Deuteronomy 5:1-6:25 ~ Luke 7:11-35 ~ Psalm 68:19-35 ~ Proverbs 11:29-31
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Old Testament - Today we get a nice recap of the Ten Commandments in Deuteronomy chapter 5! We originally read these in Exodus chapter 20 and then again in Exodus chapter 34. There are some differences in the wordings of the Ten Commandments in each of these chapters, but not enough to worry about. :) Check out a quick overview of some of the differences between these 3 chapters' presentation of the Ten Commandments at this link. Bible.org has a great overview of the Ten Commandments, based on Exodus chapter 20, at this link.
I love Deuteronomy chapter 6 verses 4 through 9 in our readings today! These verses are known as the Shema - which was named after the first word in this verse and means "Hear." The Shema became the Jewish confession of faith, which was recited by pious Jews every morning and evening and it is still recited in synagogue services today. They are the last words a Jew says prior to death. More very interesting information about The Shema from a Jewish website is at this link. ""Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone. And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are away on a journey, when you are lying down and when you are getting up again. Tie them to your hands as a reminder, and wear them on your forehead. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."
Bible.org's commentary on Deuteronomy chapter 6 titled "Responsibilities of Fatherhood" is at this link.
New Testament - Wow.... Verse 35 in Luke chapter 7 is such a profound teaching of Jesus' for each of us to consider: "But wisdom is shown to be right by the lives of those who follow it." Take a few moments to really meditate on this verse and what it means. For me this verse is a reminder that sometimes in life we have to move forward in faith on something "wise" we've heard, but maybe not experienced - and then later see that the wisdom is true. I'm not sure if I'm going to explain myself well here... but my thought is that as followers of Jesus, I think we can get lazy in our faith at times. As just one example - maybe we don't think we really need to give financially to our church. We know the wisdom of Malachi 3:10, but maybe we haven't really experienced the wisdom of giving. So, maybe we need to follow the wisdom first - and then we will later know the full truth and beauty of the wisdom. Hope this makes sense? I'd just say that if there is a struggle in your life that God is calling you to leave behind or move forward on - go for it! If you know you should be doing or not doing something - go with that wisdom you know and then it will "shown to be right by the lives of those who follow it." Please follow Wisdom! Please follow Jesus!
A nice image of John the Baptist sending two of his disciples to meet Jesus is below, from verses 18 & 19 - "The disciples of John the Baptist told John about everything Jesus was doing. So John called for two of his disciples, and he sent them to the Lord to ask him, "Are you the Messiah we've been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?"
Bible.org's commentary on Luke chapter 7's readings today, titled "John's Problem with Jesus" is at this link.
Psalms - Today in Psalm 68 verse 20 we read – “Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign LORD comes escape from death.” Do you believe God is a God who saves us? How did / does God do this saving? Do you believe that escape from death comes from God and his Son? I’ve been reflecting on this “death” aspect of our fallen world a bit lately, which has been sad to reflect upon. I had an experience with a few friends very recently where I was reminded of how self-destructive we can be in our lives. I think that without Jesus we can oftentimes not know where to turn for an escape from death – we do not know where to turn from an escape from our own self destructive behaviors. My friends need Jesus. I need Jesus. The world needs Jesus. Our God is a God who saves. From God and Jesus comes escape from death. May this season of Easter bring us, our friends, and families closer to the God who saves!
Proverbs - I love the imagery in Proverbs chapter 11 verse 30 today - "The godly are like trees that bear life-giving fruit, and those who save lives are wise." That is a powerful last half of the verse. Those who save lives are wise... Are you saving lives? How? How might you be able to save lives? My one quick thought on this is to get involved in ministries that are serving the poorest of the poor. I honestly believe $1 a day can save a life, if not many lives. Sponsoring a child through World Vision or Compassion or another worthy organization is an amazing way to save a life. $1 a day. Will you invest in a child who needs you today? Would this be wise?
Worship God: Psalm 68:20 reminded me of the Chris Tomlin song "Let God Arise" with the lyric: "Our God is a God who Saves!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaLckqfvZHQ
Do you know our God who Saves? Click here for Salvation!
Please join us in memorizing and meditating on three verses of Scripture today: "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts." Deuteronomy 6:4-6 NIV
Prayer Point: Pray that you will love God with all of your heart, soul and strength. Pray that God's commandments are written upon your heart today and forevermore.
Comments from You & Questions of the Day: What are some of your favorite charities that serve the poorest of the poor worldwide? And in your own hometown? Do you think we should care that 1.2 billion people in our world today live on less than $1 a day? Do you think we should get involved in this issue? Do you think we should serve those living in poverty both internationally and in our own hometown? 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 5:1-6:25
Obey God’s commands; listen, be careful to do; walk straight; don’t veer off; deeply respect, etc., words and phrases found all throughout today’s reading. Do you think God is trying to tell us something?
Jesus speaking in the 14th chapter of John states:
If you [really] love Me, you will keep (obey) My commands. (John 14:15 AMP)
We look at “love” as an emotion, and confuse it with mercy, though mercy flows from love. God says love is a verb and is a “doing.” We determine if someone loves us by what they do for us; God determines love for Him by obedience to His Word. Is there anyway we can reconcile what we call love to God’s definition? God is immutable so He can’t change, it is against His nature. We have to change our understanding of what love is to fit into God’s standard. Loving God His way, which is the only way that counts, brings BIG benefits for us,
And the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, to [reverently] fear the Lord our God for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as it is this day. And it will be accounted as righteousness (conformity to God's will in word, thought, and action) for us if we are watchful to do all this commandment before the Lord our God, as He has commanded us. (Deuteronomy 6:24-25 AMP)
Grace and peace,
Ramona
Posted by: Ramona | March 25, 2011 at 10:55 PM
Sometimes or most of the time we love our self than to love God above all.We love this body which will decay but we forgot about our spiritual body that will last forever. Loving the LORD w/ all our heart, w/ all our mind, w/ all our soul, & w/all our strength is a command that we should obey in order to prosper in every aspects of our life.To GOD be the GLORY now and forever...
Posted by: Bobbie Misa | March 26, 2011 at 06:47 AM
Luke 7:11-15
Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. 12 As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.”
14 Then he went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” 15 The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.
Read a great commentary on these verses that pointed out some interesting points. Our society in general is lacking compassion because many have bought into the philosophy that happiness comes to those who avoid pain. If you want to be happy then you have to learn to love yourself and nurture yourself, then you will be happy. Not true. The heart of happiness is in mourning for others and to carry others hurt in our own heart.
Jesus was the happiest person on earth. He was full of joy but also full of compassion and willingness to suffer for others. How can someone who suffered so much also be the happiest? Doesn’t make sense unless we take Jesus (The Man of Sorrows) at His word and trust Him. One would think that someone who suffers a lot would be on a bummer but that is only true for someone who does not understand the words of Jesus. We’re not to block out the bad in our life, hoping it won’t rub off on us and drag us down. When we embrace the hurt and injustice of others and in our own life, we open the floodgates of irony and watch water flow uphill, oh the miracles that we take for granite. Jesus said “Happy is the man not who detaches himself, but who mourns, who is heartbroken, for he is the one who will be comforted.”
Deuteronomy 5:1-6:25
What stood out for me (again) were the Ten Commandments. This time, it was the practicality of them. True if we are walking with God and trusting in Him, these commandments are written in our hearts instead of on stone. But one has only to look around and see the fruit coming from those that have these commandments written in their heart and see changed lives.
Deuteronomy 5:29 (In the words of my Pastor)
This is God's cry; this is God's lamentation. "Oh that the people would hear Me and obey Me that they might be able to enjoy My blessings forever." I'm sure that God laments over us. "Oh, if you would only follow me completely so that I can do for you all that I'm wanting to do." We so limit that which God wants to do because He loves you so much. He is wanting to do so much for you.
Posted by: Steve T | March 26, 2011 at 02:13 PM
Yes, one of my favorite songs!
RR
Posted by: bajo | March 26, 2011 at 09:29 PM