"But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul." -Deuteronomy 4.29
In the last several verses Moses has been reminding the people of when they received the Ten Commandments and with them God's standards. He instructs them to keep them, even though he will not be crossing over the Jordan with them. And as he gives these instructions he reminds them of what will happen if they disobey. God will allow them to be destroyed and scattered throughout the world. But even in that there is hope for Israel because of the covenant God has made with the nation.
In verse 29 Moses tells them that if they will seek God when they are spread across the world, few in number, that God will be found by them. Now this is not simply a prayer asking for God's help, this is deep and meaningful pursuit of God. They must search for God with all of their heart and all of their soul. They must desperately seek after God with humility, repentance, and their very being. That is not a search God remains hidden from.
This instruction appears later in Jeremiah 29.13, when the people are in exile for their disobedience. And it is important to note how intense this pursuit of God must be. Think about how God has pursued man up to this point in scripture. He has created them, called them into three covenants, instituted a sacrificial system to save them from sin, and made His presence available through the Tabernacle. Fast forward to the present day and you can add the death and resurrection of Jesus, the sending of the Holy Spirit, and the written Word of God contained in the Bible.
Men, do you seek God? Are you searching for Him intensely and passionately? Would you call it searching with all your heart and soul?
If you're in a relationship, married or dating, think of the way you pursued your spouse/girlfriend. When I first started dating my wife I would call and text her to let her know I was thinking of her. I'd send flowers and write notes. And then we got married and gradually those things became few and far between. I hate that, and I'm trying to be better and much more intentional about continuing to pursue her. Often though that's what happens, we get the girl so we stop trying. The same can be said of God. We search for Him, find Him, and then we stop the pursuit. This is not the way it should be. The pursuit must continue.
God has greatly pursued man, and so man's pursuit of God must be just as great. Because of all that God has done, He will not settle for a half hearted, casual seeking. If we would seek God we must search for Him with all of our heart and soul. We must pursue Him daily.
Let us seek God as intensely and passionately as He has pursued us. May we never stop.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Showing posts with label Deuteronomy 4. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Deuteronomy 4. Show all posts
Thursday, November 6, 2014
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Remember and Pass it on
"Only give heed to yourself and keep your soul diligently, so that you do not forget the things which your eyes have seen and they do not depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your sons and your grandsons." -Deuteronomy 4.9
Moses has given encouragement to live obediently to God and live according to His statutes. This lifestyle will bring the presence of God, and will stand out in the world of pagan nations. But this task is not done lightly, and in fact it is only because of the presence of God that it is even possible.
Here, in verse 9, Moses uses strong words. Heed means "to give careful attention to" and diligent is "constant in effort to accomplish something; attentive and persistent in doing anything". He tells them to focus on their lives, and to constantly guard their souls so that they do not forget all that God has done. The reminder of God's faithfulness inspires obedience to Him in the future. Remembering how He has come through reminds us that He is trustworthy. Knowing how greatly He has blessed and provided in the past assures us that He will come through again, if we remain faithful.
And it is not simply for themselves, they are to pass it on to their children, and grandchildren. The stories of God's faithfulness are intended to be passed down. I believe this is part of the reason God has given us the Bible, it recounts the great deeds He performed for His people. At the same time, God's best days are not behind Him. The power displayed in Egypt and the wilderness, was not a one time thing. The stories passed down tell of what God has done, and shows what He is able to do.
Men, are you diligent over your soul? Do you take heed of your life? God has done great things in your life, you may not realize it until it's hindsight, but that makes hindsight such a wonderful gift. Don't allow yourself to forget about what God has done. If need be write them down, but always speak of them often. Make sure your children and grandchildren (literal and spiritual) know how God has been at work in your life. Let them see the faithfulness of God.
As we pass on the stories of the past it is crucial that we don't live there. Again, God's best days are not behind Him. The great things He has done in the past were simply the beginning. He will come through in greater ways and display greater power if we remain obedient to Him.
This is not prosperity gospel preaching, this is a testament of God's faithfulness and power. His best days were not thousands of years ago in the wilderness of the Middle East. If they were, is He really a God worth following? God's best days are yet to come, and we will see the restoration of all things, and then who knows what greatness eternity will bring.
Let us remember and retell all that God has done. May we never forget. May we never fail to pass it on.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Moses has given encouragement to live obediently to God and live according to His statutes. This lifestyle will bring the presence of God, and will stand out in the world of pagan nations. But this task is not done lightly, and in fact it is only because of the presence of God that it is even possible.
Here, in verse 9, Moses uses strong words. Heed means "to give careful attention to" and diligent is "constant in effort to accomplish something; attentive and persistent in doing anything". He tells them to focus on their lives, and to constantly guard their souls so that they do not forget all that God has done. The reminder of God's faithfulness inspires obedience to Him in the future. Remembering how He has come through reminds us that He is trustworthy. Knowing how greatly He has blessed and provided in the past assures us that He will come through again, if we remain faithful.
And it is not simply for themselves, they are to pass it on to their children, and grandchildren. The stories of God's faithfulness are intended to be passed down. I believe this is part of the reason God has given us the Bible, it recounts the great deeds He performed for His people. At the same time, God's best days are not behind Him. The power displayed in Egypt and the wilderness, was not a one time thing. The stories passed down tell of what God has done, and shows what He is able to do.
Men, are you diligent over your soul? Do you take heed of your life? God has done great things in your life, you may not realize it until it's hindsight, but that makes hindsight such a wonderful gift. Don't allow yourself to forget about what God has done. If need be write them down, but always speak of them often. Make sure your children and grandchildren (literal and spiritual) know how God has been at work in your life. Let them see the faithfulness of God.
As we pass on the stories of the past it is crucial that we don't live there. Again, God's best days are not behind Him. The great things He has done in the past were simply the beginning. He will come through in greater ways and display greater power if we remain obedient to Him.
This is not prosperity gospel preaching, this is a testament of God's faithfulness and power. His best days were not thousands of years ago in the wilderness of the Middle East. If they were, is He really a God worth following? God's best days are yet to come, and we will see the restoration of all things, and then who knows what greatness eternity will bring.
Let us remember and retell all that God has done. May we never forget. May we never fail to pass it on.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
Obedience Brings the Presence of God
"For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as is the Lord our God whenever we call on Him? Or what great nation is there that has statutes and judgments as righteous as this whole law which I am setting before you today?" -Deuteronomy 4.7-8
If Israel will continue in obedience to God, He will be with them. He will hear, and answer them when they call on Him, as a father answers his children. If they will live according to His standards His presence will be with them forever. There was no other nation that had a personal god who was involved in their daily lives. There was no other nation that was given the standards of righteousness like Israel was. They were set apart, and if they would remain obedient to God, He would be with them.
God wants to be near to His people, but they limit Him by living in disobedience to Him. God does not force His way in, He allows us to freely choose how we will live. We can choose to live as the world does, and fall short of God's standards. Or we can choose to live God's way, and as we do His presence is with us, empowering us to live according to His standards.
Men, if you desire the presence of God in your life, you must live obediently before Him. His way is the best way. His blessings are beyond measure. His presence brings these things to our lives, but in order to have it we must obey. God will be near to us, available whenever we call upon Him. And God will help us to live by His standards. In other words, God will help us to live obediently to Him.
Let us seek the presence of God, and live in such a way where God is near. Let us live obediently before Him.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
If Israel will continue in obedience to God, He will be with them. He will hear, and answer them when they call on Him, as a father answers his children. If they will live according to His standards His presence will be with them forever. There was no other nation that had a personal god who was involved in their daily lives. There was no other nation that was given the standards of righteousness like Israel was. They were set apart, and if they would remain obedient to God, He would be with them.
God wants to be near to His people, but they limit Him by living in disobedience to Him. God does not force His way in, He allows us to freely choose how we will live. We can choose to live as the world does, and fall short of God's standards. Or we can choose to live God's way, and as we do His presence is with us, empowering us to live according to His standards.
Men, if you desire the presence of God in your life, you must live obediently before Him. His way is the best way. His blessings are beyond measure. His presence brings these things to our lives, but in order to have it we must obey. God will be near to us, available whenever we call upon Him. And God will help us to live by His standards. In other words, God will help us to live obediently to Him.
Let us seek the presence of God, and live in such a way where God is near. Let us live obediently before Him.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Monday, November 3, 2014
Obedience Stands Out
"So keep and do them, for that is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes and say, 'Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.'" -Deuteronomy 4.6
Moses urges the nation to live in obedience to God as they enter the land. Not only will it lead to life, but it also will make the nation stand apart. It is wise to live obediently to God. To live according to His holy and righteous statutes is full of understanding. As the people live God's way others will take notice.
Living God's way is not the popular way. It demands discipline, submission, and certain limitations, but all of that is for the benefit of those who follow God. God is not mean, or a tyrant. It is not His desire to withhold all good things from us, as Satan convinced Adam and Eve in Genesis 3. God simply desires the very best for us, and when we live obediently to Him our lives look different.
Obedience to God seeks to live as God intended and that stands out. Living differently, and blessed, causes others to take notice. As they see God's presence and provision they cannot help but describe the way we live as wise. It is important to note that claiming to live as a Christ follower, and actually living as a Christ follower are different things. One brings the favor of God and draws others to Him; the other brings the label of hypocrisy and pushes people away from God.
Men, does your life stand out? Are you living a set apart life of obedience to God that others take notice of? Does they way you live draw others to the love and righteousness of God, or push them away from Him?
Let us strive to live obediently before God. It is wisdom to live according to God's statutes, and when we do others will take notice. Let us live lives that draw others to God.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Moses urges the nation to live in obedience to God as they enter the land. Not only will it lead to life, but it also will make the nation stand apart. It is wise to live obediently to God. To live according to His holy and righteous statutes is full of understanding. As the people live God's way others will take notice.
Living God's way is not the popular way. It demands discipline, submission, and certain limitations, but all of that is for the benefit of those who follow God. God is not mean, or a tyrant. It is not His desire to withhold all good things from us, as Satan convinced Adam and Eve in Genesis 3. God simply desires the very best for us, and when we live obediently to Him our lives look different.
Obedience to God seeks to live as God intended and that stands out. Living differently, and blessed, causes others to take notice. As they see God's presence and provision they cannot help but describe the way we live as wise. It is important to note that claiming to live as a Christ follower, and actually living as a Christ follower are different things. One brings the favor of God and draws others to Him; the other brings the label of hypocrisy and pushes people away from God.
Men, does your life stand out? Are you living a set apart life of obedience to God that others take notice of? Does they way you live draw others to the love and righteousness of God, or push them away from Him?
Let us strive to live obediently before God. It is wisdom to live according to God's statutes, and when we do others will take notice. Let us live lives that draw others to God.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Sunday, November 2, 2014
Continued Obedience
"But you who held fast to the Lord your God are alive today, every one of you. 'See, I have taught you statutes and judgments just as the Lord my God commanded me, that you should do thus in the land where you are entering to possess it.'" -Deuteronomy 4.4-5
Moses has brought Israel to the edge of the Promised Land, and now he has been recounting the decades since they left Egypt. In that time he has shared God's teachings with them, yet there were those on the journey who refused to live by God's standards, and those who refused to trust Him. All of these acts of disobedience led to death, but those who trusted and obeyed have remained alive. Moses is urging the people to continue to live in obedience to God as they take possession of the land.
Obedience leads to life. When we live in faithful trust of God He watches over us. God's statutes are the best way to live, because God created life and His statutes are how He intended for life to be lived. When we obey Him we are living life in the best way. Following His statutes leads to His blessings, and it is crucial that once we receive His blessings we continue to live by His statutes.
It is common practice for people to make promises to God in hopes that He will do something for them, or give them something, but once they have it God is quickly forgotten. People pray for God's help with a difficult, or overwhelming, situation, but as soon as it's over they say to God, "I've got this from here." They begin to live as they did before the problem arose and won't think twice about God until they need Him again.
Moses did not want the people to follow God simply until Him until they got the reward of the Promised Land, and neither did God. His promise was to bring them into the land and be their God and they His people. The land is nothing without the presence of God. Moses urges the people to continue to live obediently before God.
Men, are you living in constant obedience to God? Is your life devoted to striving after His statutes and commands in order to live the best life that God has made possible? This way leads to life, provision and blessing.
It is crucial that we continue in obedience to God at all times. Obedience brings God's presence and blessing, and disobedience pushes it away. May we live in continued obedience to God.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Moses has brought Israel to the edge of the Promised Land, and now he has been recounting the decades since they left Egypt. In that time he has shared God's teachings with them, yet there were those on the journey who refused to live by God's standards, and those who refused to trust Him. All of these acts of disobedience led to death, but those who trusted and obeyed have remained alive. Moses is urging the people to continue to live in obedience to God as they take possession of the land.
Obedience leads to life. When we live in faithful trust of God He watches over us. God's statutes are the best way to live, because God created life and His statutes are how He intended for life to be lived. When we obey Him we are living life in the best way. Following His statutes leads to His blessings, and it is crucial that once we receive His blessings we continue to live by His statutes.
It is common practice for people to make promises to God in hopes that He will do something for them, or give them something, but once they have it God is quickly forgotten. People pray for God's help with a difficult, or overwhelming, situation, but as soon as it's over they say to God, "I've got this from here." They begin to live as they did before the problem arose and won't think twice about God until they need Him again.
Moses did not want the people to follow God simply until Him until they got the reward of the Promised Land, and neither did God. His promise was to bring them into the land and be their God and they His people. The land is nothing without the presence of God. Moses urges the people to continue to live obediently before God.
Men, are you living in constant obedience to God? Is your life devoted to striving after His statutes and commands in order to live the best life that God has made possible? This way leads to life, provision and blessing.
It is crucial that we continue in obedience to God at all times. Obedience brings God's presence and blessing, and disobedience pushes it away. May we live in continued obedience to God.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Saturday, November 1, 2014
What God Says
"Now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the judgments which I am teaching you to perform, so that you may live and go in and take possession of the land which the Lord, the God of your fathers, is giving you. You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you." -Deuteronomy 4.1-2
As Israel prepares to enter the Promised Land God gives them instructions for them to live by so that they may enjoy the blessings that He has for them. He tells them that they are not to add to what God says, or to take away from it, but simply follow the commands that He gives them.
If we look all the way back to Genesis 3 we see both of these take place. When asked by the serpent what God said, "The woman said to the serpent, 'From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, "You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die."'" (Genesis 3.2-3) She adds words that God never said, making it seem as if He has limited them where He has not.
Adding words to what God has said allows the serpent to plant seeds of doubt, as he takes words away from God's commands. "The serpent said to the woman, 'You surely will not die!'" (Genesis 3.4) Now with God's commands tampered with the enemy works hard. He convinces them that God is holding back from them and then leads them to disobey God, bringing sin into the world and cursing it.
Here, God tells Israel to do just what He says. He isn't limiting them for enjoying the goodness that He has given, and so they need to not add words to His commands, (but they later did with the Mishnah). Adding words that God did not say put restrictions in place that God never intended and only keep us from fully enjoying His blessings. At the same time, we must never take words away from God's commands. When we do this we are in danger of taking His blessings too far and abusing them in sinful behavior.
Men, let us be careful to do what God has said. We don't need to be paranoid and put all these limitations that He never intended for us to have on ourselves. At the same time, we cannot neglect His commands because then we live life separated from Him.
May we always do what God says. Let us enjoy His blessings as He intended for us to.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
As Israel prepares to enter the Promised Land God gives them instructions for them to live by so that they may enjoy the blessings that He has for them. He tells them that they are not to add to what God says, or to take away from it, but simply follow the commands that He gives them.
If we look all the way back to Genesis 3 we see both of these take place. When asked by the serpent what God said, "The woman said to the serpent, 'From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, "You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die."'" (Genesis 3.2-3) She adds words that God never said, making it seem as if He has limited them where He has not.
Adding words to what God has said allows the serpent to plant seeds of doubt, as he takes words away from God's commands. "The serpent said to the woman, 'You surely will not die!'" (Genesis 3.4) Now with God's commands tampered with the enemy works hard. He convinces them that God is holding back from them and then leads them to disobey God, bringing sin into the world and cursing it.
Here, God tells Israel to do just what He says. He isn't limiting them for enjoying the goodness that He has given, and so they need to not add words to His commands, (but they later did with the Mishnah). Adding words that God did not say put restrictions in place that God never intended and only keep us from fully enjoying His blessings. At the same time, we must never take words away from God's commands. When we do this we are in danger of taking His blessings too far and abusing them in sinful behavior.
Men, let us be careful to do what God has said. We don't need to be paranoid and put all these limitations that He never intended for us to have on ourselves. At the same time, we cannot neglect His commands because then we live life separated from Him.
May we always do what God says. Let us enjoy His blessings as He intended for us to.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
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