066 Deuteronomy 8 – 10; Romans 13
Does God mean what He says? A lady one time shared with me that the warnings in the Bible were like those of a father who has had it with his children and says, "I'm going to skin you alive if you do that again." The father is not going to do that and the children know that to be the case, but it is said to get their attention and to show that the father means business. Moses is preaching to the new generation and lets them know that God means business. "If you forget, forget God, your God, and start taking up with other gods, serving and worshiping them, I'm on record right now as giving you fair warning that will be the end of you; I mean it--destruction." Did God really mean this or was the Lord just trying to get their attention? What father, good father, doesn't discipline his children? The Lord has to discipline his children as well.
For forty years the Israelites wandered in the wilderness because they disobeyed God. The Lord meant what He said. Don't forget the Lord or the same will happen to you. The reason they could forget Yahweh once they got into the land is they could actually believe that the reason they got into the land was because of their own strength. Moses exhorts them to remember it is God who gives them the strength to do those things. The book of Deuteronomy is about not forgetting who and what the Lord has done. It is a review. Don't forget the Lord.
Have you forgotten the Lord? Maybe in 70% of your life Yahweh is remembered but what about that 30%? Give yourself to Him and all your physical, mental, and spiritual stuff. Don't forget the Lord.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Friday, March 6, 2009
065 Friday, March 6, 2009
065 Deuteronomy 5 – 7; Romans 12
God is God and that is that. How confused we all can become in this world when we begin to even contemplate that somehow we rate as even a little god. Moses is speaking for Yahweh and declares, "I am God, your God.." and then says " No other gods only me." that's who brought you out of slavery. God has bent over backwards to redeem these people and to reveal His love. God is a jealous God. The commandments are then shared again with God's people. It is imperative that God's people act like God's people.
Here is the forecast for your life and mine. If we set God apart as Holy and as the most high and then give the honor, respect, and the love that only Yahweh deserves then our lives will go well no matter what the circumstances may try to dictate. My fear is that sometimes I take the Lord for granted. I am looking around this world too much instead of keeping my head up.
If God is who He says He is then what should our response be? It is Romans 12:1 that is the proper response. Paul basically says, "surrender" no I mean "surrender it all." Take your everyday life and let God have it. The good, the bad, and the ugly just give it to Him. Remember the fruit of the Spirit? Well, I believe that your life will begin to resemble that fruit market. You know, the one where it is “holyganic”, it is free by the cross, and is not mixed with any preservatives, supplements, or additives. This fruit is pure.
It is your choice. It is my choice. By the mercies of God I beseech you to give yourself to the Lord, today.
God is God and that is that. How confused we all can become in this world when we begin to even contemplate that somehow we rate as even a little god. Moses is speaking for Yahweh and declares, "I am God, your God.." and then says " No other gods only me." that's who brought you out of slavery. God has bent over backwards to redeem these people and to reveal His love. God is a jealous God. The commandments are then shared again with God's people. It is imperative that God's people act like God's people.
Here is the forecast for your life and mine. If we set God apart as Holy and as the most high and then give the honor, respect, and the love that only Yahweh deserves then our lives will go well no matter what the circumstances may try to dictate. My fear is that sometimes I take the Lord for granted. I am looking around this world too much instead of keeping my head up.
If God is who He says He is then what should our response be? It is Romans 12:1 that is the proper response. Paul basically says, "surrender" no I mean "surrender it all." Take your everyday life and let God have it. The good, the bad, and the ugly just give it to Him. Remember the fruit of the Spirit? Well, I believe that your life will begin to resemble that fruit market. You know, the one where it is “holyganic”, it is free by the cross, and is not mixed with any preservatives, supplements, or additives. This fruit is pure.
It is your choice. It is my choice. By the mercies of God I beseech you to give yourself to the Lord, today.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
064 Thursday, March 5, 2009
064 Deuteronomy 3 – 4; Romans 11
If you take these pills three times a day you will live. People that have a heart attack are usually prescribed some kind of medication. However, ninety percent of those people stop taking their medication. Nine out of ten go back to their old diet. In other words, people don't change that easily.
God is speaking to Israel and says, "Now listen, Israel, listen carefully to the rules and the regulations that I am teaching you to follow so that you may live and enter and take possession of the land that God, the God-of-Your-Fathers, is giving to you." Does obedience have anything to do with us enjoying the blessings of God? Does cooperating with God's plan go well with our soul? Do we need a shepherd to guide us and keep us on track? Yes, yes, and yes are the answers that are correct. To work against God is to work against yourself and God's dreams for you. God has a wonderful plan for your life and it works best when we work it. Trust and obey for there is no other way.
Romans 11 reveals that God has taken the blessing off of Israel because they would not trust and obey. God loved them but disobedience must be met with consequences. It is a shame that they could not get it. They slammed the door on God. The warning to us is not to do the same. If we chose to slam the door on God then we would be met with consequences that would not be pleasant. We would be wise to do our best in and through Christ to trust and obey God our Father. Are you? Will you?
If you take these pills three times a day you will live. People that have a heart attack are usually prescribed some kind of medication. However, ninety percent of those people stop taking their medication. Nine out of ten go back to their old diet. In other words, people don't change that easily.
God is speaking to Israel and says, "Now listen, Israel, listen carefully to the rules and the regulations that I am teaching you to follow so that you may live and enter and take possession of the land that God, the God-of-Your-Fathers, is giving to you." Does obedience have anything to do with us enjoying the blessings of God? Does cooperating with God's plan go well with our soul? Do we need a shepherd to guide us and keep us on track? Yes, yes, and yes are the answers that are correct. To work against God is to work against yourself and God's dreams for you. God has a wonderful plan for your life and it works best when we work it. Trust and obey for there is no other way.
Romans 11 reveals that God has taken the blessing off of Israel because they would not trust and obey. God loved them but disobedience must be met with consequences. It is a shame that they could not get it. They slammed the door on God. The warning to us is not to do the same. If we chose to slam the door on God then we would be met with consequences that would not be pleasant. We would be wise to do our best in and through Christ to trust and obey God our Father. Are you? Will you?
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
062 Tuesday, March 3, 2009
062 Deuteronomy 1 – 2; Romans 10
Hey, I have some last words for you. How about those words being the length of the book of Deuteronomy? Deuteronomy means the “second giving of the law”. So what Moses is saying to them has already been said. Review is a good thing.
Timing is everything. Moses chose to say these things before the new generation goes to the promise land. Moses is also on a short leash to how much time he has left on this earth. Moses is making sure the people are connecting the dots as to what has happened over the past forty years or so. Don't assume people are connecting the dots.
What would you say before you died? How long would it be? Who would you say it to?
I hope you notice that Moses and the law came up in chapter 10 of Romans. The law was a tutor in order to prepare us for God's gift of salvation through the Messiah. Israel was very religious but not holy. They had a form of godliness without God. They had memorized the instruction book but had no clue who the author was. Let us be careful and not go down the same path as Israel. Everything God has given us is so we can know HIM! Life is about and for HIM!
Let it sink in, it makes life a little more bearable.
Hey, I have some last words for you. How about those words being the length of the book of Deuteronomy? Deuteronomy means the “second giving of the law”. So what Moses is saying to them has already been said. Review is a good thing.
Timing is everything. Moses chose to say these things before the new generation goes to the promise land. Moses is also on a short leash to how much time he has left on this earth. Moses is making sure the people are connecting the dots as to what has happened over the past forty years or so. Don't assume people are connecting the dots.
What would you say before you died? How long would it be? Who would you say it to?
I hope you notice that Moses and the law came up in chapter 10 of Romans. The law was a tutor in order to prepare us for God's gift of salvation through the Messiah. Israel was very religious but not holy. They had a form of godliness without God. They had memorized the instruction book but had no clue who the author was. Let us be careful and not go down the same path as Israel. Everything God has given us is so we can know HIM! Life is about and for HIM!
Let it sink in, it makes life a little more bearable.
Monday, March 2, 2009
061 Monday, March 2, 2009
061 Numbers 35 – 36; Romans 9
What is the difference between killing and murder? What is the difference between murder and manslaughter? God is giving the people of Israel some last minute instructions on this kind of matter. This, by the way, is known as the civil law that God laid down in order to bring order to a nation. There are Christians who quote these matters as if these laws apply today. They don't apply today for the N.T. Christian. However, as a society we can learn from them, but not claim them to build up some kind of Heaven here on earth.
What would you give up to see someone not go to hell? Well? Hard question isn't it? I am so selfish in these matters. I like to think that I'm not, but I am. I will give up time but not all my time. I will give up money but not all my money. I will give some of my time with my children but not all the time. In other words, I will give as long as it doesn't get to uncomfortable. You see, I'm an American and I have been raised to believe I can have my cake and eat it too. Not true. Paul said, "If there were any way I could be cursed by the Messiah so they (Israel) could be blessed by Him, I'd do it in a minute." You see how selfish I am. I'm not going to hell for anyone--hell is hell !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Undoubtedly, Paul's statement is one of the most staggering in all of scripture. Feed on it the rest of the day. Face it, fight it, but don't forget it.
What is the difference between killing and murder? What is the difference between murder and manslaughter? God is giving the people of Israel some last minute instructions on this kind of matter. This, by the way, is known as the civil law that God laid down in order to bring order to a nation. There are Christians who quote these matters as if these laws apply today. They don't apply today for the N.T. Christian. However, as a society we can learn from them, but not claim them to build up some kind of Heaven here on earth.
What would you give up to see someone not go to hell? Well? Hard question isn't it? I am so selfish in these matters. I like to think that I'm not, but I am. I will give up time but not all my time. I will give up money but not all my money. I will give some of my time with my children but not all the time. In other words, I will give as long as it doesn't get to uncomfortable. You see, I'm an American and I have been raised to believe I can have my cake and eat it too. Not true. Paul said, "If there were any way I could be cursed by the Messiah so they (Israel) could be blessed by Him, I'd do it in a minute." You see how selfish I am. I'm not going to hell for anyone--hell is hell !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Undoubtedly, Paul's statement is one of the most staggering in all of scripture. Feed on it the rest of the day. Face it, fight it, but don't forget it.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
060 Sunday, March 1, 2009
060 Numbers 32 – 34; Romans 8.18 – 8.39
"When will they ever get it?”
“So-and-so is so clueless.”
“People without the Lord in their life are blind.”
“If those people had a map and a personal guide, they would still get lost.”
These are just some of the disparaging remarks made about “those” people. Who are “those” people? Could they be us? It is a scary thought.
"If you won't follow him, he'll do it again." This is the message delivered to the new generation of God's people. God suggests, "One generation had already spent forty years wandering in the wilderness, do you want to be next?" Wow--clueless.
Can you and I stay out of that mode of thinking?. . .YES! Read Romans chapter eight and you feast your eyes upon one of the most amazing and richest chapters in all of the Bible. The Son of God has come to set us free and has sent His Spirit to continue to set us free. Freedom land is our new address. Can we act clueless at times? Yes. However, by God's grace we have new resources that propel us to victory in Christ.
We are in a wrestling match until we arrive in heaven but we have weapons at our disposal in order to live an abundant life here and now. When we find ourselves acting clueless let us repent and return to Savior of our lives. Do you have the victory? Perhaps that is the wrong question. Does Jesus have the victory? Yes. Christ has the victory and He has purchased it for you. Join Him today and live out loud.
"When will they ever get it?”
“So-and-so is so clueless.”
“People without the Lord in their life are blind.”
“If those people had a map and a personal guide, they would still get lost.”
These are just some of the disparaging remarks made about “those” people. Who are “those” people? Could they be us? It is a scary thought.
"If you won't follow him, he'll do it again." This is the message delivered to the new generation of God's people. God suggests, "One generation had already spent forty years wandering in the wilderness, do you want to be next?" Wow--clueless.
Can you and I stay out of that mode of thinking?. . .YES! Read Romans chapter eight and you feast your eyes upon one of the most amazing and richest chapters in all of the Bible. The Son of God has come to set us free and has sent His Spirit to continue to set us free. Freedom land is our new address. Can we act clueless at times? Yes. However, by God's grace we have new resources that propel us to victory in Christ.
We are in a wrestling match until we arrive in heaven but we have weapons at our disposal in order to live an abundant life here and now. When we find ourselves acting clueless let us repent and return to Savior of our lives. Do you have the victory? Perhaps that is the wrong question. Does Jesus have the victory? Yes. Christ has the victory and He has purchased it for you. Join Him today and live out loud.
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