Deuteronomy 2:1-3:29 ~ Luke 6:12-38 ~ Psalm 67:1-7 ~ Proverbs 11:27
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Old Testament - Okay, I think we've come across quite an understatement in our readings today in Deuteronomy chapter 2 verse 1 when Moses says: "We wandered around Mount Seir for a long time." Indeed... it was a long time of 3 decades plus of wandering... :) But, it's important for us to remember why it was such a long time of wandering - because of the Israelites' sin in not entering the Promised Land when they were first instructed to do so by God. And, I think about this in our lives today. When we sin. And particularly when we consistently sin - with a bad habit or addiction that we know we should not be indulging in - we can become just like the Israelites, wandering around in the wilderness for a long time... My fear is that we can get so used to our sin and wandering around in the wilderness that we don't ever break free from it. We stay in bondage to the sin. And then we stay in the wilderness. The wilderness for us today may simply be living life half-heartedly in a bit of a haze or a bit of a funk. With some sort of cloud hanging over us. It's no way to live life. I guess I just want to encourage you that if you are struggling with what seems to be an unreleaseable sin to not give up. Don't ever give up on victory! Continue to take the sin to Jesus over and over and over again. Take it to God over and over and over again. Pray about it continuously. Seek wise counsel from friends and pastors and professional help. Freedom awaits you. You can get out of the wilderness. The Promised Land awaits you. Please don't continue to "wander around Mt. Seir for a long time".... Below is a painting titled "The Wanderer" by German artist George Seir from 1934:
We read some significant verses at the end of Deuteronomy chapter 3 when Moses asks to enter the Promised Land, and God replies in verses 26 through 28: "`Speak of it no more. You can go to Pisgah Peak and view the land in every direction, but you may not cross the Jordan River. But commission Joshua and encourage him, for he will lead the people across the Jordan. He will give them the land you now see before you.'" Here we see that God is standing firm in his refusal of allowing Moses to enter the Promised Land - and yet, he does show mercy in allowing Moses to view the land.
New Testament - In Luke chapter 6 verses 12 & 13 today we read - "One day soon afterward Jesus went to a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night. At daybreak he called together all of his disciples and chose twelve of them to be apostles." Every time I read about Jesus' calling of the apostles, I always think about myself. What would I have done if I was called by Jesus to be an apostle back then? What would I do if I was called to follow Jesus in this way today? What would you do? Would you leave everything behind and follow Jesus?
Verses 22 & 23 are just no joke and so powerful for each of to consider and remember in our lives today - "God blesses you who are hated and excluded and mocked and cursed because you are identified with me, the Son of Man. When that happens, rejoice! Yes, leap for joy! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were also treated that way by your ancestors." Wow... rejoice when you are hated and excluded and mocked and cursed - because you are identified with Jesus. No, don't just rejoice - leap for joy!
Today we read 3 amazing verses that I don't think we can hear often enough. And my hunch is that we don't follow these teachings often enough... they can seem initially so counter-intuitive - just like leaping for joy is when you are persecuted for loving Jesus. But these 3 verses are clearly such an important part of living the Christian life. And when you really meditate upon them, you'll see that they really are not counter-intuitive at all, but completely wise. Verse 28 - "Pray for the happiness of those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you." And verses 35 & 36 - ""Love your enemies! Do good to them! Lend to them! And don't be concerned that they might not repay. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to the unthankful and to those who are wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate." How are you doing on praying for the happiness of those who curse you or hurt you? How are you doing in loving your enemies and doing good to them? Do you believe we should be compassionate in these ways?
Verse 37 I don't think we can hear often enough either - ""Stop judging others, and you will not be judged. Stop criticizing others, or it will all come back on you. If you forgive others, you will be forgiven." I really need to hear this one - stop judging others. Stop judging others. Stop judging others. Okay, I think I've got it.... Maybe... :)
Bible.org's commentary on Luke chapter 6 readings today titled "Defining Discipleship" is at this link.
Psalms - Psalm 67 verse 2 today sounds very Great Commission-ish: "May your ways be known throughout the earth, your saving power among people everywhere." It's interesting to read this verse when just recently I was reading a review in my local newspaper about a book that "exposes" evangelical Christians. (of which I am one) This book really dives into how "successful" evangelical Christians are in "recruiting" young adults ages 20 to 35 with their ministries. And this book reviewer - and the book author - were very disdainful of Christianity. Saying it threatened secular society... and this just made me realize that the more we do indeed make God's ways known throughout the earth - the more we introduce people to God's saving power among people everywhere - well, then the secular world will push back big time with books and reviews like the one I read. And the secular world will even push back in more severe ways as well. This makes me realize that indeed our efforts to make God's was known - God's love, grace, mercy, salvation, call to repentance - are being noticed by others. But hopefully more than just being noticed by others, let us pray that our Kingdom work actually introduces others to God's only son Jesus, who transforms hearts and lives for eternity!
Proverbs - Chapter 11 verse 27 is a powerful Proverb to pay heed to! "If you search for good, you will find favor; but if you search for evil, it will find you!" I pray each of us is consistently searching for good - and never searching for evil.
Worship God: Psalm 67:2 reminds me the amazing song "My Redeemer Lives" by Nicole C. Mullen:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKrBqD7uhBM
Do you know our Redeemer lives? Click here for Life!
Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven." Luke 6:37 NIV
Prayer Point: Pray that you will not judge others, but leave the Judgment to Jesus. Pray that you will not condemn. Pray that you will forgive others, as Jesus has Forgiven you.
Comments from You & Questions of the Day: Based on Psalm 67 today, how are you helping to make God's ways be known throughout the earth? Are you sharing with other's God's saving power? Do you want the life you live to reflect God's glory to others? Also, what verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings? Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!
God bless,
Mike
Deuteronomy 2:1-3:29
Something I noticed with Israel and her wars, God gave them victory before they went to battle, ergo, God gives us the Victory over our enemies (addictions; stress; bad health; people who come against us because we are believers—whatever conflicts with a Kingdom loving, God centered lifestyle); however, we must go into the battle. I heard this from my pastor’s wife about three/four weeks ago. “Running from the battle qualifies you for captivity.”
"Get up, make your way across Wadi Arnon. Look! I have already delivered over to you Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land. Go ahead! Take it! Engage him in war! ... The LORD said to me, "Look! I have already begun to give over Sihon and his land to you. Start right now to take his land as your possession."
(Deuteronomy 2:24, 31 NET.)
I was also tying to find the post that someone wrote (I think it was Andrew B, but I could be mistaken), when we first got into Deuteronomy, that Moses was playing the “Blame Game,” and at the end of our readings sure enough Moses again blames the “crowd” for his inability to enter the Promise Land.
But the LORD was angry at me because of you and would not listen to me. Instead, he said to me, "Enough of that! Do not speak to me anymore about this matter.
(Deuteronomy 3:26 NET.)
Grace and peace and Make it a Blessed Day!! Don’t allow circmstances and other people to control whether a day is blessed or not—Take charge [That encouragement if from me also, self-speak spoken (written) out-loud]
Ramona
Posted by: Ramona | March 23, 2011 at 10:14 PM
Deuteronomy 2: 2-3, 31-35
2 Then the LORD said to me, 3 “You have made your way around this hill country long enough; now turn north.
31 The LORD said to me, “See, I have begun to deliver Sihon and his country over to you. Now begin to conquer and possess his land.”
32 When Sihon and all his army came out to meet us in battle at Jahaz, 33 the LORD our God delivered him over to us and we struck him down, together with his sons and his whole army. 34 At that time we took all his towns and completely destroyed[c] them—men, women and children. We left no survivors. 35 But the livestock and the plunder from the towns we had captured we carried off for ourselves.
Our LORD has his own timing. It is a mystery that why the God led the Israelites 38 years (plus two before the LORD declared them to wander in the desert) but not 37 years nor 39 years. But the truth is when God's time is up, God acts immediately. Be alert for God's timing.
Luke 6:21
21 Blessed are you who hunger now,
for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who weep now,
for you will laugh.
The tears you shed are now in God's hand. When His time comes, you will laugh. What a promise!
God Bless
Frederick Y
Posted by: Frederick Y | March 23, 2011 at 11:03 PM
Luke 6:27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
I pray in my mind and heart that God punish the people who mistreat me and hurt me and others especially those we love. I always say, that God's justice will come one day.
It is hard on our own to love those who mistreat us. It is not impossible with God's help although it is a slow process. I had a personal experience with a co worker who (because of his material needs) resulted in lying to our superior about my work so he could take over my tasks. I was deeply hurt because it was not true. I carry this hurt with me Then one day I prayed for him and his family. Wow, it was liberating to pray for those who hurt us. A big burden washed away which was eating me up for a while. I saw him in a funeral wake. We hugged and that time I knew the hurt was not there anymore. I still pray for him and his family.
I still need to work more on praying for others who hurt me and trust God.
Luke 6:37 "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven."
In many small ways sometimes we are not aware that we are judging others. I pray that God will watch my actions and words so as not to intentionally or unintentionnally judge others.
Yes, Mike we have to pray not to judge others for judgement is of the Lord.
God bless.
Lily
Posted by: Lily | March 24, 2011 at 06:50 AM
Grace and peace and Make it a Blessed Day!! Don’t allow circumstances and other people to control whether a day is blessed or not—Take charge [That encouragement if from me also, self-speak spoken (written) out-loud]
Thanx so much for this Ramona. Ive been having issues with my boss and he has started wearing me down but today i just came to the office with a smile determined not to let him have a say on how my day went. He was away most of the day but regardless of that I cam e knowing i will have a good day and what you have said is so true. Bless you for that and have a good every-day ya'll.
Posted by: Zig | March 24, 2011 at 07:30 AM
Deuteronomy 2:1-3:29
As the Israelites marched on towards the Promise Land, they were instructed by God not to fight with the decedents of their relative Esau (the land of the Edomites, Moabites, and Ammonites) along the way. When they arrived at the land of the Amorites, King Sihon flat out refused to let them pass through the territory and attacked them. The Israelites completely and decisively destroyed King Sihon’s kingdom, (the land east of the Jordan) just outside the Promise Land. This is where Gad, Reuben and the half tribe of Manasseh settled. What would have happened if King Sihon would have feared them a little more and granted them passage? Would Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh still have occupied territory outside the Promise Land?
What territory do we occupy, the Promise Land or have we chosen to live just on the outskirts of the Promise Land? The tribe of Reuben and Gad were cattlemen and in that day having herds of cattle was prestigious; similar to today’s standards of wealth which are measured by how big your house is and how prestigious a car you drive. Remember when Moses came down from the mountain top and the Israelites had begun worshipping the image of the golden calf (wealth & power)? Occupying the territory outside the Promise Land is failing to trust God for our provisions. It in a sense making the statement we know what’s best for us better than God. It’s relying on our own prosperity and resources (Manna-Amnesia) for our safety and security.
By fast forwarding in time we see that the territory chosen by Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh later fell to the Assyrians. The moral of the story is that Father (God) always knows best. Leaning on our own understanding seems like a good idea at the time but never quite works out like we plan.
Posted by: Steve T | March 24, 2011 at 04:08 PM
PRAISE GOD. THANK YOU JESUS! GLORY TO GOD.
THAT JUDGEMENT MESSAGE IS SO IMPORTANT. I HELD A GRUDGE FOR YEARS AND WHEN THE LORD SHOWED ME TO LET GO IT WAS WONDERFUL.
Posted by: J.D. BRIAN WATT | March 26, 2011 at 07:51 AM