Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year.

Deuteronomy 14

Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year. v22

God requires us to tithe - it is a reminder that all of our blessings come from God and that we are to trust God to provide for us.

We must also care for our church leadership - who is referred to by Moses in v27.

The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. 1 Timothy 5:17

Lord Jesus help me tithe so I have a reminder of how You are the source of all blessings and only You provide, that I must trust in You.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who has blessed me beyond what I deserve.  Thank You Jesus.  Yet my sin continues - I am harsh with my words. Please forgive me and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

See that you do all I command you; do not add to it or take away from it.

Deuteronomy 12

See that you do all I command you; do not add to it or take away from it. v32

The greatest commandment is to love the Lord Your God with all of your heart, soul, and mind (Matthew 22).  God provides for other commands as well and how we live in relationship to God, others, and the church is clearly laid out among scripture.

Moses communicates to the Israelites that they are to be careful to worship the one true God in ways that others worship false gods.  Yahweh is a jealous God and we must out of respect fear His wrath.

See also posts here.

Lord Jesus, please help me worship You as You intend - with all of my heart, soul, and mind, and to not add to or subtract how You desire for me to be in relationship with You, others, and the church.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God, full of love and compassion for me - thank You Jesus.  I am not deserving of such love.  I am lazy.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.

Deuteronomy 11

Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth. v18-21

God must live within our hearts - this must then visible in our actions in our daily lives (Romans 12:1-2) as we become a living sacrifice.

For God to live within our hearts we must seek Him earnestly and daily.

Jesus, I pray that I might seek You earnestly and daily, and to live out my life as a living sacrifice to You.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who is always with us - never leaving or forsaking us.  You encourage us, teach us, provide for us, protect us, etc.  We are nothing without You.  Thank You for how You sustain me Jesus.  I am not worth such love. I neglect You often. Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself strength and wisdom. Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Fear the Lord your God and serve him. Hold fast to him and take your oaths in his name. 21 He is the one you praise; he is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes.

Deuteronomy 10

Fear the Lord your God and serve him. Hold fast to him and take your oaths in his name. He is the one you praise; he is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes. v20-21

Moses repeatedly refers to the Israelites as stiff-necked and rebellious (see Deuteronomy 9) - yet he loves them and more importantly He loves the Lord and knows the Lord loves the Israelites and is faithful.  Moses wants the Israelites to thrive in the Promised Land and he knows that they must constantly remind themselves of the source of their blessings.

See also my post yesterday.

All of us are stiff-necked and rebellious - on a daily basis.

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 1 John 1:8

We MUST remember what Jesus did for us - He gave us what we did not deserve (mercy and life) and spared us from what we did deserve (slavery to sin and death).

Lord Jesus, help me daily remind myself of who You are, what You have done for me and what You continue to do for me.

My Prayer: Jesus, You are indeed a great God who has paid it all for me.  Thank You Jesus.  I am not worth the price You paid for me.  My stubbornness and rebelliousness continues.  Please forgive me and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.

Deuteronomy 8

But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today. v18

Moses implores the Israelites to remember how God is the source of all the blessings the Israelites experienced:

Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years. v2-4

For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land—a land with brooks, streams, and deep springs gushing out into the valleys and hills; a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey; a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills. v7-9

When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. He led you through the vast and dreadful wilderness, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. He gave you manna to eat in the wilderness, something your ancestors had never known, to humble and test you so that in the end it might go well with you. You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today. v10-18

Verse 17-18 are key here also because Moses reminds us of how arrogance displaces God from His rightful place as the center of our life and the source of all blessings.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

I pray that God can help me remain humble and to remember how God provides all that I am and all that I have and experience.

My Prayer:  Lord Jesus, You are a great God full of love and compassion for me - Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love.  I fall down and am often arrogant.  Please forgive me and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help my serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the Lord your God disciplines you.

Deuteronomy 8

 Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the Lord your God disciplines you. v5

Just as the Israelites were humbled and disciplined for their sins in the wilderness (v2-4), God has disciplined me for me sin and humbled me - helping me understand His greatness and my utter dependence on Him alone.

He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. v3

We all go through periods where we are molded by God and often it is painful - but a necessary thing if we are to be who God intends for us.

See also posts here and here, including posts on how we go through a refinement process.

"My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
    and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,

because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
    and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” Hebrews 12:5-6

 

This third I will put into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. Zechariah 13:9

 

Lord Jesus, please help me not lose heart as You discipline me.

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God - full of love and compassion for me - even as You discipline me - it is an expression of Your love for me.  Thank You for how You have molded me.  I love You.  Yet I am not worth such love.  I worry - please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.

Deuteronomy 7

Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments. v9

God makes many promises and He is faithful.  This is reinforced elsewhere in scripture including Luke 1:37 where Gabriel comforts Mary with these words: "[f]or no word from God will ever fail".  It is comforting during periods of concern. 

God will always be with us and never leave or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6, Hebrews 13:5, Psalm 73:23, Matthew 28:20)

God provides, sustains, and we are not to worry.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You indeed are a great God, and You provide - all things during all times.  I have experienced Your blessing during both good times and difficult times.  I know You are always with me and You sustain me.  Thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such love and blessing.  I am harsh with my words.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Do not put the Lord your God to the test as you did at Massah.

Deuteronomy 6

Do not put the Lord your God to the test as you did at Massah. v16

In Matthew 4, when Jesus is tested in the wilderness, this is one of the scripture verses quoted by Jesus to give Him victory over the tempter.

We are commanded to " [f]ear the Lord your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name" (verse 13), and building on yesterday's post, we are to come to Him daily in study and prayer and to practice the presence of God.

Righteousness and victory over sin in our lives is within our grasp as we do this and because the Holy Spirit is with us.

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. Ephesians 1:18:21 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God, full of love of and compassion for me, giving me many, many second chances, blessing me, protecting me, teaching me, providing for me - You are worthy of my life as a living sacrifice.  Thank You Jesus.  Yet I know that I often fall short - I get angry too quickly and am harsh with my words.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do. Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

Deuteronomy 6

These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. v6-9

I've often wondered what it means to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength", as it states in verse 5.  This is a key verse because Jesus refers to this as the greatest commandment (Matthew 22).  

For us to love God with all of our heart, soul, and mind - we must know God by spending time with Him in study and prayer.  By knowing God our hearts should overflow with joy, compelling us to speak of Him, serve Him, and glorify Him - day and night as it refers to in verses 6-9.

See also Romans 12:2, Acts 4:20, and Brother Lawrence - the practice of the Presence of God the best rule of a Holy Life.

Lord Jesus, please help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed and an amazing God, full of love and compassion for me.  You creation is a wonder beyond imagination.  I know You love me.  Thank You Jesus for Your love and for never leaving or forsaking me.  I am not worth such love. I continue to sin - as I am selfish as one of my many sins.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For the Lord your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your ancestors, which he confirmed to them by oath.

Deuteronomy 4

For the Lord your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your ancestors, which he confirmed to them by oath. v31

We all have periods of our life when we place ourselves or other Gods ahead of the one true God - Yahweh.  The world of course is full of temptation and we sometimes succumb.  Yet we have a God who is truly full of mercy and compassion - so much so that He sent His one and only son Jesus Christ to die for us (John 3:16).

When we stray, we should return to Him and He will welcome us back with open arms.

But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul. When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you, then in later days you will return to the Lord your God and obey him. v29-30

See also parables of the Lost Sheep and Prodigal Son.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who is full of mercy and compassion.  You welcome me back when I stray - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love - as I stray often.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of cancer.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.

Deuteronomy 4

Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them. v9

As believing parents we have a responsibility to teach our children the ways of the Lord - and better still to demonstrate the ways of the Lord in our daily living (James 1:22).  This responsibility extends to our spouse, and others in our life where we have "teachable" moments.  We must keep the word and the law alive - otherwise we risk losing the next generation to other gods (all of the false gods). 

Our ability to share our faith and how it works is earned however by loving others - if we don't love others we lose the ability to share our faith with them.  We are seen as "posers" - perhaps saying one thing and doing another - see also James 1.

Lord Jesus - help me love others as You do (see John 13:34) so that I can earn an ability to share and teach others, including my family, about You.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God who is so patient with me.  I know I have been disobedient in my life and it continues.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you.

Deuteronomy 4

Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you. v2

It is important for us to read and study scripture...for many reasons. A key reason why we read scripture is to identify when Satan is at work as the devil will try and twist God's words. 

Examples of how Satan works are found in Genesis 3 when the serpent tricks Eve, and Matthew 4 when Jesus is tested in the wilderness.

Satan also works through false teachers.

Peter warns us about false teachers:

They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.” 2 Peter 2:19

 

See also posts here.

 

God's word is perfect.

 

And the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times. Psalm 12:6

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God - perfect in all of Your ways. Even though You lived a sinless life, You came to rescue me and You willingly went to the cross for me  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such an act.  My sin continues - please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

So I told you, but you would not listen. You rebelled against the Lord’s command and in your arrogance you marched up into the hill country. The Amorites who lived in those hills came out against you; they chased you like a swarm of bees and beat you down from Seir all the way to Hormah. You came back and wept before the Lord, but he paid no attention to your weeping and turned a deaf ear to you.

Deuteronomy 1

So I told you, but you would not listen. You rebelled against the Lord’s command and in your arrogance you marched up into the hill country. The Amorites who lived in those hills came out against you; they chased you like a swarm of bees and beat you down from Seir all the way to Hormah. You came back and wept before the Lord, but he paid no attention to your weeping and turned a deaf ear to you. v43-45

The Israelites rebelled against the Lord and lacked faith that they could overcome powerful enemies so they were not allowed into the Promised Land. I've struggled with arrogance myself. Arrogance has many flavors (see also post here).  For us to overcome arrogance, we must both be humble and also have courage that our faith in Christ will allow Him to work through us to accomplish His will which is much bigger than ours.

Romans 8 helps us overcome:

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.  And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. v26-28

...

If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;
    we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. v31-39

Lord, help me be humble and courageous in my faith at the same time.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God, full of love and compassion for me.  Thank You!  I am not worth Your love - my sin continues.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Then I said to you, “Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them. The Lord your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, and in the wilderness. There you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place.”

Deuteronomy 1

Then I said to you, “Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them. The Lord your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, and in the wilderness. There you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place.” v29-31

The Israelites were promised a special place (v20, 25) by the Lord yet the Israelites repeatedly grew anxious about their circumstances (lack of food and water, strength of the existing inhabitants of the promised land, etc.).  Out of this anxiety came sin.  This is how Satan works - he exploits our fears to drive a wedge between us and God.  We should not have fear in our lives - easy to say, hard to do.  But then again we have Jesus, in whom all things are possible, and with Him we have a God that will never leave or forsake us.

Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:13-14

I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Psalm 34:4

 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” Mark 10:27

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God, You my Shepherd and my Savior.  Thank You for leading me and providing for me daily.  I am not worth such love.  Please forgive me for my sin that continues - I worry.  Help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of all the people of Sheth. Edom will be conquered; Seir, his enemy, will be conquered, but Israel will grow strong. A ruler will come out of Jacob and destroy the survivors of the city.”

Numbers 24

I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near.  A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel.  He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of all the people of Sheth. Edom will be conquered;  Seir, his enemy, will be conquered, but Israel will grow strong. A ruler will come out of Jacob and destroy the survivors of the city.” v17-19

Balaam has his faults but here is provides this prophecy regarding Jesus.  In this case, Balaam is compelled to deliver the Good News of a coming savior.  Jesus is this savior.  I must share Jesus just as Balaam is compelled.

Did I not tell the messengers you sent me, ‘Even if Balak gave me all the silver and gold in his palace, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the Lord—and I must say only what the Lord says’? v12-13

Just as Peter does:

As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:20

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God able to do all, all knowing, slow to anger and abounding in love.  I know You love me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth Your love and compassion.  I hold back.  Please forgive me!! Help me overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me share the Good News!  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? I have received a command to bless; he has blessed, and I cannot change it.

Numbers 23

God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? I have received a command to bless; he has blessed, and I cannot change it. v19-20

God delivered the above message to Balak through Balaam.  Key for us to remember is that God is not like us - He is God.  This is of course obvious but many of us, including myself, get mad or be disappointed with God because we expect Him to be good to us or to respond to us in prayer how we expect.  

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. Isaiah 55:8

God does say that we will get anything that we ask for in His Name:

"And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it." John 14:13-14

 

Yet what does "in my name" mean - for me it means "in His image" in the sense that we were made in His image (see Genesis 1), and made to glorify God.  When we renew our mind, we can better recognize His desires.

 

May [the Lord] give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. Psalm 20:4

 

My Prayer: Lord God, You are an awesome God full of love and compassion for me.  Thank You Jesus - I am not worth such love.  I am harsh with my words.  Please forgive me and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as the Lord and Savior. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, “I have sinned. I did not realize you were standing in the road to oppose me. Now if you are displeased, I will go back.”

Numbers 22

Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, “I have sinned. I did not realize you were standing in the road to oppose me. Now if you are displeased, I will go back.” v34

Like Balaam, we must recognize when God provides us with direction - we often say, God closes doors and opens them.  God has a plan and it is important for us to understand how we can sense His plan for us.

See post here as well as posts here.

Key of course is for us to stay close to God and focus on "renewing of the mind".

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God full of love and compassion for me - thank You Jesus.  Thank You for the many second chances You provide - I am grateful.  However, I am not worthy of such second chances.  I am selfish - please forgive me Jesus.  I continue to worry.  Please forgive me for my sin and help me turn from and overcome my sin and help me turn towards You instead.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.”

Numbers 20

But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.” v12

Moses was indeed a righteous man (see also Deuteronomy 34) but he as not perfect.  In fact, he was a murderer, arrogant, etc.  But God molded Moses into the servant of God Moses needed to be according to God's plan.  Yet even as God's servant from time to time, Moses fell short - as we all do.

We must remember that sins do not go unpunished and that our arrogance and lack of trust in God has a price - as it did for Moses.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who is full of forgiveness and compassion - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love. I am harsh with my words.  Please forgive me and help me turn from my sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind, and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself strength and wisdom.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of cancer.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But Moses said, “Why are you disobeying the Lord’s command? This will not succeed! Do not go up, because the Lord is not with you. You will be defeated by your enemies, for the Amalekites and the Canaanites will face you there. Because you have turned away from the Lord, he will not be with you and you will fall by the sword.”

Numbers 14

But Moses said, “Why are you disobeying the Lord’s command? This will not succeed! Do not go up, because the Lord is not with you. You will be defeated by your enemies, for the Amalekites and the Canaanites will face you there. Because you have turned away from the Lord, he will not be with you and you will fall by the sword.” v41-43

It is important to not only obey God but also those appointed to positions of authority above us - in this case Moses and Aaron.  However, the Israelites did not but instead not only grumbled against Moses and Aaron (v2) devised their own plan (v40).

If we ever find ourselves afflicted and wandering, we may want to question how we have failed to submit to our leaders...

See also here.

Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you. Hebrews 13:17

 

Both Caleb and Joshua, follow both God and Moses/Aaron (v6, 24, 30).

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God full of love and compassion for me - even when I grumble and complain.  Thank You Jesus for Your patience and compassion.  I am not worth such love.  Please forgive me for grumbling and complaining against my leaders and You.  Help me overcome and turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself strength and wisdom.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

(Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.)

Numbers 12

(Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.) v3

Aaron and Miriam rise up against Moses, thinking they were his equal in terms of how God used them and prophesied through them.

Yet, God makes it clear that they are no where near equal to Moses - whom God knew face to face:

When there is a prophet among you,
    I, the Lord, reveal myself to them in visions,
    I speak to them in dreams.

But this is not true of my servant Moses;
    he is faithful in all my house.
With him I speak face to face,
    clearly and not in riddles;
    he sees the form of the Lord.
Why then were you not afraid
    to speak against my servant Moses?” v6-8

Although at this point in the Bible, Moses mission is incomplete, God makes it clear that Moses (other than Jesus of course) has no equal.

Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, who did all those signs and wonders the Lord sent him to do in Egypt—to Pharaoh and to all his officials and to his whole land. For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel. Deuteronomy 34:10-12

My broader point is that one of the attributes that made Moses great - ironically - is his humility.  Moses allowed God to work through Him and Moses did not see himself as great - on the contrary. He certainly was not perfect but he was great.

Lord, help me be humble...help me submit to You.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an an awesome God who has done amazing deeds and wonders that I have seen with my own eyes. You have blessed me abundantly.  Thank You Jesus - I am not worth such love and blessing.  I am selfish - please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself strength and wisdom.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and and from the side effects of cancer.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke with him, and he took some of the power of the Spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders.

Numbers 11

Then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke with him, and he took some of the power of the Spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders. v25

God does not intend for us to live alone - we are to have those around us who help.  See also verse 17:

I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take some of the power of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them. They will share the burden of the people with you so that you will not have to carry it alone.

God want us to live in fellowship with other believers - that is His design from the very beginning.  

The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." Genesis 2:18

And from each human being, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of another human being. Genesis 9:5

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:42-47 

Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.  Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. 1 Corinthians 12:12-20

Lord Help me live in fellowship with other believers as You intend.

My Prayer: Jesus, You are a great God who has provided many, many people in my life as helpers - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such a blessing.  I continue in my sin - please forgive me!  Help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Moses heard the people of every family wailing at the entrance to their tents. The Lord became exceedingly angry, and Moses was troubled.

Numbers 11

Moses heard the people of every family wailing at the entrance to their tents. The Lord became exceedingly angry, and Moses was troubled. v10

Very rarely do you hear sermons about how God becomes angry.  In fact, a quick search this morning revealed to me that God is described more often as "angry" than "slow to anger, abounding in love".  In the Bible, God's anger is aroused when his people are repeatedly disobedient and when they have hardened hearts. 

Yet, when we think about it, all of us have hardened hearts to some degree - we say, I can't do this or that when in reality we can - of course with God's help.

One of my favorite verses of the Bible is when the angel Gabriel speaks to Mary and reassures her that we can have faith in God's promises.  Luke 1:37 of the NIV translation says, "[f]or no word from God ever fails".  The NKJ translation says "For with God nothing will be impossible”.

“With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. Matthew 17:20

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. Ephesians 1:18-21

We should recognize the power of Jesus that is within us and not be hardened.  

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God who loves me - this I know.  Yet there are parts of my life that are hardened.  Please forgive me Jesus and do not be angry with me.  Help me turn from my sin and towards You. I want to overcome the world and my sin.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me have faith!  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

At the Lord’s command they encamped, and at the Lord’s command they set out. They obeyed the Lord’s order, in accordance with his command through Moses.

Numbers 9

At the Lord’s command they encamped, and at the Lord’s command they set out. They obeyed the Lord’s order, in accordance with his command through Moses. v23

Moses, Aaron, and the Israelites often did "just as God commanded".

The question is - how can we do just as God commands us?

The place to start is with study of the Bible where we renew our minds and enable ourselves to understand and do God's will:

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

But we can't just know God's word - we must be doers of the word:

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. James 1:22

To enable us to be doers of the word we must live life together - in fellowship with other believers.

How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! Psalm 133:1

 

He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:10-11

 

One of the keys in achieving spiritual maturity togetherness: 

 

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. Ephesians 4:14-16

 

And of course:

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God, full of love, compassion, patience, etc.  Thank You Jesus...I am not worth such love.  I am often not a doer of the Word.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome my in action.  Help me turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind, and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord.

Leviticus 27

A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord. v30

The chapter of Leviticus closes with a command on tithing.

We are to tithe for a variety of reasons, and I believe a few of the most important reasons include one practical and two spiritual and these are not listed in order of importance:

1. Because God commands us to
2. Because we must care for the church and for those who are in need (and the church does this on our behalf); tithing should not limit our giving as cheerful givers we should give more than a tithe.
3. Because as cheerful givers we must recognize that every good and perfect gift comes from above (James 1:17) and we are simply stewards of the treasure provides for us - it does not belong to us and we must allow it to flow from our hands to God and for those in His care 

Lord - please help me be a cheerful giver.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God and You provide abundantly for all of my needs.  Thank You Jesus - I am not worth such provision.  I am harsh with my words.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But if they will confess their sins and the sins of their ancestors—their unfaithfulness and their hostility toward me, which made me hostile toward them so that I sent them into the land of their enemies—then when their uncircumcised hearts are humbled and they pay for their sin, I will remember my covenant with Jacob and my covenant with Isaac and my covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land.

Levitcus 26

But if they will confess their sins and the sins of their ancestors—their unfaithfulness and their hostility toward me, which made me hostile toward them so that I sent them into the land of their enemies—then when their uncircumcised hearts are humbled and they pay for their sin, I will remember my covenant with Jacob and my covenant with Isaac and my covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land. v40-42

God knows we are not perfect - that is why He sent His one and only Son to rescue us from our sin.  God gives second chances - we are to confess our sin, turn from our sin and turn towards Him.

He reiterates His faithfulness to us once again:

But for their sake I will remember the covenant with their ancestors whom I brought out of Egypt in the sight of the nations to be their God. I am the Lord. v45

THAT is how much God love us...that He keeps His promises even when we fail to be who God intended us to be.  

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

My Prayer: Lord Jesus - You are a great God - You love us despite our sin and You even died for us so that we would have freedom from sin and death. Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love.  I neglect my relationship with You and my role as father and husband.  Please forgive me and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.

Levitcus 19

Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord. v18

There are many commands the Lord provides Moses but the overriding theme among them is to "[L]ove the Lord Your God with all of Your heart, soul and mind, and to love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:37-40).

This morning the following verse strikes me as a good example of love.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Philippians 2:3-4

 

Jesus is this love to us and He asks us to love others as He loved us.

 

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. John 13:34

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, I love You and I KNOW You love me...You know everything about me even before I was born...and You know about my sin, yet You willingly laid down Your life for me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love and sacrifice not by a long shot.  I am selfish.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects from chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.  

Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.

Levitcus 19

Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy. v1

We were created by God and for God.

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27

They are the shoot I have planted, the work of my hands, for the display of my splendor. Isaiah 60:21

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Psalm 150:6

 We are also Christ's ambassadors:

We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:20-21

  

 God has a mission for us - to bring others to Him (see also Matthew 28 - The Great Commission).

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God and You are holy and perfect - perfect in all ways and perfect to me and for me.  You are everything to me and for me.  I need nothing else but You.  Thank You for how You provide, heal, encourage, teach, protect, etc.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such efforts and love. My sin continues.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.