a better
relationship with others.
At the beginning of this new year, why not carefully hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God and then go on to do those things He tells you to do. Hearing from God is the beginning of a brand new relationship with Him in this brand new year. Discipline yourself to spend more quiet time doing nothing but sitting before the Lord to hear from Him.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________At the beginning of this new year, why not carefully hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God and then go on to do those things He tells you to do. Hearing from God is the beginning of a brand new relationship with Him in this brand new year. Discipline yourself to spend more quiet time doing nothing but sitting before the Lord to hear from Him.
God's Exchange Policy
You
shall surely give to him, and your heart should not be grieved when you
give to him, because for this thing the Lord your God will bless you in
all your works and in all to which you put your hand. (Deuteronomy
15:10)
When God created the heavens and earth, He said, "Let there be..." (Genesis 1:3) God could have used that same procedure throughout history, but now He commands our involvement. He wants us to participate to some degree in our own blessings. We are so willing to ask God for things, but since God is a covenant relational God, He wants to know what we you willing to give in exchange.
Throughout the Bible, there are examples of things given to God only for Him to replace them with something better or to multiply them back with a greater return. Adam and Eve gave God their fig leaves that covered only a few parts of their bodies. God exchanged them for complete garments of skin (Genesis 3:21). You gotta give up something to participate in God's Exchange Policy. ("gotta" is deliberately used for emphasis).
Abraham gave up his family and
country only to be rewarded with becoming the "Father of Many Nations."
(Genesis 17:4) Moses gave God his rod that he used to tend Jethro's
sheep, and God gave him the leadership role of delivering two millions
of his relatives out of slavery from Egypt. (Exodus 12:37) David gave
God his harp that he used to play music to the sheep, and God made him
king and gave him inspiration for 73 of the 150 psalms that still bring
music to our ears and hearts. You gotta give up something!
Jesus' first miracle involved giving God six barrels of plain water, and God miraculously changed the water into choice wine. (John 2) Jesus exchanged a little boy's lunch consisting of only five small barley loaves and two small fish for an all you can eat fish dinner that fed five thousand men besides women and children. And still there were twelve baskets of fragments left over. (John 6:1-15) You gotta give up something!
Even Jesus was willing to give up something . . . His own life. He offered Himself to God in exchange for our salvation. We are benefiting today because of God's Exchange Policy.
What are you willing to give up? What we give God can be described as molehills. What He gives us in return can be described as mountains! Remember, you gotta give up something for God's Exchange Policy to work!
Leadership Responsibilities
And when he has been crowned and sits upon his throne as king, then he must copy these laws from the book kept by the Levite priests. That copy of the laws shall be his constant companion. He must read from it every day of his life so that he will learn to respect the Lord his God by obeying all of his commands. (Deuteronomy 17:18-19)
And when he has been crowned and sits upon his throne as king, then he must copy these laws from the book kept by the Levite priests. That copy of the laws shall be his constant companion. He must read from it every day of his life so that he will learn to respect the Lord his God by obeying all of his commands. (Deuteronomy 17:18-19)
Leaders
are commanded to know the word of God. Those in authority are
ultimately responsible to God. The above scripture refers to the duties
of a king who was to (1) have a copy of God's word for his personal
use, (2) keep it with him at all times, (3) read from it every day, and
(4) obey it completely. Through this process he would learn respect for
God. This would keep him from feeling more important than others.
The only way leaders or anyone else can know what God wants is through His word. His word will not have any effect upon us unless we read it and meditate on it night and day. With the abundant availability of the Bible today, it is not difficult to gain access to the source of God's wisdom. Read and benefit from it even if you are not a leader. Read, study and meditate on God's word.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________The only way leaders or anyone else can know what God wants is through His word. His word will not have any effect upon us unless we read it and meditate on it night and day. With the abundant availability of the Bible today, it is not difficult to gain access to the source of God's wisdom. Read and benefit from it even if you are not a leader. Read, study and meditate on God's word.
From Panic to Praise
He shall say:
"Hear, O Israel, today you are going into battle against your enemies.
Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not be terrified or give way to
panic. (Deuteronomy 20:3)
Have you ever noticed that some people panic over every little thing? Or perhaps you are one of those persons yourself. It is normal and natural to panic over some things, but it is not normal and natural to panic over everything.
Panic is a sudden strong feeling of
anxiety or fear that prevents reasonable thought and action. Simply
put, a panicky situation is one you didn't plan for, and surely it
doesn't give you time to think rationally. Panic affects individuals,
groups of people, and animals.
Panic is the primal urge to run and hide in the face of imminent danger or disaster. The word "panic" is derived from the name of the Greek god Pan who is said to have been such an ugly baby that onlookers ran because of fear.
What measures should you take concerning panic? Prepare yourself in advance for what might happen. Know your enemy's strategies. Practice being calm in the midst of calamity. Check your perception. Are you blowing things out of proportion? Pray yourself out of terrifying situations. Praise God for desired results before they occur. And purpose in your heart not to panic!
What does the Bible say about panicking? The Bible says, "Do not be fainthearted or afraid, do not be terrified or give way to panic." (Deuteronomy 20:3) How, then, do you make that necessary quick shift? How do you go from panic to praise?
In the words of the psalmist, "Be still and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10)
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Divine Defense
For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory. (Deuteronomy 20:4)
For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory. (Deuteronomy 20:4)
Deuteronomy 20 is a manual on warfare for God's people. Various classes of Israelites were exempt from military service:
They were told, "When you go to war against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army greater than yours, do not be afraid of them because the Lord your God, who brought you up out of Egypt, will be with you" (Deuteronomy 20:1). This entire chapter gives instruction on how the Christian is to be victorious. We are NOT to fight our own battles. Just like the Israelites, we sometimes face overwhelming opposition. Whether at school, at work, or even at home, we can feel outnumbered, hopeless and helpless. God uplifted the Israelites' confidence by reminding them that he was always with them and that he had ALREADY saved them from the potential danger.
We, too, can feel secure when we consider that God is able to overcome even the most difficult odds. "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God" (Psalm 20:7).
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________- those who had just built a new house;
- those who had just planted a vineyard and had never tasted its fruit;
- those whose marriage had not been consummated; and
- those who were fearful and fainthearted.
They were told, "When you go to war against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army greater than yours, do not be afraid of them because the Lord your God, who brought you up out of Egypt, will be with you" (Deuteronomy 20:1). This entire chapter gives instruction on how the Christian is to be victorious. We are NOT to fight our own battles. Just like the Israelites, we sometimes face overwhelming opposition. Whether at school, at work, or even at home, we can feel outnumbered, hopeless and helpless. God uplifted the Israelites' confidence by reminding them that he was always with them and that he had ALREADY saved them from the potential danger.
We, too, can feel secure when we consider that God is able to overcome even the most difficult odds. "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God" (Psalm 20:7).
Learning From History
You shall then say before the Lord your God, "My ancestors were migrant Arameans who went to Egypt for refuge. They were few in number, but in Egypt they became a mighty nation." (Deuteronomy 26:5)
You shall then say before the Lord your God, "My ancestors were migrant Arameans who went to Egypt for refuge. They were few in number, but in Egypt they became a mighty nation." (Deuteronomy 26:5)
What is the purpose of history? What do we learn from history that can benefit our present and our future?
- Our personal history can teach us how God works. The above scripture helped the Israelites to remember what God had done for them.
- History demonstrates our need for a Savior. Isaiah wrote about a coming Messiah who would bring peace on earth.
- History teaches us about God's control over the world. God's plans for human history were outlined long before the events took place.
- History demonstrates the perfection of God's plan. We were weak and helpless because we could do nothing on our own to save ourselves. God sent Jesus as a Savior to control history.
February
is Black History Month. What does history teach us? To remember, to
recognize and to realize that God has and always will demonstrate His
perfect plan through everything and everybody.
____________________________________________________________________________What God
Expects
Obey the Lord your God and follow his commands and decrees that I give you today. (Deuteronomy 27:10)
Obey the Lord your God and follow his commands and decrees that I give you today. (Deuteronomy 27:10)
What God expects
from us can be summarized in two words: Belief and Obedience.
Believing
that Jesus is Lord and He was crucified and God raised Him from the dead is the
first step toward pleasing God. Believing is a confession from the
heart.
However, it is not enough to just believe. Your belief should
translate into action. First believe God, then obey the laws of God. Act out
your belief.
Abraham believed God and God credited it to him as
righteousness. (Genesis 15:6) God will do the same for us when we believe and
obey.
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Doing What Yields A Guaranteed Return
All these blessings will come down on you and spread out beyond you because you have responded to the voice of God, your God. (Deuteronomy 28:2 Msg)
All these blessings will come down on you and spread out beyond you because you have responded to the voice of God, your God. (Deuteronomy 28:2 Msg)
Most people associate April 15 with
their tax return. There is nothing wrong with that because the Bible
says, "Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's." (Matthew 22:21).
Some people will get a refund while others will have to render unto the
government that which belongs to the government. Filing a tax return is
what we all have to do in the natural realm even though we would rather
not. So much for filing tax returns.
There is something you can do in the spiritual realm that always yields a guaranteed return. Going to church every Sunday is a Christian duty, but it does not always guarantee a return even though Hebrews 10:25 says, "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together . . ." Being good to your neighbor is great, but it may or may not produce a guaranteed return. However, obeying the voice of God will yield a guaranteed return every time.
Let's thank God for what He has done, but let's praise God for who He is. Let's honor God with the sacrifice of our lips. While we don't honor God just to be blessed, we are guaranteed a favorable return when we honor God with our whole heart.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________ There is something you can do in the spiritual realm that always yields a guaranteed return. Going to church every Sunday is a Christian duty, but it does not always guarantee a return even though Hebrews 10:25 says, "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together . . ." Being good to your neighbor is great, but it may or may not produce a guaranteed return. However, obeying the voice of God will yield a guaranteed return every time.
Let's thank God for what He has done, but let's praise God for who He is. Let's honor God with the sacrifice of our lips. While we don't honor God just to be blessed, we are guaranteed a favorable return when we honor God with our whole heart.
A Heart Full of Love
You should love the Lord your God with all your heart. (Deuteronomy 30:6)
You should love the Lord your God with all your heart. (Deuteronomy 30:6)
As long as your heart is empty anything can get in: fear, bitterness, jealousy, hatred, anger, deceitfulness, lies and sin. On the other hand, if your whole heart is filled with love, pure love, there is no room for anything else.
Let your heart overflow with love for God and for one another so that there is absolutely no room in it for anything else.
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God's Abundance
And
the Lord thy God will make thee plenteous in every work of thine hand,
in the fruit of they body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the
fruit of thy land, for good: for the Lord will again rejoice over thee
for good, as he rejoiced over thy fathers. Deuteronomy 30:9God
has promised His people that He will make us plenteous in every area of
our lives. Abraham was rich. He had an abundance of everything; yet, he
was obedient and faithful to God. Abraham goes down in biblical history
as being the father of many nations.
David, the man after God's own heart was the recipient of God's abundance. The Psalms record how David poured his heart out to God in his distress; yet he was faithful to God.
Solomon was the wisest and richest man who ever lived. He asked God for wisdom, but God granted him not only wisdom, but riches as well. Unfortunately, Solomon's heart was turned from God because of his many wives and concubines.
God has promised that he will give us the desires of our heart. He wants to abundantly bless us. We need to remember, however, that abundance does not always mean money. Abundance might come in areas such as excellent health, good friends, wholesome relationships, peace of mind, harmony and order in your home, your workplace and your church.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________David, the man after God's own heart was the recipient of God's abundance. The Psalms record how David poured his heart out to God in his distress; yet he was faithful to God.
Solomon was the wisest and richest man who ever lived. He asked God for wisdom, but God granted him not only wisdom, but riches as well. Unfortunately, Solomon's heart was turned from God because of his many wives and concubines.
God has promised that he will give us the desires of our heart. He wants to abundantly bless us. We need to remember, however, that abundance does not always mean money. Abundance might come in areas such as excellent health, good friends, wholesome relationships, peace of mind, harmony and order in your home, your workplace and your church.
Within Your Reach
Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. (Deuteronomy 30:11)
Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. (Deuteronomy 30:11)
God
directs our lives and will never command us to do something impossible.
If you are faced with a task today, know that what you have been
commanded to do is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach when
you let God be in control.
Use the truths in the two key phrases in the above scripture to do with ease and confidence what God is calling you to do today . . . Not too difficult; Not beyond your reach!
_____________________________________________________________________________________________Use the truths in the two key phrases in the above scripture to do with ease and confidence what God is calling you to do today . . . Not too difficult; Not beyond your reach!
Tomorrow Today Will Be Yesterday
Now what I am commanding you today is
not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. (Deuteronomy
30:11)
One of
the worst mistakes we can make is to neglect today. Today holds so many golden
opportunities for us to make an impact on those in our immediate circle, our
community, our nation and our world.
Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham
Bell, and Benjamin Franklin seized every day to work on their inventions. They
were successful because they did not give up. They made every day count. They
knew they couldn't put off what they needed to do. They knew that the present
day would be history the next day.
We should consider today a present or
a gift from God. Our present of today will be the past tomorrow. We can say it
three ways with the same meaning: Tomorrow today will be yesterday! Today
tomorrow will be yesterday! Tomorrow yesterday is today!
Live for today.
Live well today. Give all you can to this day! Don't miss any opportunities
today. Today is ours; tomorrow might not be.
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Where Did Everybody Go?
Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you." (Deuteronomy 31:6)
Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you." (Deuteronomy 31:6)
Have you noticed like I have that we
can go through an entire day conducting business without making any
human contact? On our way to work we drop our clothes off at a drive
through cleaner without having a brief chat with the clerk. We then
drop off a prescription through the drive through window and promise to
pick it up that evening via the drive through window. We drive to work,
but we no longer get to speak to the toll collector because we have
Smart Tags, and we go through the toll booth without having to stop. At
work there is no doorman to open the door for us because we use badges
to get in. Once inside our offices, we communicate with people around
the world via teleconferences, fax machines, voice mail, e-mail,
instant messages, text messages and online chats.
We no longer have to go to the post office because we can get stamps online. We don't have to go to the optometrist to get new contacts lens because we log in our prescription online and the lenses are delivered in a couple of days. Remember the times we could go to a small book store and ask the clerk to recommend a book. That is no longer necessary. We can read several pages of an e-book and if we like those several pages, we order the book online. We can order everything we need without the help of a salesperson.
Do you remember having to sit in a classroom to take a course? Those days are over. Now you can get your degree online and never have to see a live professor. Once upon a time, people had to go directly to individual companies to pay their bills. Now some of us pay all our bills and do our banking online. (So much for the lollipops!)
We no longer have to go to the post office because we can get stamps online. We don't have to go to the optometrist to get new contacts lens because we log in our prescription online and the lenses are delivered in a couple of days. Remember the times we could go to a small book store and ask the clerk to recommend a book. That is no longer necessary. We can read several pages of an e-book and if we like those several pages, we order the book online. We can order everything we need without the help of a salesperson.
Do you remember having to sit in a classroom to take a course? Those days are over. Now you can get your degree online and never have to see a live professor. Once upon a time, people had to go directly to individual companies to pay their bills. Now some of us pay all our bills and do our banking online. (So much for the lollipops!)
At our local deli, we custom design
our own sandwiches on the computer. By the time we pour our own coffee,
the sandwich is waiting for us and we haven't made contact with a
waitress at all. We no longer get to chat with the pleasant person at
the checkout counter in the grocery store. Now we can go through the
self-service line, scan and pay for our groceries without having
contact with another human. Remember the good old days when as soon as
you pulled into the service station a mechanic met you to pump your
gas, change your oil and wash your windshields. Now you pump your own
gas and use a debit or credit car at the pump. If your windows need
washing, you have to do it yourself!
Finally, you get home expecting human contact from your family. Your wife is taking an online class and can't be bothered, your daughter is on the cell phone and your son is exercising with his online instructor. You pop a chicken pot pie in the microwave, set the timer and when it is ready, you eat dinner alone. You have spent the entire day without any human contact.
As you take the dog out for a walk, you try to talk to him, but dogs do what dogs do when you take them out for a walk. You wonder to yourself: "Where did everybody go?" Then you are comforted by knowing that God will keep His promise to never leave you nor forsake you.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________Finally, you get home expecting human contact from your family. Your wife is taking an online class and can't be bothered, your daughter is on the cell phone and your son is exercising with his online instructor. You pop a chicken pot pie in the microwave, set the timer and when it is ready, you eat dinner alone. You have spent the entire day without any human contact.
As you take the dog out for a walk, you try to talk to him, but dogs do what dogs do when you take them out for a walk. You wonder to yourself: "Where did everybody go?" Then you are comforted by knowing that God will keep His promise to never leave you nor forsake you.
God Never Leaves Us
And the Lord, He is the one who goes before you. He will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed." (Deuteronomy 31: 6, 8, Joshua 1:5).
And the Lord, He is the one who goes before you. He will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed." (Deuteronomy 31: 6, 8, Joshua 1:5).
Why
is it written so many times in the Bible that God will never leave us?
God wants us to know that He is in charge of EVERY situation. When we
are being blessed, we tend to believe God is with us more than when
tragedy happens or when we are going through a crisis. God NEVER leaves
us. We just think that He does. God NEVER forsakes us. We just think
that He does. NEVER means NEVER . . . NOT EVER!
It is not easy to believe God is still in control when we hear about floods, earthquakes, hurricanes and natural disasters. It is not easy to believe God is still in charge when loved ones are sick and death occurs. It is not easy to believe God is still with us when we encounter trouble on every side.
It may be hard to believe, but God does not leave us at those times. God is omnipresence and is always with us. If you are going through anything today that is causing you to doubt God's presence, know that "God Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'" (Hebrews 13:5)
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________It is not easy to believe God is still in control when we hear about floods, earthquakes, hurricanes and natural disasters. It is not easy to believe God is still in charge when loved ones are sick and death occurs. It is not easy to believe God is still with us when we encounter trouble on every side.
It may be hard to believe, but God does not leave us at those times. God is omnipresence and is always with us. If you are going through anything today that is causing you to doubt God's presence, know that "God Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'" (Hebrews 13:5)
Use Your Gifts Wisely
And this is the blessing, wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death. (Deuteronomy 33:1)
And this is the blessing, wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death. (Deuteronomy 33:1)
The
whole chapter of Deuteronomy 33 consists of the blessings of Moses on
the twelve tribes of Israel. To one tribe he gave the best land, to
another strength, to another safety. Notice the difference in the
blessings God gave each tribe. So it is with us. God has given each of
us special gifts to be used to fulfill His plan. We show our gratitude
for those gifts when we used them wisely. Too often we neglect to use
our gifts thinking they are not big enough, or they will not make a
difference toward the building up of God's kingdom here on earth. We
even envy people with special gifts and think God must love those
people more than He loves us.
Know that God has given ALL people unique talents. Everybody's talent is needed to complete God's plan. Don't be envious of the gifts of others. Instead, look for the gifts God has given you, and resolve to do the tasks he has uniquely qualified you to do. When you don't use your own gifts, we all lose because in essence you are doing three things: (1) rejecting GOD by rejecting His gift; (2) depriving GOD'S PEOPLE of what they should be benefiting from your gift; and (3) blocking YOUR OWN blessings.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Know that God has given ALL people unique talents. Everybody's talent is needed to complete God's plan. Don't be envious of the gifts of others. Instead, look for the gifts God has given you, and resolve to do the tasks he has uniquely qualified you to do. When you don't use your own gifts, we all lose because in essence you are doing three things: (1) rejecting GOD by rejecting His gift; (2) depriving GOD'S PEOPLE of what they should be benefiting from your gift; and (3) blocking YOUR OWN blessings.
Resting Between His Shoulders
Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between his shoulders. (Deuteronomy 33:12)
Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between his shoulders. (Deuteronomy 33:12)
Do you know that God loves you? If you know that He does, then you should know that according to the above scripture:
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________- you are resting secure in Him;
- He shields you all day long; and
- your are resting between God's shoulders and what a wonderful place to be.
Are You On Mount Nebo?
Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah, across from Jericho. There the Lord showed him the whole land. Then the Lord said to him, "This is the land I promised an oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when I said, 'I will give it to your descendants.' I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it." (Deuteronomy 34:1; 4)
Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah, across from Jericho. There the Lord showed him the whole land. Then the Lord said to him, "This is the land I promised an oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when I said, 'I will give it to your descendants.' I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it." (Deuteronomy 34:1; 4)
Moses
was Israel's greatest prophet. He was the only one who spoke to God
face to face. Yet, this great prophet was shown the promised land that
he longed to enter, but God said, "No." He was not allowed to enter the
promised land. What did Moses do to cause God to make that
decision?
When the Israelites needed water while traveling through the wilderness, God gave Moses a method. He was to speak to the rock and strike it with his staff in the sight of the Israelites. Instead, Moses raised his arm and struck the rock TWICE and said to the Israelites, "Listen, you rebels, must WE bring you water out of this rock?" Water gushed from the rock, and the people's thirst was quenched. But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them" (Numbers 20:6-12). Moses did not speak to the rock as instructed by God. He struck it twice; God said strike it once. Moses included himself in the miracle by saying, "We." Because Moses disobeyed God's direct command and dishonored Him in the presence of His people, Moses would see the promised land, but he could not enter it.
Are you on Mount Nebo looking at what you could have had if you had only obeyed God? Be prepared to enter the promised land by your obedience to God; otherwise, prepare to see your blessings from afar but never being able to possess them.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________When the Israelites needed water while traveling through the wilderness, God gave Moses a method. He was to speak to the rock and strike it with his staff in the sight of the Israelites. Instead, Moses raised his arm and struck the rock TWICE and said to the Israelites, "Listen, you rebels, must WE bring you water out of this rock?" Water gushed from the rock, and the people's thirst was quenched. But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them" (Numbers 20:6-12). Moses did not speak to the rock as instructed by God. He struck it twice; God said strike it once. Moses included himself in the miracle by saying, "We." Because Moses disobeyed God's direct command and dishonored Him in the presence of His people, Moses would see the promised land, but he could not enter it.
Are you on Mount Nebo looking at what you could have had if you had only obeyed God? Be prepared to enter the promised land by your obedience to God; otherwise, prepare to see your blessings from afar but never being able to possess them.
List of the Books of the Bible
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