Deuteronomy 6:13-17
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
A Call for Wholehearted Commitment
13 You must fear the Lord your God and serve him. When you take an oath, you must use only his name.
14 “You must not worship any of the gods of neighboring nations, 15 for the Lord your God, who lives among you, is a jealous God. His anger will flare up against you, and he will wipe you from the face of the earth. 16 You must not test the Lord your God as you did when you complained at Massah. 17 You must diligently obey the commands of the Lord your God—all the laws and decrees he has given you.
When the nation of Israel was preparing to enter the promised land, Moses reminded them of the One who was making their journey and ultimate victory possible. He warned them not to forget the God of Israel … not to abandon the One True God.
Our society honors diversity and toleration of a variety of spiritual practices. We must however, remember Moses warning. There is One God we fear and serve. His name is above every name and He is jealous. “He will wipe you from the face of the earth…” if you fail to heed His Word and follow it diligently.
Christians beware! Don’t play with your future! Don’t play with your eternity!
Monday, August 31, 2009
Friday, August 28, 2009
HOME TRAINING
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
A Call for Wholehearted Commitment
4 “Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. 5 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. 6 And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. 7 Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. 8 Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. 9 Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
The phrase ‘home training’ generically refers to the lessons children learn at home, from their parents, about life and proper behavior. As we look at God’s instructions about ‘home training’, it begins first with the parents. They must be wholeheartedly committed to God and His commandments. That will enable them to teach these guideline … instructions … commandments … to their children. You can’t instill in your children’s hearts what you haven’t first embraced wholeheartedly in your own heart.
Children are sharp and very observant. They pick up on what is authentic in your life. They also recognize what is phony. Actions do speak louder than words!
How are you responding to God’s call for wholehearted commitment … with authenticity or phoniness? Your children are answering this for you.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
A Call for Wholehearted Commitment
4 “Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. 5 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. 6 And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. 7 Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. 8 Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. 9 Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
The phrase ‘home training’ generically refers to the lessons children learn at home, from their parents, about life and proper behavior. As we look at God’s instructions about ‘home training’, it begins first with the parents. They must be wholeheartedly committed to God and His commandments. That will enable them to teach these guideline … instructions … commandments … to their children. You can’t instill in your children’s hearts what you haven’t first embraced wholeheartedly in your own heart.
Children are sharp and very observant. They pick up on what is authentic in your life. They also recognize what is phony. Actions do speak louder than words!
How are you responding to God’s call for wholehearted commitment … with authenticity or phoniness? Your children are answering this for you.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
RESISTING THE VISION … GOD’S ANSWER
Exodus 3:11-12
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
Moses and the Burning Bush
11 But Moses protested to God, “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?”
12 God answered, “I will be with you. And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God at this very mountain.”
Moses was one of the greatest leaders of world history. When God directed him to lead in a difficult situation, he hesitated before he obeyed … but he did obey. God showed Moses genuine understanding of his fears about the overwhelming vision. God validated each of Moses’ statements and addressed them. As Moses’ concerns went away, so did his resistance to the vision. Like Moses, we will occasionally face seemingly impossible situations and will need to follow Moses’ lead: Assess the situation, take our fears to God, listen for His response and then obey.
God said, “I will be with you…” That’s enough for me!
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
Moses and the Burning Bush
11 But Moses protested to God, “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?”
12 God answered, “I will be with you. And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God at this very mountain.”
Moses was one of the greatest leaders of world history. When God directed him to lead in a difficult situation, he hesitated before he obeyed … but he did obey. God showed Moses genuine understanding of his fears about the overwhelming vision. God validated each of Moses’ statements and addressed them. As Moses’ concerns went away, so did his resistance to the vision. Like Moses, we will occasionally face seemingly impossible situations and will need to follow Moses’ lead: Assess the situation, take our fears to God, listen for His response and then obey.
God said, “I will be with you…” That’s enough for me!
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
BRING IN THE HARVEST
John 4:35
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
35 You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest.’ But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest.
Paul told the Church at Corinth that he planted, someone else watered the seed but God made that seed grow. (1 Cor. 3:6). Jesus says we don’t have to look far … look around … the growing is taking place and we, the followers of Christ, need to be busy … wake up … and bring in the harvest.
I believe we can see in this that in the church there are those who have been introduced to Christ (the seed planted), even been taught some Word (watered) but have yet to be brought into the fold (harvested). They are still clinging to their old selves … the old nature. They have yet to put on the new creation. Pride … selfishness … lust … the ways of the world are still seen in their behavior.
Just as Jesus told those first disciples, today’s followers of Christ need to be busy in the fields … loving … nurturing … making disciples … bringing in the harvest.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
35 You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest.’ But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest.
Paul told the Church at Corinth that he planted, someone else watered the seed but God made that seed grow. (1 Cor. 3:6). Jesus says we don’t have to look far … look around … the growing is taking place and we, the followers of Christ, need to be busy … wake up … and bring in the harvest.
I believe we can see in this that in the church there are those who have been introduced to Christ (the seed planted), even been taught some Word (watered) but have yet to be brought into the fold (harvested). They are still clinging to their old selves … the old nature. They have yet to put on the new creation. Pride … selfishness … lust … the ways of the world are still seen in their behavior.
Just as Jesus told those first disciples, today’s followers of Christ need to be busy in the fields … loving … nurturing … making disciples … bringing in the harvest.
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