I Corinthians 4

In Corinthians 4 Paul continues to address the arrogant attitude that had caused the church in Corinth to think that they were wise and powerful and great.  He reminded them already that they had been saved by "God's doing".. not by their own wisdom or will.   Paul urges the believers to imitate his own attitude and way of life "in union with the Messiah Yeshua". 

Paul asked the believers to consider him "Messiah's servant". ( v1)

He wanted to be found "trustworthy" as a "trustee of God's secret truths". ( v2)

He would be "evaluated" not by the church but by the Lord. (v4)

They would all be evaluated individually but the Lord who would "expose the motives of people's hearts; and then each receive from God whatever praise he deserves." (v5)

Paul compared himself and Apollos and other leaders to those reading his letter.  The people were boasting of their wealth, their power, their strength, and their honor.. while the apostles and evangelists were "spectacles" - hungry, thirsty, dressed in rags, dishonored, weak, exhausted, cursed, and persecuted. 

Paul is about to confront the church in Corinth about the sinfulness that they were allowing in the church. They were worldly and arrogant. Their focus needed to change. He loved them and wanted them to walk in Truth and to fix their eyes on Jesus!  We need that same message in the world today... 

Father in heaven, open our eyes to see and our ears to hear Your Word to the church.  May we be faithful and trustworthy servants of our Lord Jesus Christ.  May we walk in humility and love.  May we recognize that You alone are the Judge of our hearts and that our lives must first and foremost please You- in all we do, say, and think.  Grant us the attitude of Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us, humbling Himself to take on the "form of a slave" and enduring the cross.  Raise up the church in America, Lord, and may the word of God spread rapidly and be glorified in our land today.  We ask this in the name of the One who holds it all.. Jesus Christ. Amen. 

I Corinthians 3

In the first two chapters of this letter Paul reminded the Corinthians that they had come to faith in Jesus Christ by "God's doing"... not by human wisdom or strength. Without the Spirit of God they would not even begin to grasp the truth.  In these next two chapters Paul confronts a major problem in the church - their worldliness.  They weren't growing spiritually.  The evidence that made this clear to Paul was the "jealousy and quarreling" among them.  They had missed the most important truth as they argued over whether Paul or Apollos or anyone else was there leader...  The Lord alone brought them to trust in Him.  He alone brings each of us to faith in Christ Jesus.  The Lord alone brings spiritual life and growth. 

Paul teaches that there is only one foundation - "For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Yeshua the Messiah." ( v11)  Whatever else is added to this will be tested by fire, Paul says, and anything unworthy will be burned up.   Our works will only matter in the end if they are worthy of eternity, built on the firm foundation of Jesus Christ. 

Paul also reminds us here that we are "God's temple".  God's Spirit - God's Presence fills His temple.  It is a holy place, set apart for Him alone. To do anything that "destroys" God's temple will bring about God's judgment.  The Corinthians had not learned the importance of remaining holy - individually or as a church. They were arrogant and prideful and totally "foolish" in their thinking.  

How many of those who call themselves Christians today fall into this same sinful attitude ?   God alone defines holiness.  We cannot be holy unless He makes us holy through Jesus Christ who is LORD.  To be holy is to be set apart for God... offered to God as "living sacrifices"( Romans 12:1); being transformed by the renewing of our minds so that we can "know what God wants and will agree that what He wants is good, satisfying and able to succeed." 

Father in heaven, You alone are Holy and worthy of worship.  By Your amazing grace we are made new in Christ Jesus.  As Your servants, we surrender all to You.  We don't want to live worldly and unworthy lives, but to  be holy and obedient servants of our Lord.  Bring spiritual growth to us so that we may become mature, imitators of Jesus, to whom we belong.  Forgive us for arrogance and foolish  thinking and remove all the "wood, grass, or straw"  - the worthless things from our lives.  Build us up in the beauty and precious jewels  -the riches of Christ Jesus... riches of kindness, forbearance, patience, grace, wisdom, and knowledge -  that are in Him alone.  Let Your gracious will be done in each of us today we pray. Amen. 

I Corinthians 2

I Cor. 2 - 

Paul says that he preached only "Jesus Christ and Him crucified".  The CJB version says it this way, "for I had decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Yeshua the Messiah, and even him only as someone who had been executed on a stake as a criminal."

He did not preach wisdom, strength, or power.  He did not rely on elegant words and forceful arguments. Instead he relied on the "power of the Spirit"  so that their faith would be in God alone. 

 Paul says that no one can understand the things of God except through the Spirit of God. "Now we have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit of God, so that we might understand the things God has so freely given us." 

Paul says that his "manner of speaking" was taught by the Spirit.. "by which we explain things of the Spirit to people who have the Spirit. "  Without the Spirit of God "natural man.. does not receive the things from the Spirit of God.. Moreover he is unable to grasp them.. " 

If we cannot grasp God's truth except by His Spirit, then how can we be saved?  How can we receive the Spirit?  - Only through the gospel truth -   "Jesus Christ and Him crucified."   It is God's doing. (1:30)  He chose "what the world considers weak.. what the world looks down on as common or regards as nothing.. " (1:27-28)   Spiritual truths are divinely supernatural truths.  They cannot be understood by the human mind.  "But we have the mind of the Messiah!"  Oh, what amazing grace!  Look what our God has done! What "no eye has seen, no ear has heard and no one's heart has imagined... "  God gave to us through His Spirit. 

Father in heaven, once again we give You all honor and praise and thanksgiving, for You are God of heaven and earth and there is no other.  You have created all things and we have nothing that You have not provided, including Your Spirit, so that we might understand the spiritual truths that You have revealed to those who would believe in Jesus Christ who was crucified.  Help us to listen, to take heed of Your Spirit , to truly understand the power of the Gospel, and to obey Your Word always.  For it is in the name of our Lord Christ Jesus that we pray. Amen. 

I Corinthians 1"""

I Corinthians 1  Paul addressed this letter to the church at Corinth and to "... everyone everywhere who calls on the name of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, their Lord as well as ours."  ( v 2; CJB)  

To us!

He begins right off addressing the issue of divisions in the church.  His admonition is that they be "restored to having a common mind and a common purpose".   The Messiah, Paul reminds them, has not been "split in pieces"!  What really matters the most to all of the church is the gospel - the message of the cross. This is what unites all believers and this is our singular purpose - the Good News of Jesus!

The message of the "execution-stake" as the Complete Jewish Bible calls it, "is nonsense to those in the process of being destroyed, but to us in the process of being saved it is the power of God."  God has chosen to make the wisdom of the world "look pretty foolish".  The world cannot come to know Him by "using its own wisdom", Paul writes. "Therefore God decided to use the 'nonsense' of what we proclaim as his means of saving those who come to trust in it." 

"But God chose what the world considers nonsense in order to shame the wise;"

"God chose what the world considers weak in order to shame the strong;"

"..and God chose what the world looks down on as common or regards as nothing in order to bring to nothing what the world considers important."

"... so that no one should boast before God." 

" It is His doing that you are united with the Messiah Yeshua. He has become wisdom for us from God and righteousness and holiness and redemption as well!"  

"Let anyone who wants to boast, boast about Adonai"

We come to God our Lord, our Adonai, by grace - it is His doing!  We come to Him by faith, trusting in the message of the cross - that Jesus Christ, "God's power and God's wisdom" died to pay our ransom. 

The wisdom of people cannot grasp this truth. It is foolishness to the world, but "God's 'nonsense' is wiser than humanity's 'wisdom'".   No man can grasp salvation through intelligence, strength, or power. 

There is only one way to be saved and that is through faith in Jesus Christ!

Father in heaven, we boast of Your grace and of Your glory and of Your wisdom and power.  You alone are worthy of all praise!  Thank You for uniting us with Jesus Christ the Messiah.  He is our all in all!

In Christ we find all wisdom, righteousness, holiness, and salvation.  We fix our eyes on Jesus only!

Keep us, Your church, focused on our common purpose with a common mind - the good news of the cross of Jesus Christ our Lord. It is in His name we pray, amen. 

Deuteronomy 31-34

Moses turned 120 years old.  He died "with eyes undimmed and vigor undiminished" on Mount Nebo. These last 4 chapters ( Deuteronomy 31-34)  contain a song, a blessing, and a eulogy.  Before Moses died, he knew that Israel would not remain faithful to Adonai their God.  He knew that the land they were going to possess would eventually be left behind as they were exiled.  He had done all he could and there was nothing else that he could do.  He fulfilled the role that God had called him to do and died in the Presence of the One he loved so much. 

We all will leave a legacy behind.  The kind of life we live will affect the next generations.. for good or for evil. It must have been heartbreaking for Moses to hear that the people he had led for those 40 years would not remain faithful to Adonai.  They didn't know Him like Moses did - face to face.  Tozer wrote this, "We can never know who or what we are till we know at least something of what God is. "  It is vital that we seek to know Him.. to know that we are totally dependent on Him , that without God there is no creation - including mankind. May we leave a legacy of faithfulness and love for God, walking in the Truth of His Word. 

I pray that we will not fall away as Israel did.  They were God's chosen people and they threw it all away for dust.. for nothing.  Our world is filled with people who are choosing Self instead of God. Sin has become so common that it is considered "natural".  We need a new awakening so that God is made known as He truly is.. "See now that I, yes I, am He; and there is no god beside me.  I put to death, and I make alive; I wound and I heal; no one saves anyone from my hand."  ( Deuteronomy 32:39)

Father in heaven,  You alone are God and there is none like You. Open our eyes, circumcise our hearts, and increase our knowledge of who You are.  Fill our hearts with a hunger and thirst for Yourself. Lift our thoughts above the emptiness  of the things of this world, to see Your glory!  Help us to know You so that we can know who we are.. Your creation.. Your servants.. Your children.   May we be able to declare with great joy- "I am Yours and You are mine."  Amen and amen!

Deuteronomy 29-30

The generation of Israelites that were adults as they fled from Egypt had made a covenant with God at Sinai, but then failed to keep that covenant when they rebelled, refusing to trust Him and enter the Land of Promise.  Forty years later, they were all gone except for Caleb and Joshua.  Moses leads the surviving generation to enter their own covenant with Adonai in the land of Moab.  He has reminded them of the laws and instructions that God commanded them to obey and the promises of blessing if they continued to keep His commands.  He also reminded them of the curses and consequences for turning away from God. 

Over and over Moses emphasized that the people needed to "choose life".. chose to love the Lord their God, choose to pay attention to the Words of God, and chose to obey...  "for this is the purpose of your life"!   (Deuteronomy 30:20)

God is the One who gives understanding, who circumcises hearts, who  gives purpose for living.. if we pay attention to what He says and cling to Him with ALL our hearts and all our being!   Like Israel we have been given the Word of God.. freely.. so that we can live.  We need to keep our side of the new covenant that was provided to us through Jesus Christ our Lord. We are His people and He is our God!  (see Hebrews 8:10)

Father in heaven,  help us.. open our eyes and circumcise our hearts so that we will live fully committed and obedient to Your Word. May we cling to You and love You and know You more and more.   Fulfill Your purposes for us by the power of Your Spirit we pray. In Jesus' name, amen. 

Deuteronomy 26-28

 Deuteronomy 26-28

These three chapters  instruct Israel about the blessings that were theirs if they would listen, observe, and do the things that Adonai commanded them and the curses that would come upon them if they didn't  listen and obey His Words.  It was all spelled out for them.. the blessings were beyond their greatest wishes.. the curses where beyond their worse fears. 

This is still the truth of God's ways towards mankind.  If we choose His ways in obedience and love, our Lord will provide for us abundantly more than we can ask or imagine.  But, if we refuse, the result is our own destruction.  It is our choice. 

If we belong to our Lord fully, we will listen to His voice and obey His commands.  He promises to bless us - wherever we are, in all that we do, whenever He chooses.  But, if we go our own ways and refuse to listen to His voice and obey His Word, then the curse will cover every area of our lives also... wherever we are, whatever we are doing, and whenever He chooses. 

Deut. 28:63 tells us that Adonai took joy in doing good for Israel when they obeyed His commands, but that He would take joy in causing them to perish and be scattered for their disobedience.. " Adonai will give you there anguish of heart, dimness of eyes and apathy of spirit." (v 65). 

As believers in Jesus Christ, we have been blessed "with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ". ( Ephesians 1:3).  Our Father has "lavished upon us"  His grace. He has made known to us "the mystery of His will".  He has given us an eternal inheritance.  He has given us "wisdom and insight".  He takes joy in blessing us with hope and peace and unending love.  We, in turn, worship Him, listen to His voice, and follow Him with all our hearts. 

But, for those who refuse to believe, to listen, and to obey the Word of God.. their end is destruction.  The Word of God warns us clearly.. over and over again that the deeds "of the flesh".. those things that are against the Word of God.. must be "put to death".. "crucified"  - deliberately and thoroughly dealt with in surrender and repentance in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 5:24) 

Father in heaven,  holy and sovereign God, we hallow Your Name.  You alone are God and there is no other.  Father, I pray that You will open our eyes to Your Truth.  Remove the veil from our eyes and the apathy in our spirits.  Bring a new, fresh awareness of Your Presence and power made available to us through Jesus Christ our Lord, that we might put aside.. crucify every fleshly desire and choose Life in love and obedience to our Lord Jesus Christ.  Do a new work in us.. in Your church... and in our land, we pray in Jesus' name. amen. 

Deuteronomy 22-25

Deuteronomy 22-25 -  These chapters are full of various laws that are strict and sometimes uncomfortable for us.  Yet, the bottom line is that God's desire for His people is that they are holy and that they love one another perfectly:

Loving your neighbor includes returning anything that he has lost and not ignoring it. 

It would include helping when you find something that belongs to your neighbor hurt or in need. 

It would include treating a wife.. or any woman with respect and kindness. 

It would include fairness in business and kindness to the poor. 

People of God who want to live holy lives should act in loving ways towards each other, respecting their marriages and the marriages of others.  They should keep their vows.  They should keep their homes free of things that are indecent or unholy in the Lord's eyes.  And they should take responsibilities seriously, pleasing the Lord in all they do by obedience to His Word. 

Most of all, Israel was reminded time and time again that the Lord had redeemed them from slavery in Egypt.. so they should treat others in the same way that they were treated.  Jesus taught,  "For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure it will be measured to you." ( Matt. 7:2) We have been forgiven much.. .we are called to forgive others.. even 70 times 7 times. 

Even though some of these laws are difficult.. we can see them summed up in what Jesus said, " You shall love the Lord Your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind...You shall love your neighbor as yourself."  These are the greatest and foremost commandments according to Jesus.  As people of God, believers in Christ, it is our love that should shine through all we do - love for God and love for others.  ( Matthew 22:37-39)

Father in heaven, You are holy and righteous in all Your Ways. We fall far short of Your standards. Thank You for salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord. Fill us with Your love so that we might live out that love towards others and that in obedience to Your Word we will love You with all of our hearts. Sanctify us that we might be Your holy people filled with Your love.  We desire to worship You alone and pray that You will be glorified in our lives and in Your church. Amen. 

Deuteronomy 19-21

Deuteronomy 19-21  These instructions are given to Israel to guide them in the new land that God was giving them.  Chapter 19 deals with handling accidental deaths and intentional murder.  God gave them a way to handle both cases. An accidental death was to be handled differently than an angry pre-meditated murder.   It is written very clearly here, that a murderer would not receive pity but be put to death. That is God's view of justice.  ".. you must put an end to the shedding of innocent blood in Israel."  

Another important instruction in chapter 19.. "One witness alone will not be sufficient to convict a person of any offense or sin of any kind; the matter will be established only if there are two or three witnesses testifying against him."  A false witness was to be dealt with severely - " you are to do to him what he intended to do to his brother."  

Chapter 20 gives instructions for war.  Chapter 21 deals with how to handle unsolved murders, marriage to a woman captured from the enemy, and inheritance rights for the firstborn son, even if he is the child of an unloved wife.  Verses 18-21 give the law for a rebellious unrepentant son, commanding that he be stoned to death.  

Verses 22-23 are significant - ".. a person who has been hanged has been cursed by God - so that you will not defile your land which Adonai your God is giving you to inherit."   

Paul quoted this passage in Galatians 3;13 "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us -for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree' - in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." 

It is significant that Jesus died on a cross. 

 Justice is sometimes harsh. It is final. We take it far too lightly. It belongs to God...   "For Adonai your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, mighty and awesome God, who has no favorites and accepts no bribes. He secures justice for the orphan and the widow; he loves the foreigner, giving him food and clothing.. You are to fear Adonai your God, serve him, cling to him and swear by his name. " (10:17-20)  

Justice demands death - the penalty for sin... murder, rebellion, false testimony.. whatever the offense -

 "...all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" ( Romans 3:23)  and "the wages of sin is death.. " ( 6:23).  There is nothing that we can do; God will not show favoritism or partiality.  He will not ignore our sins, no matter who we are.. We are all guilty and we are all are under that curse - unless we come to Jesus Christ and receive the forgiveness that He provides for us.. the "free gift of God" for He became "a curse for us" by hanging on a tree. 

Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name, God of gods and Lord of lords.. You are great and mighty and awesome in all Your ways.  Thank You Jesus for taking our place, for becoming a curse for us that we might become righteous by Your abundant gift of grace.  Oh how we praise You and worship You. You went to the cross and paid the ransom for our souls.  You rose again from the grave, conquering death forever more!  It is finished!  Praise God!   We cling to You and we serve You alone.  Adonai, my Lord, there is none like You.  All glory and honor and praise to You forever and ever. Amen. 

Deuteronomy 18

Deuteronomy 18 - There are three distinct topics in this chapter:

First, a reminder that the Priests and Levites belonged to Adonai - and He was their inheritance. They would get their support from the sacrifices and first fruit offerings presented to the Lord by all the other tribes.  "For Adonai your God has chosen him from all your tribes to stand and serve in the name of Adonai, him and his sons forever." 

Second, a reminder and warning about the "abominable practices" of the nations that God was removing from the land that He was giving to Israel.  Included in these things that God considers
"detestable" are "anyone who makes his son or daughter pass through fire, a diviner, a soothsayer, an enchanter, a sorcerer, a spell caster, a consulter of ghosts or spirits, or a necromancer."  All of these things are still detestable to God.  Our society wants to say that these are entertaining - too many movies and tv shows promote what God calls "abominable"!  We, as believers, need to be discerning about such things.
"You must be wholehearted with Adonai your God!"  He will not allow such practices among His people.

Thirdly,  we are given a wonderful promise in verses 15-19 , "Adonai will raise up for you a prophet like me from among yourselves, from your own kinsmen. You are to pay attention to him... I will raise up from them a prophet like you... I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I order him. Whoever doesn't listen to my words, which he will speak in my name, will have to account for himself to Me."   Peter quoted this passage in his second sermon after Pentecost, showing us that Jesus is the One who completely fulfilled this promise. ( Acts 3: 22-26)

Father in heaven, help us to be wholehearted with You, every day and in every way.. listening to Your Word and doing what You say.  Grant to us the wisdom that come from above, which is pure, peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering and without hypocrisy. Fill us with Your Spirit and sanctify us through and through!  We thank You for the salvation that is through Jesus Christ the Lord, and it is in His name that we come. amen.

Deuteronomy 17

The last few verses of chapter 16 and most of chapter 17 address the issue of justice.  "Justice, only justice you must pursue; so that you will live and inherit the land Adonai your God is giving you." (16:20)  Don't distort justice, don't show favoritism, don't take bribes... judge with "righteous judgement." 

We like the sound of that.  But, some might not like the instructions in chapter 17...
"If there is found among you... a man or woman who does what Adonai your God sees as wicked.. investigate the matter diligently.  If it is true... stone the man or woman to death.... Thus you will put an end to this wickedness among you." ( v2-7)

"Anyone presumptuous enough not to pay attention to the [priest] appointed there to serve Adonai your God or to the judge - that person must die.  Thus you will exterminate such wickedness from Israel - all the people will hear about it and be afraid to continue acting presumptuously." (v12-13)

Law and order are God's idea.  He knows the hearts of men and women and He hates sin.  He desires justice for all... even more than we do.  He desires all of us to do justice - righteously - but according to His standards, which are holy and perfect.  If God judged us all by His standards right now - there would be none of us who could stand. Thankfully " He has not dealt with us according to our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities."  But instead, " As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us." ( Psalm 103: 10,12)

Jesus provided the payment for our sins.  Justice was done.  God's mercy and love accomplished that for all who will call upon Him and fear Him.  To those who refuse His gift of forgiveness.. well, they will stand before the judgement throne and take the penalty for every sin they have committed - themselves. There will be justice. And it will be final.. eternal... hell.

Our Father in heaven,  our world is screaming for justice.. but they don't know what they are asking for.  What we need to be asking for is mercy!  Forgive us our sins.  Help us to truly forgive one another. May we "go and sin no more"!  May we honor You and seek Your Truth, walk in Your ways, and do everything for Your glory!  We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Deuteronomy 16

Deuteronomy 16  This chapter reviews the three major feasts that the Israelites were to observe "in the place where Adonai your God will choose to have his name live".   We know that He chose Jerusalem to be that place.  The holy city is dear to our Lord's heart. It was the place where David settled down.  It was the place where the temple was constructed.  And it was the place where Jesus was condemned to die. One day... Jerusalem will be made new.. and it will be more glorious than we can imagine. It will be a place where we will remember and rejoice with our God and King!

These two words stand out in this chapter:  remember and rejoice

".. remember the day you left the land of Egypt as long as you live..." ( v3)  They were to remember it by sacrificing the passover lambs.. They were to remember it by removing yeast from their homes. They were to remember it by leaving work undone and by having "a festive assembly"

Yesterday we had communion at our church.  We were reminded of the words of Paul from
 I Corinthian's "This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance.. This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this as often as you drink [the cup] in remembrance of Me..."  

We remember, not an escape from slavery in Egypt, but the rescue that Jesus has provided from the slavery of sin, darkness, and death. Remembering is important and we need to be deliberate in our taking of communion, to really remember how Jesus died for us.. "remember the day.. "  Remember, so that our love does not grow cold, that we do not lose our "first love". Remember the price that was paid for our deliverance.

And then we can truly REJOICE!   Israel was commanded to rejoice in the first fruits of their harvests.  "Adonai your God will bless you in all your crops and in all your work, so you are to be full of joy!" (v15)  The whole family, as well as the slaves, the foreigners, the widows and orphans were to rejoice together during these festivals ( the feast of weeks and the feast of booths).  But, there was an important responsibility as they gathered to rejoice together:
"They are not to show up before Adonai empty-handed, but every man is to give what he can, in accordance with the blessing Adonai your God has given you." 

Father in heaven, we rejoice in this great salvation that You have provided through Jesus Christ the True Passover Lamb.  We remember.  Help us to keep our hearts and minds from forgetting or taking for granted what Jesus did for us. May our love grow deeper and our steadfastness in Christ be firmly established.  We remember and we rejoice .. in the Name of our Lord Jesus, who is the radiance of Your glory, the heir of all things, the One who sits at the right hand of the Majesty on High. Amen.

Deuteronomy 14-15

Deuteronomy 14 reminds the people of Israel that they are a "holy people".. a "unique treasure out of all the peoples on the face of the earth."  Because of their unique position as God's people, everything about them was meant to set them apart.. dedicated and consecrated to Him.  This included what they could eat and not eat.  These restrictions were given  "so that [they would] learn to fear Adonai [their] God always."  A choice to obey even these dietary laws would show that they honored God in everything!
 Paul wrote this: " Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." ( I Corinthian's 10:31 He was dealing with a disagreement between those who thought it alright to eat certain foods and those who didn't.  The bottom line for Israel in the Old Testament and the New Testament church is the same -  our choices, even in the small things - should honor our God. 

Chapter 15 is a reminder about the 7th year. the Sabbath year, but the focus is more on the fact that debts were removed and slaves were freed at that time.   God would bless those that gave up what was owed to them.  He would provide abundantly for those who did not harden their hearts against the needy brothers or the poor in the land.  "Rather, you must give to him; and you are not to be grudging when you given to him.  ( v10)

Again, we can see the principle reflected in the New Testament,  in  II Corinthians 9:6-11 Paul writes, " Now this I say, he who sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly; and he who sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully. Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.... Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food, will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving  to God." 

Father in heaven, may our lives reflect Your love and grace in all that we do and say. Help us by Your Holy Spirit to bring glory and honor to Your Name in every one of our life choices, from what we eat and drink, to how we give and in every other way!  Because of Your great mercy to us, we present ourselves, our whole beings,  as living and holy sacrifices.. as acts of worship to God, our Father and to our Savior Jesus Christ. With praise and thanksgiving we pray in the Name of Jesus, who is our Redeemer.  Amen.

Deuteronomy 12-13

Moses begins to expound on the commands that Israel needed to observe and obey as they prepared to enter their new homeland.  Chapter 12 describes the need to worship and offer sacrifices and offerings to Adonai in only the one place that He would choose.   The temptation would be to use the places that the nations had used to worship their idols.  Adonai commanded that every place of idolatry had to be exterminated.

Chapter 13 focuses on the vital need to stand firm against idolatry - whether a false prophet, a loved one, or a whole city turned to a false god - Israel was commanded to take action and destroy completely anyone who would try to entice them into idolatry.

Think of the severity of this statement:
Verse 6-9 "If your brother the son of your mother, or your son, or your daughter, or your wife whom you love, or your friend who means as much to you as yourself, secretly tries to entice you to go and serve other gods, ... you are not to consent, and you are not to listen to him; and you must not pity him or spare him; and you many not conceal him. Rather, you must kill him!" 

 Compare this to Luke 14:26, Jesus said,   " If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life; he cannot be My disciple." 

Deut. 13:3 says that the temptation, the enticement to turn to idolatry is a test - "For Adonai your God is testing you, in order to find out whether you really do love Adonai your God with all your heart and being.  You are to follow Adonai your God, fear him, obey his [commandments], listen to what he says, serve Him and cling to Him."   Jesus, in Luke 14 is saying the same thing - "Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple."  Our God demands our full surrender.. "So therefore, no one of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his possessions."

Count the cost, Jesus tells us.  Choose life. But, know that it means complete surrender of everything else.  Also know that He is worth it all.  He can be trusted with all we give to Him.. all that we love.. including our families.

Father, You are holy and righteous and good. We bow before You and will have no other gods before us. We choose to follow Jesus, to lay down our lives and to take up our crosses and follow You.  May we stand in Your strength, walk in Your Spirit and be faithful servants of our glorious Lord. Amen.

Deuteronomy 11

The central point of this chapter is found in verses 26-28, "See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse- the blessing, if you listen to the[ commandments] of Adonai your God that I am giving you today; and the curse , if you don't listen to the [commandments] of Adonai your God, but turn aside from the way I am ordering you today and follow other gods that you have not known." 

The blessing of God - "rain in the right seasons".  Every provision necessary so that they could feed their families.  Fields and livestock, wheat, wine and olive oil.. daily bread. Life.
The curse - God's anger would "shut up the sky".  No rain - no crops - no hope. Death.

They had a choice, as we do too.  God calls us to make a choice.. and He wants us to "Choose Life". 
We choose to obey His Word. 
We choose to believe His promises. 
We choose to live in faith, trusting in the One who is our Creator, Provider, and Master. 

We are observing a world in turmoil these days.  It is disheartening.  It is filled with violence, anger, and hatred.  But, we choose to "Trust and Obey"..  for there is NO other way!

Father in heaven, we choose You. We choose to honor You and love You with all our beings.. to  cling to You and follow Your ways.  You are great and greatly to be praised.  May Your Name be hallowed, Your Kingdom come, and Your will be done.. on earth as it is in heaven.  We need You now, Lord God. Come and heal our land. Turn hearts back to You. May our nation choose You.
Thank You that all things are possible for You! We have no other salvation, but that which You have ordained through Jesus Christ our Lord.  It is in His name that we pray. Amen.

Deuteronomy 9 -10

In chapter 9 Moses reminds Israel that the Lord is the One giving them the new land.. NOT because they are righteous and have earned it.. but because the "nations have been so wicked that Adonai is driving them out ahead of you."  Then, he reviews all the times Israel rebelled against the Lord and would have been destroyed themselves, except for the prayers of Moses who interceded for them, and God's great mercy.

Moses prayed for the people who had heard the voice of God from the mountain.. entered into a covenant agreement with Him.. and then turned around and demanded an idol of metal while Moses was still on the mountain!  The anger of God would have wiped out the entire nation and started over with Moses.. but Moses, angry himself, spent 40 days pleading with God on their behalf.

In chapter 10 Moses addresses the people who would finally be entering the Promised Land -

"So now, Israel, all that Adonai your God asks from you is to fear Adonai your God, follow all his ways, love Him and serve Adonai your God with all your heart and all your being; to obey, for your own good, the [law] and regulations of Adonai which I give you today." v12-14

v20 "You are to fear Adonai your God, serve Him, cling to Him and swear by His name. He is your praise, and He is your God, who has done for you these great and awesome things, which you have seen with your own eyes." 

We are given these Words so that we might also have a covenant relationship with Adonai, our God, "God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, mighty and awesome God, who has no favorites and accepts no bribes. He secures justice for the orphan and the widow; he love the foreigner, giving him food and clothing." (v17-18)

 The instructions that Moses gave to Israel are valid for us today as followers of Christ Jesus.

Father in Heaven, God of gods and Lord of lords, great and mighty and awesome.. You are our praise.  You have done great and awesome things for us.. delivering us from the dominion of darkness and bringing us into the Kingdom of Christ Jesus, Your Son and  our Lord.  We fear You, in reverence and awe. We cling to You and serve You alone.  We will not bow to any false idol, for You alone are God. We love You and will follow Your ways, by the power of Your Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Father, we pray for those who are in rebellion against You, even now.. for those who make us angry, those who are filled with anger, and especially for those who are suffering. Let Your Kingdom come!
 In humility and with much thanksgiving we pray, in Jesus' name. Amen.

Deuteronomy 8

Moses explains to the people that everything they experienced in the wilderness was used by the Lord to discipline them "just as a man disciplines his child."   And it was "to do you good in the end."(v16)

V3 "He humbled you, allowing you to become hungry, and then fed you with manna... to make you understand that a person does not live on food alone but on everything that comes from the mouth of Adonai." 

Adonai  their God - was bringing them into a land with abundant resources.  He had brought them through a "vast and fearsome desert, with poisonous snakes, scorpions, and waterless, thirsty ground.."  He provided water out of the rock and food out of the heavens.  It was His power that had taken them out of Egypt and that would bring them into the new land.

They just had to remember! Remember and obey. 

Again, I am reminded of the Lord's prayer - "Give us this day our daily bread."  When we pray this way we ask for what we need, acknowledging that we are fed by His Hand.  It is a humbling request.  We, like Israel, want to take credit - "you will think to yourself, 'My own power and the strength of my own hand have gotten me the power to get wealth'."   No, we have nothing that has not been given to us from the Hand of our God.  He will allow us to become hungry or thirsty.. or in need... or ill.. or whatever He chooses - to discipline us.. so that we also might understand that we only live on what "comes from the mouth of Adonai." 

Father, glorious in power, wisdom, and majesty, You are the Giver of Life.. You are God alone and there is no other.  We come before You with humble hearts to recognize and acknowledge that You alone are our Provider, our Creator, our Protector, and our Master.  We are totally dependent on You - for every piece of bread, for every breath, and for every heartbeat.  We do ask for daily bread, for forgiveness, for deliverance.. for mercy and for grace.  We do not want to forget.  Help us to remember and obey.. Every day and in every way, so that You will be glorified and honored in our lives.  In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.