When We're Gone

"So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord. And He buried him in the valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth-peor; but no man knows his burial place to this day. Although Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died, his eye was not dim, nor his vigor abated. So the sons of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days; then the days of weeping and mourning for Moses came to an end. Now Joshua the son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him; and the sons of Israel listened to him and did as the Lord had commanded Moses. Since that time no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, for all the signs and wonders which the Lord sent him to perform in the land of Egypt against Pharaoh, all his servants, and all his land, and for all the mighty power and for all the great terror which Moses performed in the sight of all Israel." -Deuteronomy 34.5-12

Here, at the end of his mission, Moses dies and is buried by God. Before his death God allows him to view the land from the top of Mt. Nebo. Had he not disobeyed God he would have been given the opportunity to lead the people into the land, but no man is above God, and Moses accepts the consequences of his actions. God raises a new leader, Joshua, who is filled with the spirit to lead the people into the land.

Men, one day, regardless of how holy and righteous we may strive to be, our lives will end. How are we living until then? Would we be like Moses, blessed to be able to see the land? Would it be said of you that no one like you has risen? Are you preparing others to step up and lead when you are gone?

Let us live lives like Moses, God dependant, servant minded, honorable leader. Let us live lives worth remembering and speaking of when we're gone.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Pictures from Mt. Nebo. The view was a bit disappointing as it was January and overcast. I was barely able to see the northern edge of the Dead Sea. In the summer when the sky is clear you are supposed to be able to see the Sea of Galilee in the north and the Mediterranean in the west. All of Israel is to supposed to be visible from the summit of Nebo. I'm hoping to be back at some point on a clear day to take in the view.

What Will Be Said of You

"Of Levi he said, 'Let Your Thummim and Your Urim belong to Your godly man, whom You proved at Massah, with whom You contended at the waters of Meribah; who said of his father and his mother, 'I did not consider them'; and he did not acknowledge his brothers, nor did he regard his own sons,
For they observed Your word, and kept Your covenant. They shall teach Your ordinances to Jacob, and Your law to Israel. They shall put incense before You, and whole burnt offerings on Your altar. O Lord, bless his substance, and accept the work of his hands; shatter the loins of those who rise up against him, and those who hate him, so that they will not rise again." -Deuteronomy 33.8-11

Deuteronomy 33 records the blessings that Moses spoke over the tribes of Israel. Each of them is personal, just as they were when Jacob spoke blessings over each of his sons before his death. Of all them, the blessing spoken over the tribe of Levi stands out to me the most.

We see that their only focus was on the Word of God and remaining faithful to the covenant. It was the Levites who strapped their swords to their sides and went through the camp killing those who worshiped the Golden Calf (Exodus 32), purging the camp of idolatry. Because of their faithfulness they were honored with the calling of serving God as priests, and instructing the people in the teachings of God. They alone had the opportunity to serve in the worship of God by doing the work of the Tabernacle and later the Temple.

This blessing spoken by Moses was a personal blessing that was warranted by the faithful actions of the Levites in the wilderness. It leads me to ask this question: What blessing would I be given? What would be said of me?

Men, what would be said of you? If you were to be given a personal blessing what would it consist of?

Let us live in a manner that warrants a blessing of faithfulness. Let our only concern be for living faithfully before God.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Blessing

"Now this is the blessing with which Moses the man of God blessed the sons of Israel before his death." -Deuteronomy 33.1

Moses has led the people for forty years. He has taught them about God and instructed the people on how to live for Him. He is a beloved and respected leader. The Bible doesn't tell us this, but I'm guessing the people were at least a little apprehensive to enter the Promised Land without him. But Moses is a good leader, and he knows that he is not the point. He knows that God is in charge, and that God will continue to lead His people after he is gone. And so Moses does what a good leader does, he blesses the people.

A few months ago at church they finished a series on Genesis, and concluded with Jacob pronouncing blessings on his sons. The pastor ended the service by having people who had never received a blessing come forward and receive one. Receiving a blessing is a sign of affirmation and love. The pastor and two others pronounced blessing on the people at church. Jacob pronounced deeply personal blessings on his sons, and in Deuteronomy 33 Moses pronounces a personal blessing on the people of Israel.

Men, have you received a blessing in your life?

May God bless you and initiate you. May you know the strength that you have been created with and learn to use it in the service of God. May God bless you and help you live passionately from a heart of genuine strength. May you know that you are a man of God.

Have you pronounced blessing on others? Have you blessed your children?

Let us be men who bless others, speaking the truth of God into their lives. Let us build others up and encourage them to pursue the will of God. Let us bless others.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Your Life

"Then Moses came and spoke all the words of this song in the hearing of the people, he, with Joshua the son of Nun. When Moses had finished speaking all these words to all Israel, he said to them, 'Take to your heart all the words with which I am warning you today, which you shall command your sons to observe carefully, even all the words of this law. For it is not an idle word for you; indeed it is your life. And by this word you will prolong your days in the land, which you are about to cross the Jordan to possess.'" -Deuteronomy 32.44-47

Forty-three verses of Deuteronomy 32 make up the song of Moses. It speaks of the greatness of God and what He has done for His people. At the end Moses gives these words, telling the people take them to heart and instruct their children to follow them carefully. He points out that these are not simply words spoken, but the very life of God's people. The words of God's praise, telling of His deeds, and the commands that God has given, are the very life of Israel.

The words of God are like breath. This isn't a new thought, but the ancient Rabbi's believed the name of God was unpronounceable because it was the sound of breathing. When people were born they had to start saying the name of God in order to begin life, and at the end, when we are no longer able to say the name of God, life ends.

The people were dependant upon God for life itself, declaring Him with every breath. The words Moses spoke to them in the wilderness were a reminder of the greatness of God, the holiness of God, and their need to obey Him.

Men, nothing has changed in the past few thousand years. We are just as dependant upon God as Israel was. Our need for Him has not lessened simply because so many refuse to acknowledge Him. Are you praising God? Are you observing His commands carefully and teaching others to do the same? Do you realize that His words are your very life?

Let us be men who praise God, knowingly, with each breath. Let us be men who teach others to obey Him, and model obedience with our lives. Let us be men who live by God alone.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Strength and Courage

"Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Then Moses called to Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, 'Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land which the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall give it to them as an inheritance. The Lord is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.'" -Deuteronomy 31.6-8

Soon Israel will be crossing the Jordan to enter the Promised Land. Forty years earlier they were preparing for the same thing, but fear spread through the camp and as a result the people spent forty years wandering the wilderness. They need to be strong and courageous, and they can be because God is going with them.

People need to know that God is with them on everything He calls them to undertake. He will not abandon them or fail to come through for them. God is faithful. He has proven His faithfulness over and over, and will continue to be faithful as long as the people trust and obey Him. But it isn't just the masses that need to trust God.

Leadership must be fully dependent upon God. Moses calls Joshua and, before the whole nation, charges him to be strong and courageous as he leads the people. He is reminded that God is with HIm and will not forsake him. He does not need to be afraid or discouraged because he is God's chosen leader.

Strength and courage are needed to fulfill God's plan and receive all that He has promised. Without them we cannot trust God.

Men, let us be strong and courageous. Let those words characterize our lives, our faith, and our actions. Let us challenge those we lead with them. Let us pass them on to those we train as leaders. Strength and courage.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Choose Life

"I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, by loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them." -Deuteronomy 30.19-20

Moses tells the people that they have two choices, life or death. They choose life by choosing to live obediently to God. Death is the result of choosing not to follow God. The choices have been clearly laid out for them, and they have seen the results of each choice, and now he urges them to choose life.

It really doesn't seem like it would be that hard of a choice. The results of choosing are life, blessing, and prosperity. Choosing to chase after the pagan gods results in defeat, poverty, humiliation, and death. God says follow Me and I'll take care of your every need. Why then do the people choose to rebel?

Satan has done his job well. He has managed to convince humanity that God does not have their best interest at heart for thousands of years. To this day people still live for themselves, not caring about God at all. And though life may seem good for them, it ends in death.

Men, we only have two choices, God or self, life or death. Choosing God does not mean that everything will always be sunshine and rainbows. Israel was about to face years of war as they took possession of the Promised Land. Choosing God does not mean that life become problem free. In the past few years I have been in very difficult ministry positions, been unemployed twice, had my wife in and out of the ER more times than I can count, moved back to my parent's house, and wondered what I went to school for if I wasn't going to have the chance to work in my field and fulfill my calling. But inspite of all of that, I have found life.

It is in those moments that God has revealed Himself to me and taught me so much. It is in the hard times that He has worked to shape my character and faith. It is in those difficult situations that I have learned to trust Him. And it is in those times that I have been molded more into the image of Christ. That is life.

Let us abandon self and follow after God. Let us trust Him always, both in the hardships and the blessings. Let us choose life.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Not too Difficult

"For this commandment which I command you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it out of reach. It is not in heaven, that you should say, 'Who will go up to heaven for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may observe it?' Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, 'Who will cross the sea for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may observe it?' But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may observe it." -Deuteronomy 30.11-14

Reading the law that God gave Moses for the people seems overwhelming. There are so many details with it that trying to learn it all would make your head explode. But here Moses says that it is not too difficult for the people, and that the goal is in reach. He tells them that that it is not far off, but that it is very close. It is in their mouth and in their heart so that they may observe it.

God has called His people to holiness, a lofty and daunting calling, but it is not too difficult. God's desire is for His people to be holy and so He has given them His word so that they might attain it. God's desire is for His people to be holy, and He will help them to attain it. For that reason it is not too difficult or out of reach.

I had a professor in college who said something that has stuck with me, but I have amended to show God's intention for His people, "The Bible contains everything you need to know in order to become like Christ; it does not contain the answers to everything you are curious about." God has given us His written Word so that we can know who He is, what He is like, and how He intended for us to live.

Today is Christmas, the day on which we celebrate the birth of Christ, but Christmas is about so much more than Jesus' birth. Most church people will tell you Jesus came to die, but if that's the case there is a lot of wasted time between His birth and death. Jesus came to live. He came to show us what God is like and how God would live life as a human. He became man to live the model life for man. At the end of His mission, after setting the perfect example, He died on the cross and rose again so that we could be empowered to follow His example.

That is what Christmas is all about.

Men, we have been called to a daunting task, be Men of God. But this task is not too difficult or out of reach. God desires for us to be Men of God, and so He became a man to show us what it looks like.

Let us strive to become more like Christ. Let us study the written word that we have been given, and model the living word of Jesus' life. Let us realize that the goal of Christlikeness is within reach of all who strive after it.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Prospered

"And you shall again obey the Lord, and observe all His commandments which I command you today. Then the Lord your God will prosper you abundantly in all the work of your hand, in the offspring of your body and in the offspring of your cattle and in the produce of your ground, for the Lord will again rejoice over you for good, just as He rejoiced over your fathers; if you obey the Lord your God to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this book of the law, if you turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and soul." -Deuteronomy 30.8-10

Verses like this can be difficult to work with. There are people out there who take verses like this and they become the heart of their gospel. They proclaim the message of "God will bless you if you live for Him" and ignore anything about transformation, suffering, and genuine discipleship. But if we look closely at this section of scripture we find that the blessings of God follow genuine discipleship.

God says that He will prosper His people if they obey Him and observe all of His commands. They must live holy and righteous lives, loving God with all of their being. God will prosper and bless them, but not so that they may hoard it selfishly. Reading throughout Deuteronomy over and over there are provisions set up for the poor, widows and orphans, and foreigners living among them. As God blessed them they were in turn to bless others.

And it is important to note that sometimes the blessings of God come in the form of discipline. Any good father disciplines his children out of love so that they will become good people who can contribute to society. He does not allow them to live selfishly and take advantage of others. He disciplines them to do the right thing. God is a good father, and sometimes He disciplines His children and causes them to go through hardships so that they can become more holy.

Men, if God has made you prosper, praise Him, and take what He has given you and bless others with it. If He is disciplining you, praise Him, and accept it knowing He is doing it for your good and takes no pleasure in it.

May we never live for the prosperity, but for the God who gives it. May we accept the blessings, and the discipline, that He brings knowing that they both come from the same loving heart of our Father.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Circumcised Heart

"Moreover the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live." -Deuteronomy 30.6

Israel prized circumcision because it was a mark that set them apart from the rest of the world as God's people. But God does not desire an outward sign that simply marks people as His, He wants them to be inwardly transformed so that they become His. God did not just want the men of Israel to be outwardly circumcised when they turned eight days old; He wanted to circumcise their hearts so that they would love Him wholly and live.

God does not desire outward acts and words that may not come from a genuine heart. He desires people who are transformed by Him, and live passionately for Him. God does not want people outwardly set apart for Him in the eyes of society, but those who are inwardly transformed by Him. An outward mark is nothing compared to an inward transformation. It is important to note that an inward transformation will manifest itself in outward action.

No idea why I'm writing with that language.

Men, is your faith genuine or cultural? Has your heart been circumcised by God, or are you just going through the motions? The motions will fool a lot of people. I've met many motion people in the last decade that upfront seem genuine, but there is nothing behind it, and eventually their true self is revealed.

John Eldredge says that the biggest fear a man has is being found out as a fraud. Men do whatever they can to keep that truth hidden. They put up fronts of confidence, try to control all they can, and appear to the world as self-made men. But all of it is an act, and eventually it will all come crashing down.

The answer for men is initiation by God. It means a journey into masculinity that results in genuine strength. That journey begins with a circumcised heart.

Let us be men who are inwardly transformed by God. Let us allow Him to circumcise our hearts and initiate us. May we learn to live from genuine strength and love God with all we are.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Restoration Promised

"So it shall be when all of these things have come upon you, the blessing and the curse which I have set before you, and you call them to mind in all nations where the Lord your God has banished you, and you return to the Lord your God and obey Him with all your heart and soul according to all that I command you today, you and your sons, then the Lord your God will restore you from captivity, and have compassion on you, and will gather you again from all the peoples where the Lord your God has scattered you." -Deuteronomy 30.1-3

In reading the curses that follow disobedience it is easy to think of God as angry and waiting for the people to mess up so that He can punish them. But that isn't what God is like, and here He shows the true nature of His character. God is a god of restoration, and He promises that if his people call on Him, obey Him, and follow Him, that He will restore them.

God is a father, and like any good father, He must discipline His children when they don't obey Him. His intention is not to punish them, but to build their character. He does not delight in removing blessings from His children, but knows that if they are to be holy and righteous He has to. It is not done out of anger, but out of compassion and love. And it always comes with the promise of restoration if they will turn back to Him.

Men, you may be feeling that God is punishing you, that you have been banished from His blessings. My challenge is to examine your heart and life, are you living in disobedience and rebellion? If so turn back to Him, rejecting everything that pulls your heart away from Him, and allow Him to begin restoring you. Maybe you look at your life and honestly you have lived righteously, seeking to do God's will. My challenge to you is persever. God is molding you and building you. You are being trained and prepared. Stay faithful and learn from Him. This is not wasted time, God is preparing you for some use in His restoring work.

Let us never believe we are too far gone. May we turn to God and find the promised restoration.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Things Revealed

"The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law." -Deuteronomy 29.29

I had a professor who said, "The Bible contains the answers to everything you need to know to get to heaven, it doesn't contain the answers to everything you are curious about." I have changed that statement slightly to "everything you need to know to become like Christ" because that is the goal. God has not revealed everything to us, if He had it would be completely overwhelming, but there are things He has revealed to us, and those allow us to know Him better and be transformed to the image of Christ.

Men, what do we do with the things that God has revealed? Do you pour into them, learning all you can so that you may come to know Him better and become more Christlike? Or do you take them for granted, not bothering to invest in them, failing to realize that these are things we only know because God has allowed it?

God has revealed things to us so that we may know and follow Him better. Let us learn all that we can and pass it on. Let us obey all that God has taught, and teach others to obey them as well. Let us soak up the things God has revealed.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Stubbornness or Grit

"It shall be when he hears the words of this curse, that he will boast, saying, 'I have peace though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart in order to destroy the watered land with the dry.' The Lord shall never be willing to forgive him, but rather the anger of the Lord and His jealousy will burn against that man, and every curse which is written in this book will rest on him, and the Lord will blot out his name from under heaven. Then the Lord will single him out for adversity from all the tribes of Israel, according to all the curses of the covenant which are written in this book of the law." -Deuteronomy 29.19-21

Since the beginning, humans have wanted to do their own thing. They have wanted to be in charge, and have refused to submit to God. Even if the path they choose leads to destruction, and they know it, they can be so stubborn that they refuse to change. God has given people the freedom to choose, and they can choose to be stubborn and refuse to follow Him. But that path leads to destruction.

It isn't always wrong to be stubborn. There are times when the only thing that gets you through is raw determination, and the refusal to quit. We call this grit, and it's a good thing. But when we are stubborn to the point that it negatively affects others, and leads to destruction, that's not a good thing.

Men, it is easy to be hardheaded. We don't want to need help, and a lot of time we don't like to admit that we are wrong. The question becomes are you being stubborn or displaying grit? Grit refuses to give up when it knows the cause is right and worth fighting for. Stubbornness refuses to change simply because it doesn't want to.

God does not look with favor on stubbornness. It says He is unwilling to forgive a stubborn heart (because a stubborn heart does not seek forgiveness) and that His anger and jealousy will burn against the man who is stubborn. Is it worth it?

Let us be men of grit, who fight for a worthy cause until the end if need be. But let us not be stubborn and refuse to change even when we know we are wrong.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Whom Will You Serve

"So all these curses shall come on you and pursue you and overtake you until you are destroyed, because you would not obey the Lord your God by keeping His commandments and His statutes which He commanded you. They shall become a sign and a wonder on you and your descendants forever. 'Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joy and a glad heart, for the abundance of all things; therefore you shall serve your enemies whom the Lord will send against you, in hunger, in thirst, in nakedness, and in the lack of all things; and He will put an iron yoke on your neck until He has destroyed you.'" -Deuteronomy 28.45-48

The beginning of chapter 28 lists the blessings that were to be pronounced from Mount Gerizim. Basically, it lists of the good things that God will do for Israel if they live in obedience to Him as their King. Everything that He has promised them will be fulfilled, and they will be the greatest nation on earth if they serve Him. But the majority of chapter 28 lists the results of not following God. It spells out the opposite of the blessings in greater detail.

God tells the people that the curses will overtake them until they are destroyed if they don't obey Him. They can choose to joyfully serve God and receive abundant blessings, or refuse to and serve their enemies who will overtake them. With God there is life, prosperity, and blessing, apart from God there is death and destruction. Israel can choose the outcome of their future by choosing whom they will serve. Choosing God invites His blessings, rejecting Him brings curses.

Men, we have a choice in whom to serve. We can live for God, obeying Him, and being blessed by Him so that we can bless others. Or we can choose to reject Him, pushing Him away, and as He goes so do His blessings. Whom will you serve? Will you willingly serve God, or unwillingly serve another, oppressive, master?

Let us choose God for the goodness of His blessings far outweighs the destruction of the curse. The blessings do not need the description of the curses because they are good. Let us live in a way that can be blessed by God. Let us choose to serve God.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Blessed or Cursed

"Then Moses and the Levitical priests spoke to all Israel, saying, 'Be silent and listen, O Israel! This day you have become a people for the Lord your God. You shall therefore obey the Lord your God, and do His commandments and His statutes which I command you today.'... 'Cursed is he who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'" -Deuteronomy 27.9-10, 26

Again, Moses reminds the people that they have chosen God and that they belong to Him as His people. By submitting to Him as God they are to obey His commandments and His statutes. When they enter the land they are to stand on top of two mountains, the area formed a natural amphitheater, and declare various blessings and curses. Verses 15-26 list the things that will cures someone, and chapter 28 gets into the blessings.

All of the curses can be summed up in verse 26, "Cursed is he who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them." God called His people to be set apart, and as a set apart people they were not to engage in practices of pagan nations, and they were to value and uphold honesty and justice. God's law lays out the standards of holiness and righteousness, and as King of this people, they are to follow the laws of their King. If they don't, and choose to disobey, they will be cursed by the king and cast out.

The people have a choice, the sentence of the curse is declared and they say "Amen" which means "so let it be done." They agree that if the law is not fulfilled, the one living in disobedience has no place among God's people.

Men, do you live differently as God's people? Does your life strive to do His commandments and keep His statutes? Do you bring a blessing or curse upon yourself by how you live?

Let us live as holy and righteous, set apart, Men of God. Let us obey all that God has commanded and live it out. May we never be cursed.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Display God's Commands

"So it shall be on the day when you cross the Jordan to the land which the Lord your God gives you, that you shall set up for yourself large stones and coat them with lime and write on them all the words of this law, when you cross over, so that you may enter the land which the Lord your God gives you, a land flowing with milk and honey, as the Lord, the God of your fathers, promised you. So it shall be when you cross the Jordan, you shall set up on Mount Ebal, these stones, as I am commanding you today, and you shall coat them with lime. Moreover, you shall build there an altar to the Lord your God, an altar of stones; you shall not wield an iron tool on them. You shall build the altar of the Lord your God of uncut stones, and you shall offer on it burnt offerings to the Lord your God; and you shall sacrifice peace offerings and eat there, and rejoice before the Lord your God. You shall write on the stones all the words of this law very distinctly." -Deuteronomy 27.2-8

The law was not simply to be recorded and kept in the Ark of the Covenant, rather it was to be written on stones and publically displayed for all to have access to. In the place where the law was displayed there was to be an altar built for the people offer burnt offerings to God. They were to make peace offerings and eat there, rejoicing before God for finally receiving the fulfillment of the promise. This was to be a public place, a high place, where all could go and worship.

The law was more than simply the Ten Commandments. Yes, those were part of it, but everything contained in Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy were part of the law as well. God commanded many things of His people, and so they were to be very distinctly written out so that the people would be reminded of all of God's commands.

Men, we live in a time when even the Ten Commandments are not displayed anymore. We live in a world that wants nothing to do with God most of the time. In our day the words of God are considered offensive, and so they are removed and attempts are made to silence them. May we not give in. Let us display the commands of God.

I am not talking about forcing scripture in people's faces, stubbornly saying this is what we believe and the world can deal with it. With this attitude, Christ is not reflected, and no one is won to the Gospel. Rather let us display the commands of God by how we live. God called Israel to be set apart and holy, and we are called to be the same.

Let us live differently, according to God's standards of holiness and righteousness. In all that we do and say, let us display God's commands, drawing others to worship Him. Let each of us be Mount Eval, where God's commands are distinctly written on stone for all to see. Let us not force others there, but invite them to worship and rejoice in God.

Let us display all that God has commanded with our lives.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Chosen

"You have today declared the Lord to be your God, and that you would walk in His ways and keep His statutes, His commandments and His ordinances, and listen to His voice. The Lord has today declared you to be His people, a treasured possession, as He promised you, and that you should keep all His commandments; and that He will set you high above all nations which He has made, for praise, fame, and honor; and that you shall be a consecrated people to the Lord your God, as He has spoken." -Deuteronomy 26.17-19

Israel had a choice, and they chose God. They made the decision that they would walk in His ways and obey Him. God had already chosen Israel, and simply waited for their response. When they did finally choose Him, He began to fulfill the promises that He had made, setting them apart and honoring them above all the nations.

We have all been chosen by God, but He does not force us to choose Him. We have been given the choice of who we will follow and serve. We have been given the choice of who will be God in our lives. If we choose God we will be His treasured possession, just as He promised. If we live in obedience to Him, we will be set apart and honored by Him.

Men, you have been chosen by God, do you choose Him? Will you follow His commands and live according to His statutes? God desires for you to be set apart, but the choice is yours. What will you choose?

We have been chosen by God, let us choose Him. Let our lives be set apart, striving to live in His holiness. Let us be God's treasured possession. Let us choose God.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Wholehearted

"This day the Lord your God commands you to do these statutes and ordinances. You shall therefore be careful to do them with all your heart and with all your soul." -Deuteronomy 26.16

Following God is not easy, and it is not for the faint of heart. The commands that God has given are calls to holiness and righteousness. God has set His standards out before us, and as sinful humans it is impossible for us to live up to them. Jesus came to earth as a baby, grew up modeling how God would live life as a human, and then died and rose again to make it possible. God has done so much to bring His children back to Himself, and His children must be willing to do just as much.

Here Moses commands the people to follow God's commands with all their heart and soul. He knows that this is not something that they can do half-heartedly, and he also knows they are prone to wander from God. They must be careful to follow Him, and they must do it intentionally and whole heartedly. Without this mindset they can never live holy and righteous lives.

There is no place for cultural Christianity. There is no place for the Sunday morning Christian. If we would follow God it requires that we fully commit to it and jump in with both feet. This is not something that can be done ritualistically when we feel like it, it must consume us and be the very reason we live.

Men, do you wholeheartedly serve God? In the morning when you wake up is your first thought about getting alone with God and growing closer to Him so that you can live a more holy and righteous life? Throughout the day are striving to become more like Christ? Or is all of this simply a check list that you think results in heaven? I have said before, heaven is not the goal, it's the result. The goal is Christlikeness, and the result of becoming like Christ is heaven.

Let us be men, and as men, let us live fully for God. Let us desire Him more than anything else. Let that desire guide us to become more like Christ. And as we become more like Christ, may we live wholehearted lives of obedience to God's commands.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Offering and Worship

"Now behold, I have brought the first of the produce of the ground which You, O Lord have given me.’ And you shall set it down before the Lord your God, and worship before the Lord your God; and you and the Levite and the alien who is among you shall rejoice in all the good which the Lord your God has given you and your household." -Deuteronomy 26.10-11

God is about to fulfill His promise to Israel and bring them into the land. When they collect the first harvest they are to bring the first of it to God, and worship Him for fulfilling His promises. As they presented the offering they were to worship and rejoice about all of God's goodness. They worshiped as a family, and as a congregation.

The worship of God is essential, because it is what we were made for. God displayed His goodness and power in creation, pouring out every blessing, and in response humanity was to worship Him, not simply because of what He had done, but because of who He is. The offering is done out of gratitude for all that God has provided. He has given so much, it is an honor to be able to offer some of it back to Him.

Public worship is the key here. It is important to worship God privately, spending the one on one time with Him and learning from Him, but worship needs to be public. We need a culture of worship to God, and public worship allows for correct worship, in the sense of non-heretical. It allows for guidance and instruction, as well as accountability. And it allows for a nation to praise and declare God together.

Men, do you bring an offering to God out of what He has provided? Do you worship Him both publically and privately? Are you setting an example for your family? Your neighbors? This nation?

May we never be so selfish that we hoard God's blessings, never giving anything back out of gratitude. May we set an example of a life of worship to God.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Honesty and Justice

"You shall not have in your bag differing weights, a large and a small. You shall not have in your house differing measures, a large and a small. You shall have a full and just weight; you shall have a full and just measure, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the Lord your God gives you. For everyone who does these things, everyone who acts unjustly is an abomination to the Lord your God." -Deuteronomy 25.13-16

God calls His people to be honest and just. They were not to have two different weights to use however they would be benefited, or two differing measures for the same purpose. They were to have a single weight that was accurate, and a measure that was correct so that no one was cheated and everyone was treated fairly, receiving justice.

We live in a world where honesty isn't always practiced, and injustice is everywhere. People do what the can to advance themselves at the expense of others.

Men, let us be honest and just. Let us advance ourselves the right way and not at the expense of someone else. Let us value honesty and pursue justice.

God calls injustice an abomination, He loathes it and finds it detestable. A Man of God must be honest and just. Let it be said of us that we live honestly and seek justice always.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Marriage Matters

"When a man takes a new wife, he shall not go out with the army nor be charged with any duty; he shall be free at home one year and shall give happiness to his wife whom he has taken." -Deuteronomy 24.5

Following laws about divorce there is this not about marriage. When a man was married he was excused from military service for one year. This time was to be invested in his new family, and to begin a family. God knows that marriage matters, and because of the fallen world we live in, He knows it's hard. He allowed for a man to be free from military duty for one year to invest in his marriage.

Marriage matters, because it is in marriage that a man and a woman become one. The two halves of God's image reflected in humanity come together as one and are able to present the full image of God to creation. It is important that we invest in our marriages. We live at a time where we can't take a year off of work to be at home and invest in our marriages. But there are things we can do to strengthen them.

Men, are you investing in your marriage? Do you have date nights? Do you bring flowers? Do you tell your wife you love her and that she's beautiful? Do you kiss her? Do you pursue her? Do you fight for her? Does your marriage matter to you?

I'm not a perfect husband, which my wife will be the first to testify to, and try as I might, I never will be. But that isn't an excuse not to try, and not to invest in my marriage. Marriage matters so much that God excused men from military service for a year. What things can we give us to invest in our marriages? What can we do to pour into our wives?

Let us be men who see the value of marriage, and let us do all that we can to strengthen ours.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Keep from Evil

"When you go out as an army against your enemies, you shall keep yourself from every evil thing." -Deuteronomy 23.9

God had promised Israel a great inheritance, but they would acquire it slowly so that the land would not be overrun with animals. They would have to take it by going to battle, and when they went out to war, they were to keep themselves from every evil thing.

God was giving them the land and they were to destroy the pagan worship that had taken place there. When they went out they were to carry the Ark of the Covenant before them, God leading them into battle and bringing victory, not an idol. They were not to engage in immoral acts, or false worship, but they were to remain holy and set apart as God's people as they took possession of what He had promised to give them.

We live in a world at war, and daily we are to be going out against our enemy, the devil, to take ground for the Kingdom. There are so many things out there, so much evil, that works to distract us from the mission. Time after time we are given opportunities to compromise, to water down the truth, to make exceptions, but that isn't how war is waged, and that isn't how battles are won in this fight. We cannot achieve victory through treaties and negotiations, this is a fight to the death, and we can only stay alive if we keep ourselves from evil.

Men, everyday we are surrounded by evil, and everyday there is the opportunity to participate in it. I love what Paul says to Timothy, it's a verse I will challenge my sons with, if I am blessed with some, but now I challenge each of you with them.

"You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier." -2 Timothy 2.1-4

Let us be strong in the grace of Christ. Let us teach others the truth about God, and of His Gospel. Let us endure hardships, and keep ourselves from evil so that we may be pleasing to God.

I have talked a lot about the ancient Spartans, and when each warrior was presented with his shield, (an act performed by the mother, symbolically releasing her son into the world of men) it was given with the words "Return with your shield, or on it." The phalanx was the key to the Spartan armies strength, and the key to phalanx was each warriors shield. It was big and heavy, and if you were going to run, it would be the first thing you would abandon. That wasn't how Spartan's worked, they never compromised. They returned alive and victorious, or died on the battlefield.

Let us stand firm in truth and holiness. Let us cling to our shields and return carrying them, die on the field, being carried home on them. May we never compromise, never water down the truth, never make exceptions. Let us keep ourselves from evil, and live and die as holy men of God.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Look Out for Each Other

"You shall not see your countryman’s ox or his sheep straying away, and pay no attention to them; you shall certainly bring them back to your countryman. If your countryman is not near you, or if you do not know him, then you shall bring it home to your house, and it shall remain with you until your countryman looks for it; then you shall restore it to him. Thus you shall do with his donkey, and you shall do the same with his garment, and you shall do likewise with anything lost by your countryman, which he has lost and you have found. You are not allowed to neglect them." -Deuteronomy 22.1-3

The instructions laid out here tell Israel to look out for each other. Even today livestock are expensive, but back then they were essential. At that point a person usually had only one set of clothing, and so to lose a garment was a really big deal. To find either an animal or piece of clothing would have been like finding gold, but God's instructions are to keep it safe until they find out who it belongs to, and then to return it. The people were not to take advantage of someone else's misfortune, but were to look out for each other.

Today we live very isolated lives for the most part. A lot of people keep to themselves and just want to be left alone. My wife and I have been in our house for almost three months. I've talked to the neighbors on the one side maybe a half dozen times, the people on the other side I've only seen maybe twice and interacted with only once. Part of it is the fact that it's winter and so it's dark when I get home, but I'm finding that people like their privacy. When we lived in our apartment for seven months, there was only one tenant I saw more than a dozen times.

Men, we need to set an example and look out for those around us. If we can help someone out, let us do it. Let us get out of our comfort zones and get to know the people around us. Let us be intentional about building relationships and looking out for the interests of others.

What would happen if we were a society that looked out for each other? What if we did the right thing by caring for stuff we found and then returning it? What if we were a society that interacted with each other not simply for business, but simply to get to know each other?

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

What is Right

"So you shall remove the guilt of innocent blood from your midst, when you do what is right in the eyes of the Lord." -Deuteronomy 21.9

This statement follows instructions about what to do if a body is found murdered in the open country. The elders of the city closest to the body were to break the neck of a heifer and then wash their hands over it, while praying for God's forgiveness over the shedding of innocent blood. When they did this, which was right in the eyes of God, the guilt was removed from them. When they did what was right there was no guilt.

There isn't much about high school that I vividly remember, but of all things, there is an event from my freshman year that stands out very clearly in my mind. I was in the cafeteria walking behind a girl, she dropped a dollar and didn't notice it. I picked it up and without a thought told her she had dropped it and gave it back to her. The moment I did I felt a hand on my shoulder, and heard the voice of my science teacher say, "I saw that, thanks for doing the right thing."

The thought had never entered my mind to keep the money, but I have often thought about what would have happened if I had. My teacher would have seen me do it, what would she have said? How would she have viewed me differently after that? Fortunately I didn't have to worry about it because I had done the right thing, and therefore had no guilt.

When we do what is right, there is nothing to be guilty for. When we do what is right we don't have anything to lose sleep over. When we do what is right we don't have anything to worry about.

Men, what would you have done in my situation? Yeah it was only a dollar, but what if it was fifty? What do you do when you are given credit for someone else's work? Do you accept it, or pass it along to where it is deserved? Doing the right thing, in addition to freeing you from guilt, strengthens your character and your reputation.

Let us strive to always do what is right. Let us not stray from the truth, and stand firm on morality. Let us be Men of God who do the right thing always.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Unavoidable Battles

"However, if it does not make peace with you, but makes war against you, then you shall besiege it." -Deuteronomy 20.12

Peace is the goal, but sometimes a battle cannot be avoided. If a city would not agree to the terms of peace that Israel offered, then they were to conquer it. Peace was to be the first option, but when a city refused, Israel was to take it out in order to protect their faith, and to fulfill God's promise.

Sometimes we seek peace, but the opposition wants to fight, and so we must be ready for the battle in that moment. Other times we are trying to live peacefully, but the battle comes to us. What do you do in that moment? We are to do all that we can to seek peace, but sometimes it just isn't going to happen.

Men, are you ready for the battles that are unavoidable? Is your sword sharp and polishes? Is your shield close at hand? Are you ready to fight in the defense of justice, righteousness, and innocence? There are times we have to go to war, that's why God created men to be strong, fierce, and dangerous. Are you willing to play the part that God wrote for you?

Battle is an ugly affair, physically and spiritually, but that is why we need men to be men. When the battles are unavoidable, we have to be ready and able to fight.

Let us be men who are prepared for battle, but only engage after every attempt at peace has been made. May we never go looking for a fight, but always be ready when one finds us.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Peace is the Goal

"When you approach a city to fight against it, you shall offer it terms of peace. " -Deuteronomy 20.10

Peace is the goal, it always has been. The Bible says, "If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men." (Romans 12.18) Here, as the people are ready for battle, they are first to offer terms of peace. If they agree, then there is no need to fight.

Men, we are after peace. If a battle can be avoided, by all means avoid it. We aren't to go looking for a fight, but to be ready for one when it comes, or when the need arises to protect justice, freedom, and innocence. But peace is the goal. Sadly we live in a world at war, and sometimes peace only comes at the end of hard won victory, so we must be ready for battle, but if we are able avoid one, by all means let us.

Let us be men who seek peace, and let us do all we can to pursue it.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

The Need for Leaders

"When the officers have finished speaking to the people, they shall appoint commanders of armies at the head of the people." -Deuteronomy 20.9

People need leadership, especially in high stress situations like battle. The officers of the army are to appoint commanders over the people who will aid in leading. Off of the battlefield these commanders will assist in training and development of the soldiers so that they are ready when the time comes to fight.

Today the need for leadership is great. With this, we need leaders to be developed so that they are able to train people and then lead them out for Kingdom work. But one of the key marks of leadership is development of others. Leaders have the role of casting vision, and equipping those who follow them to do works of service (Ephesians 4). If leaders aren't equipping others for, and challenging others to, action, they are failing.

Men, we need each of us to lead. God has created each man to be a king, and therefore each man is called to lead. We've seen how a king's role is to serve those he leads and better their lives. A big part of that is equipping people. When people are equipped they depend on you less. They don't need you for everything, and therefore it frees you up to focus on other areas.

Think of a child. When they are little they literally depend on you for everything. Feeding, changing, dressing, even moving. But as they grow they become equipped to do things themselves. They learn to walk, dress, eat on their own. They still need you, but your attention is not on every single detail of life for them. Eventually they get to the point where they become parents, and begin to lead their own children. This is the goal, for leaders to make new leaders.

We have a world that needs people to step up and lead the church, and their families, into Christlikeness and discipleship. We need officers who will appoint commanders, and commanders that will train soldiers. We need a cycle and system to produce godly leaders.

Let us lead, and may we focus on developing new leaders.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Fear is a Choice

"Then the officers shall speak further to the people and say, 'Who is the man that is afraid and fainthearted? Let him depart and return to his house, so that he might not make his brothers’ hearts melt like his heart.'" -Deuteronomy 20.8

The officers are to address the army and as they do they dismiss various soldiers. Here we see that every man who is afraid is sent home so that his fear does not spread to the others. Israel has dealt with this before, and it cost them four decades in the wilderness. To avoid this happening again while they are in the land, all those who are afraid are sent home from the battlefield. Fear spreads, and so we need to be men of courage.

There was a movie that came out earlier this year called After Earth. To be honest it wasn't one of Will Smith best films, but in it there is this quote. "Fear is not real. The only place that fear can exist is in our thoughts of the future. It is a product of our imagination, causing us to fear things that do not at present and may not ever exist. That is near insanity... Do not misunderstand me, danger is very real, but fear is a choice." God commands us not to be afraid, and therefore we are able to choose to be afraid or not. Fear is a choice. If fear was not an option, if we felt it all the time no matter what, God would not command us to "Fear not". We can choose to be afraid or not.

If we want to be part of God's army, if we want to join Him in His victory, we must choose not to fear. Danger is very real. Risks are very real, but fear is a choice. We can choose to be courageous, and stand firm against the enemy. Or we can choose to be afraid and flee. I think of Braveheart he asks the men of Scotland if they will fight, to which they say no, they'll run and live. William Wallace responds, "Aye, fight and you may die. Run, and you’ll live, at least for a while. And dying in your beds, many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days, from this day to that, for one chance, just one chance, to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they’ll never take our freedom."

Men, are you choosing to be afraid? Are you choosing to run and live rather than taking the chance to fight courageously and die on the battlefield? I don't mean a physical war, but a Spiritual one. Are you willing to trust God and follow Him where He leads, or do you want to play it safe? What do you want your thoughts to be on your deathbed? As Wallace asked, would you be willing to trade all the days from now to then for one chance to join the battle again? Do you want to live a life of fear that prevents you from really living? Or will you be a man of courage who chooses to fear not?

Let us be men who stand firm. Let us face danger, and show no fear. Fear is a choice, let us choose to be courageous.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

When We Go to Battle

"When you go out to battle against your enemies and see horses and chariots and people more numerous than you, do not be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt, is with you. When you are approaching the battle, the priest shall come near and speak to the people. He shall say to them, 'Hear, O Israel, you are approaching the battle against your enemies today. Do not be fainthearted. Do not be afraid, or panic, or tremble before them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.'" -Deuteronomy 20.1-4

This chapter opens with the phrase, "When you go out to battle". It doesn't say "If you go" because war is an inevitable thing. At this point Israel was moving to conquer the land, so so there was need to go on the offensive. As seen before the inhabitants are strong, and their cities are well fortified, but they are not to be afraid of their enemies. God is with them. The same God who brought them out of Egypt by His power is going with them to fight against their enemies.

Today we still live in a world at war. There are those who engage in physical battles for the defense of their countries, but all of us engage in spiritual battles every day whether we know it or not. There is a war going on for the souls of humanity, and we are called to play a part in the battles. And when we go to battle we are not to be afraid because God is going with us.

In our battle for souls Jesus instructed us how to fight, "Go and make disciples, baptize them, and teach them to obey everything that I have commanded you." His commands come with a promise, "As you do, I will be with you always, to the very end of the age." God is with us as we fight for Him. We are not to be afraid of our enemy because God is mightier.

Men, are you going out to battle? Do you realize that we are in a world at war, or do you deny that fact? When you do go out to fight what is your attitude? Do you shrink back in fear, or do you boldly follow God as He leads the charge?

Let us advance following God's leading. Let us not fear our enemy, or deny that there are battles to fight. Let us trust God's mighty power to bring victory, and let us add our shield to the phalanx of His army.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

What does Your Life Look Like

"If a malicious witness rises up against a man to accuse him of wrongdoing, then both the men who have the dispute shall stand before the Lord, before the priests and the judges who will be in office in those days. The judges shall investigate thoroughly, and if the witness is a false witness and he has accused his brother falsely, then you shall do to him just as he had intended to do to his brother. Thus you shall purge the evil from among you. The rest will hear and be afraid, and will never again do such an evil thing among you." -Deuteronomy 19.16-20

The Bible does lay out guidelines for the death penalty (Deuteronomy 17), it was to be on the testimony of two or three witnesses, and the witnesses were to cast the first stones. Death was never to be prescribed on the testimony of only one witness because they were times when a malicious witness would rise up and bring a false accusation for one reason or another. When this happened both men were brought before the lord and the leadership was to investigate the matter thoroughly. If they found that the witness was lying then he was to be punished as he intended for the other man to be, so that evil would be purged. When people found out that the truth is always found out and that liars were punished, they would be dissuaded from bringing false charges against someone.

The American election season is over for the moment, so we don't have to endure endless political ads. But when they are coming in full force each side says the opposite thing. One side attacks the other saying the candidate did or didn't do such and such. They attacked party rises in defense stating that it isn't true and here are the facts before the strike back. Both sides can't be telling the truth, and it becomes the job of the voter to investigate what really did happen.

I bring this up because I have a friend who has felt led to pursue some sort of governmental leadership. I mentioned a couple years ago that I thought he would make a great President. He's prayed a lot about it and has considered trying to pursue that course if God allows. One thing I told him was to live his life in such a way that if the time ever comes to run for office, the opposition has nothing to nail on him. I've challenged him to live with such character and integrity that no one can point a finger at. I passed along the oath Godfrey gives Balian in Kingdom of Heaven, "Be without fear in the face of your enemies. Be brave and upright, that God may love thee. Speak the truth, always, even if it leads to your death. Safeguard the helpless and do no wrong."

Men, what does your life look like? What accusations brought against you would be false? How easy would it be for leadership to find you innocent of false charges? Is your life defined by character and integrity?

The truth will be found out. So let us live in a way where no false accusation can stand. Let us "Be without fear in the face of your enemies. Be brave and upright, that God may love thee. Speak the truth, always, even if it leads to your death. Safeguard the helpless and do no wrong. That is your oath."

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

What are You Learning

"When you enter the land which the Lord your God gives you, you shall not learn to imitate the detestable things of those nations... You shall be blameless before the Lord your God." -Deuteronomy 18.9, 13

Moses again reminds the people that they belong to God, and are to stand out among the nations of the earth. They are about to enter the land and destroy nations that performed heinous acts of pagan worship. God commands the people who practice these things to be completely destroyed, as well as every element for the worship. Israel is to have nothing to do with the detestable practices, they are to be blameless before God.

When we come to new life in Christ there are things we need to destroy and no longer do. There are practices that we need to refuse to imitate if we are to be blameless. It may involve destroying some magazines or movies we have. It may mean severing some relationships that used to matter to us. It means living differently and standing out.

Men, are you learning to imitate detestable acts or to live blamelessly? Are you pursuing God's standards of righteousness and holiness, or the standards of the world? Are you learning to be more like Christ or more like humanity?

Let us be blameless before God. Let us stand apart and imitate Christ. Let us learn to be holy and righteous.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

What a King is to Do

"Now it shall come about when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself a copy of this law on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. It shall be with him and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, by carefully observing all the words of this law and these statutes, that his heart may not be lifted up above his countrymen and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, to the right or the left, so that he and his sons may continue long in his kingdom in the midst of Israel." -Deuteronomy 17.18-20

Moses continues with further instructions on what a king is to do. When he comes to power he is to write a copy of the law in the presence of the priests. He is to keep it with him and read it daily in order to learn to fear God and to carefully observe all of the law. The purpose is to keep him humble and committed to the service of his people. If this is what he does his line will continue to rule Israel.

A king is to personally write his own copy in the presence of the priests. He is to invest himself in this, and writing adds another learning aspect to aid in retention. It is to be done in the presence of the priests to insure accuracy and avoid corruption. But personally writing an accurate copy of the law isn't enough, he needs to read it daily. This cannot be overlooked. Every day we must be studying the laws of God and learning His statutes. This cannot be an occasional practice for leaders, but one the depend on daily. If they lose sight of God, they lose sight of the purpose for their rule, which is ultimately to point their people to Him.

A king who fears God knows that God has put him in a position of power and influence, and realizes that God can remove him. He knows that God is the highest King, and seeks to lead others to follow and serve Him. A king who seeks God, learns and lives by His statues, and serves his people, will have God's blessing on his reign.

Men, does your reign have God's blessing? Are you daily studying what God has said and learning to fear and follow Him? Do you write out accurately what God's law says? Are you humble, knowing that you only are where you are because God has brought you there?

The purpose of a king is to better the lives of the people he leads. Looking at history there are kings that start out with this mindset, but in failing to do this, lose focus and over time they become selfish and lazy. Other kings never have this mindset and couldn't care less about doing this.

Let us be kings who fear and follow God. Let us daily study His laws and statutes so that we may better live them. And as we do, may we point those we lead to follow God. That is what a king is to do.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

The Purpose of a King

"When you enter the land which the Lord your God gives you, and you possess it and live in it, and you say, 'I will set a king over me like all the nations who are around me,' you shall surely set a king over you whom the Lord your God chooses, one from among your countrymen you shall set as king over yourselves; you may not put a foreigner over yourselves who is not your countryman. Moreover, he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor shall he cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, since the Lord has said to you, 'You shall never again return that way.' He shall not multiply wives for himself, or else his heart will turn away; nor shall he greatly increase silver and gold for himself." -Deuteronomy 17.14-17

In the book of 1 Samuel the people get to the point where they want a king to rule over them. At that time God warns them of what a king will do and be like, and tells Israel that they do not need a king because He is their King. The people refuse to listen and so God appoints for them a king. Here in Deuteronomy 17 God lays out some guidelines for a king to follow.

The king Israel appoints is to be one of their own, and chosen by God. He is not to use the position to acquire wealth and possession. He is not to take multiple wives, not even to secure treaties with other nations. With these instructions we can learn a few things about God's intention for a king.

Primarily, being king is about serving the people you lead, not the other way around. A king is not to oppress his subjects to make his own life comfortable, but rather subject himself to them, doing whatever he can to better their lives. A foreigner doesn't care about people they aren't part of.

Because a king's primary purpose is to serve others, he is not to use his position to increase his wealth or his possessions. He is not to compromise the security, or freedom, of his people to advance himself. His role is to protect his people, not his rule. His focus is not to be on bettering his own life, but the lives of his people.

A king is not to take the easy way out. The simplest way to secure a friendship with a foreign nation was to marry a relative of another king. But in doing this it welcomed pagan influence into the home of the king. A king is to trust God and lead his people in trusting God. He is to provide for the security of his nation by protecting his integrity and the worship of God.

Look over the past few centuries, how many kings/presidents/leaders like that have their been?

Men, what kind of king are you? last year in the study of The Way of the Wild Heart we looked at the stage of king that every man is born to play, and as we've stated here, a king is in place to serve those he leads. Are you using your position to better the lives of those who are leading? Or have you taken advantage of your position to better your own life?

All men have been chosen by God to be kings in some capacity. Let us strive to be good kings who serve the people.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Just Leaders

"You shall appoint for yourself judges and officers in all your towns which the Lord your God is giving you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment. You shall not distort justice; you shall not be partial, and you shall not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and perverts the words of the righteous. Justice, and only justice, you shall pursue, that you may live and possess the land which the Lord your God is giving you." -Deuteronomy 16.18-20

When the people settle in the land they are to appoint leaders in each town that will be focused on righteous judgment. They will not distort justice in favor of the rich or the poor. They will not allow themselves to be bought off, but will simply focus on what the right thing to do is. This type of leadership will allow them to live and possess the Promised Land.

Righteous justice is an essential characteristic of a leader. It is about doing what is right, always. This type of leader is one that everyone can trust. They know that he will not side with someone simply because of their status, but because of what is just. This type of leader has impeccable character that stand firm at all times. This is the type of leader every man should strive to be.

Men, are you a leader who refuses to distort justice? It does not have to be on a large scale, in your families, do you show partiality? Is there one child that always gets away with everything? Maybe it is on a large scale, do you refuse to compromise on what is right, or are you willing to overlook some things to get ahead? What kind of leader do you want? What kind of leader will you strive to be? What kind of example will you set for those who follow you, be it children, people you mentor, or even random strangers who work under you?

Let us be just leaders who value righteous justice above all else. May we never compromise on doing what is right. May we be men who pursue only justice.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

What We've Been Given

"Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you." -Deuteronomy 16.17

When the men appeared before God for the three feasts they were not to come open handed. But God doesn't demand that everyone give a certain amount, everyone is to give as they are able. God blesses people, and it is from the blessings of God that they are to give back to Him.

God does not expect us to give Him what we do not have. But what we have been blessed with we are to use for Him. God blesses us with the ability to work and earn an income, so we give part of it back to Him. God blesses us with talents and abilities, and so we use them for His glory and to build His Kingdom.

Men, are you giving to God as you are able? Are you offering what He has given you for His service? God does not expect you to use gifts you do not have. But what He has given you, you need to offer back to Him.

Let us give what we are able. Let us seek to bless God as He has blessed us. Let us give back from what we've been given.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

As a Family

"and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God, you and your son and your daughter and your male and female servants and the Levite who is in your town, and the stranger and the orphan and the widow who are in your midst, in the place where the Lord your God chooses to establish His name... and you shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter and your male and female servants and the Levite and the stranger and the orphan and the widow who are in your towns." -Deuteronomy 16.11, 14

There were three yearly feasts that the nation of Israel was required to celebrate in remembrance of all that God had done. Passover to remember their deliverance from Egypt, the Feast of Weeks to remember the giving of the law at Mount Sinai, and the Feast of Booths to celebrate the harvest. For these three holidays they were to travel to the place God would choose, Jerusalem, and celebrate. Here Moses tells them that they are to celebrate as a family.

It was not simply about celebrating what God had done, but about celebrating as a family. Children were to be included, and invited to share in what God had done. The celebration was about remembering what God had done. It was a chance to praise God, and tell new generations what God had done in the past.

So much of the Pentateuch is about stories of God's works being passed down from father to son. This only happens in the context of a relational family where dad is present and involved. If dad simply goes to work, then sits in front of the TV all night, what is there to inspire his children to follow God? But if dad is involved in their lives, if they know he loves them, and if they see him passionately follow God, and then he invites them to be part of it there is something for them to be drawn to.

Men, what kind of father are you? Are you involved with your family? Do you model a faith in God that inspires them to follow Him? Are you inviting them to celebrate God with you?

Let us set an example for our families, and let us worship and celebrate Him as a family.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Not Empty-Handed

"If your kinsman, a Hebrew man or woman, is sold to you, then he shall serve you six years, but in the seventh year you shall set him free. When you set him free, you shall not send him away empty-handed. You shall furnish him liberally from your flock and from your threshing floor and from your wine vat; you shall give to him as the Lord your God has blessed you. You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God redeemed you; therefore I command you this today." -Deuteronomy 15.12-15

Just as the people were to give generously to the poor, so are they to take care of their kinsman if they became their slave. After six years they were to be set free, but they were not to go empty-handed. They were to be supplied so that they could start on their own. The people are to remember that they were once slaves in Egypt, and that God freed them and blessed them with all that they have.

I couldn't stop thinking about these verses. We no longer have slavery in America, and the form that we did once practice was vastly different than that practiced in the Middle East during Bible times. But the concept of not sending someone who has served you away empty handed because of where you have come from is on my mind.

Israel had nothing when they started. As slaves, everything they owned belonged to Pharaoh. But when God delivered them, He set them free with the wealth of Egypt. He gave them everything as they began to start out on their own. And this same generosity that God showed them, He calls for them to show to each other. Again, God calls them to bless as they have been blessed.

What does this look like today? Honestly, I'm not totally sure. I think it begins with remember where you have come from, how you started, and then looking at all that God has blessed you with. Then look at how you are able to be a blessing to others.

Men, do you remember where you have come from? Do you see others in that same place? Are you willing to help them and bless them as God has blessed you?

May we never forget where we come from. May we seek to help those we can. May we bless as we have been blessed.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Generosity

"If there is a poor man with you, one of your brothers, in any of your towns in your land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand from your poor brother; but you shall freely open your hand to him, and shall generously lend him sufficient for his need in whatever he lacks. Beware that there is no base thought in your heart, saying, 'The seventh year, the year of remission, is near,' and your eye is hostile toward your poor brother, and you give him nothing; then he may cry to the Lord against you, and it will be a sin in you. You shall generously give to him, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all your undertakings. For the poor will never cease to be in the land; therefore I command you, saying, 'You shall freely open your hand to your brother, to your needy and poor in your land.'" -Deuteronomy 15.7-11

The people are about to enter the Promised Land, a place that is exceedingly good. God has provided a time of forgiveness with the seventh year, where all debt shall be erased. And Moses tells the people to generously give to the poor, regardless of what year it is. Moses tells them that if they do not give to the poor generously it will be sin, but that if they do, God will bless them in all they do.

We live in a day where many leech off of society. There are those who are fully capable, but refuse to work. The Bible is clear that this is not acceptable behavior (2 Thessalonians 3). But there are those who try hard, and simply cannot get by. The single mom who works three jobs. The young couple who simply can't catch a break. The elderly who are stuck in the system. I believe these are the poor we are called to generously help. There are those who try, who want to get by on their own, and then there are those who could, and yet they refuse.

God has blessed us so that we may be a blessing. He has been generous with us so that we may be generous with others. My wife and I fell into the second category I mentioned. We were trying our hardest, doing whatever we could, and yet we couldn't catch a break. I can't begin to thank the people who helped us out. Now we are in the position to bless others, and to be honest, it isn't always my first thought. My wife yes, she is one of the most generous people I know, but me I'm working on it.

Men, are you generous? I'm not saying to help every individual who asks for it, again there are people that want nothing but to take advantage of those who work, but when there is someone who genuinely needs help, are you willing to offer it? If you have been blessed, are you seeking to be a blessing? Or do you hoard what you have, refusing to give anything?

Let us strive to be generous. May we be a blessing, just as we have been blessed.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Tithe

"You shall surely tithe all the produce from what you sow, which comes out of the field every year. You shall eat in the presence of the Lord your God, at the place where He chooses to establish His name, the tithe of your grain, your new wine, your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and your flock, so that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always." -Deuteronomy 14.22-23

Moses reminds the people that they are to give a tithe back to God. The people are to bring a portion of what the land produces and offer it to God. Grain, grapes, olives, and livestock were to be given back to God, because they are a gift from God. And in presenting a tithe to God they learn to fear God and to depend upon Him. Everything that they have is from God. He is the one who has given them the land, and He is the one who causes it to produce the crops that it produces. Without Him they have nothing.

We are in the same position. Everything we have is because of God. He is the one who allows us to work. He is the one who allows us to earn income. He is the one who goes above and beyond to provide for our needs, and wants. And He asks for a small tithe to be given out of gratitude to Him for all that He has provided.

Men, do you present your tithe to God? Do you offer back to Him some of what He has blessed you with? Do you live in a complete dependence upon God? If you aren't tithing I'm going to say that you aren't. The tithe represents something you could probably use, in some cases desperately, but in giving it to God you say, "I trust you to take care of me. I am grateful for what you have provided, and it is a joy to be able to give some back to You. Please continue to take care of me."

Everything we have is from God, and God could demand that we give the majority back to Him. But He doesn't. He allows us to keep a majority of what we have received, and requests a small amount. Let us not withhold from God. Let us joyfully offer, with gratitude, the tithe that God requests.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Diet

"You shall not eat any detestable thing." -Deuteronomy 14.3

God had given His people dietary instructions for their benefit. There were certain animals they were not to eat because they were considered unclean. I am not a nutritionist, and so I can't begin to explain how exactly it works, but the animals God permitted as clean actually gave the Israelites a very healthy diet, and the ones that were omitted as unclean don't provide that. Think of it this way, bacon doesn't do you any favors, and the Jews were not to eat bacon.

God sets His people up for the best life possible in every way, including the diet they eat. He wants the best for His people, and so He sets guidelines for them so that they take care of themselves. He instructs them not to eat any detestable thing, because it's in their best interest not to.

My wife and I were in Israel in January of 2013, our guide, a Jewish man in his early sixties, didn't look much older than his mid to late forties, see the picture below. It's largely due to the Mediterranean diet they eat.

Men, God created the body to function a certain way, and it functions best when we take care of it as He instructed. What does your diet look like? Yes, I know that in the New Testament God gives Peter the sheet vision permitting all animals to be eaten, but that isn't an excuse not to take care of our bodies.

I'll be honest, I have a big sweet tooth. The holiday season from Thanksgiving to Christmas is full of delicious, and unhealthy, sweet things to consume. As I've gotten older, and more aware of the fact that I'm not as young as I used to be, I've been hit with the reality of what am I putting into my body. I don't always do the best job, but I want to be better. Part of this is where my love of gardening has come from.

Let us take care of our bodies, starting with what we put in them. Let us honor God with what we eat.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Don't be Led Astray

"If your brother, your mother’s son, or your son or daughter, or the wife you cherish, or your friend who is as your own soul, entice you secretly, saying, 'Let us go and serve other gods' (whom neither you nor your fathers have known, of the gods of the peoples who are around you, near you or far from you, from one end of the earth to the other end), you shall not yield to him or listen to him; and your eye shall not pity him, nor shall you spare or conceal him. But you shall surely kill him; your hand shall be first against him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people." -Deuteronomy 13.6-9

Moses gives a warning to the people not to be led astray from God. First he mentions a prophet or dreamer who performs signs, and tells the people that if he tries to lead them away from God that they are not to believe it, and stone him. They are not to be led astray by a false prophet. But then Moses gets more personal.

If your brother, or child, or even your wife, or your closest friend try to lead you away from God, don't give in, and kill them. When it comes to family it could get tough. This isn't some stranger who has arisen and started randomly giving some message of another god, this is blood. But Moses says that if they are trying to lead them away from God, not to give in, and to kill them.

I'm not suggesting, and neither is the Bible, that we go around and kill our family members or friends who have different beliefs than we do. But if they continually try to lead us away from God, we need to sever the relationship. If they are trying to pull us from God, we need to pull away from them. Now that being said, this is not grounds for divorce, or child abandonment. We must lead our families, our wives and children, to love and serve God. We must set the example for what is true, and lead them into it.

Men, are you setting the example for your family? Are you leading them into the truth of God? What happens when people try to lead you astray? Do you stand firm in your faith, setting an example of Christlikeness? Or do you cave and give in? If it comes to it, we must be willing to sever friendships to protect our relationship with God, but we must continue to pray for them, trusting God to transform their lives.

Let us stand firm in the truth of God. May we never be led astray, not even by those closest to us.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Whose Eyes

"You shall not do at all what we are doing here today, every man doing whatever is right in his own eyes;" -Deuteronomy 12.8

Moses is instructing the people on how they are to live when they enter the land, and he tells them that when they do they are to live according to God's statutes. Israel has not been living this way, as Moses says, every man is doing whatever is right in his own eyes. What is right in the eyes of man may not be what is right in the eyes of God.

God's standards of righteousness and holiness are very daunting. Over the past few years I've started to pick up on the idea humans have of doing, "good enough". There is the idea that living in a way that does not cause destruction and unnecessary pain in the lives of others should be good enough for God. They live with the idea that no one is perfect but if I just try my best than that should be fine. Looking through human eyes that sounds fine, but God sees things differently. He sees things according to His standard of holiness.

And then there is the negative side of doing what is right in our own eyes. There is the selfish tendency of, this makes me happy, this is what I want, I don't care what God says, or who I hurt to get it. The standard is personal happiness and satisfaction, not holiness, but this lifestyle has no desire to be holy.

Men, whose eyes are you looking at life through? Are you striving to live according to God's holy standards, or finding that too hard, are living for this should be good enough? Are you living your life selfishly or selflessly? Is your mindset, this is what makes me happy, or this is what is right? Whose eyes are you looking through?

Let us look through God's eyes. Let us see His standards of holiness and strive to live them out. God desires for us to be holy people, and He will empower us to live holy lives. Let us do what is right in God's eyes.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Guard Your Heart

"Beware that your hearts are not deceived, and that you do not turn away and serve other gods and worship them." -Deuteronomy 11.16

Over and over this warning is given in some form or another. The people are constantly warned not to be lead astray and follow after false gods, but to keep themselves faithful and obedient to God. Why does it keep coming up? Because people are quick to drop their guards and forget about what's out there.

The people have already had issues when it comes to following God in the wilderness. How many times have they wanted to go back to Egypt? How many times have the challenged the leadership? How many times have the rebelled against God? Even in the wilderness, with no pagan influence, they made an idol and worshiped it. How much more danger will the face as they enter a land that is full of idolatry? God warns His people over and over to guard their hearts, because He knows their inclination is to purse what is false, and He wants to protect them while leaving them with the ability to choose. So over and over they are given this warning.

It is crucial that we keep our guard up in our areas of weakness. Ten years ago a movie came out based on the events of the battle of the Alamo. In it Colonel Travis gives Davy Crockett the assignment of guarding an area of the fort that is in poor shape. The reason, Crockett and his men are the best marksmen there. They put their best effort into the weakest point to strengthen it. But we can't simply guard our weakest points and trust the strong areas to take care of themselves. Every area of our lives needs to be guarded.

Two years ago I got a call from an old college friend who needed to talk. As the conversation progressed he told me that he had been involved sexually with a girl he had been dating. As we talked he told me that it had never been something he had struggled with in college and that was why we hadn't talked about it before. At that point I realized that he had dropped his guard in an area he felt secure in. As soon as he did that, the enemy moved in and took him out.

Men, how are your defenses? Are there areas in your life that have grown weak over time? What are you doing about them? Are you putting your best efforts into strengthening them, or are you continuing to neglect them, making it easy for the enemy to get inside the walls? What about the other areas, the places you feel are strong and most secure? Are you paying attention to them as well? Or have you dropped your guard, feeling safe? It will only be a matter of time before the enemy makes his way in there. It will take some more time because it's well fortified, but even the strongest wall when left unmanned, is an open door.

Guard your hearts against every attack. Do not for a moment get comfortable and begin to relax. We live in a world at war. We have a real enemy. Every day he watches, waiting for a moment to strike. Don't give him that chance. Keep all areas of your life well defended.

Let us never drop our guards. May we never be led astray and taken out.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor