"Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants." Deuteronomy 32: 2 NIV
These words are part of a long song that Moses sang to the Hebrews shortly before he died. What a beautiful image of the sweetness and blessing of God's teaching coming through Moses. Particularly in the dry countries of the Middle East, rain would have been enjoyed as a source of refreshment and of plentiful food. Moses' words liken his people to new grass and tender plants, both of which are fragile and need nurturing. Moses encourages the people to embrace his godly teachings so that they may flourish and grow. The Hebrews had been in Egypt for about 400 years before the Exodus and they had undoubtedly been influenced by Egyptian society over those years. Moses is suggesting that in their new life away from Egypt that their understanding of God is just barely sprouting afresh and will need the persistent watering of his teachings.
Many people today are coming to faith in Jesus after living in unbelieving families and social circles. I pray, that like Moses, I can offer some watering to their newfound faith by teaching Biblical truths and encouraging them to look to Jesus for guidance and sustenance. We, like plants, all need water and we all need the blessings of God's living water.
Wednesday, July 29, 2020
Monday, July 27, 2020
The Price of Plenty
"filled with food, he became heavy and sleek. He abandoned the God who made him and rejected the Rock his Savior." Deuteronomy 32:15 NIV
Moses is talking about the people of Israel in this passage. Over and over again in the Old Testament, we read about the waxing and waning of the Hebrews' faith. When the people drew close to God, they would see his blessings and flourish but when life was good, they would become proud and turn their backs on God. It is so easy to think that our successes in life and our abundance of resources are of our own doing. We boast of our intelligence, our work ethic, our perseverance. We feel that we are self-sufficient and don't need a savior or God. We become our own god. But the Old Testament also tells us of God's judgment that He uses to drive us back to him. In times of plenty, we need to be even more vigilant that we do not forget our creator God.
I pray that I will never forget that all gifts, whether talents or material goods, come from God. Without his provision and care, I would be destitute in body and mind. I thank God for his loving care and pray that He will help me to have a faithful heart.
Moses is talking about the people of Israel in this passage. Over and over again in the Old Testament, we read about the waxing and waning of the Hebrews' faith. When the people drew close to God, they would see his blessings and flourish but when life was good, they would become proud and turn their backs on God. It is so easy to think that our successes in life and our abundance of resources are of our own doing. We boast of our intelligence, our work ethic, our perseverance. We feel that we are self-sufficient and don't need a savior or God. We become our own god. But the Old Testament also tells us of God's judgment that He uses to drive us back to him. In times of plenty, we need to be even more vigilant that we do not forget our creator God.
I pray that I will never forget that all gifts, whether talents or material goods, come from God. Without his provision and care, I would be destitute in body and mind. I thank God for his loving care and pray that He will help me to have a faithful heart.
Thursday, July 16, 2020
The Two Sons
" 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.'
'I will not' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.'
Then the father went to the other son...'I will, sir,' but he did not go." Matthew 21: 28-30 NIV
The Parable of the Two Sons is directed at the chief priests and elders who were questioning
Jesus authority. Jesus is rebuking them for not believing John's testimony about him while at the same time claiming to be God's people, the servants of God. Jesus tells them that people such as tax collectors and prostitutes will be joining the kingdom of heaven before them because, although they initially aren't following God, some of them will repent and start doing God's work. In the case of the chief priests and elders their words do not make up for their lack of submission to God. In our churches we need to be careful that we are not proclaiming our allegiance to God without also embracing obedience to God. Our witness to unbelievers will be weak if we are all talk and no action.
I pray that God will give me a willing spirit. I pray that I will not be so proud as to think that meekness before God is not important. I pray that the world will see more love in action and less tossing about of random scripture verses.
'I will not' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.'
Then the father went to the other son...'I will, sir,' but he did not go." Matthew 21: 28-30 NIV
The Parable of the Two Sons is directed at the chief priests and elders who were questioning
Jesus authority. Jesus is rebuking them for not believing John's testimony about him while at the same time claiming to be God's people, the servants of God. Jesus tells them that people such as tax collectors and prostitutes will be joining the kingdom of heaven before them because, although they initially aren't following God, some of them will repent and start doing God's work. In the case of the chief priests and elders their words do not make up for their lack of submission to God. In our churches we need to be careful that we are not proclaiming our allegiance to God without also embracing obedience to God. Our witness to unbelievers will be weak if we are all talk and no action.
I pray that God will give me a willing spirit. I pray that I will not be so proud as to think that meekness before God is not important. I pray that the world will see more love in action and less tossing about of random scripture verses.
Wednesday, July 8, 2020
Dreadful Judgments
"when I send against Jerusalem my four dreadful judgments - sword and famine and wild beasts and plague...you will know that I have done nothing in it without cause, declares the Sovereign Lord." Ezekiel 14:21, 23 NIV
The judgment of God is most commonly viewed today as an archaic idea with no relevance to modern society. Our modern "god" is kind, forgiving, accepting of our sins and quite all right with our own definitions of morality. Not so the God of the Old Testament who brings harsh judgment down on his people when they wander off after idols and engage in terrible violence and sexual immorality. Do we believe in a god who intervenes in the world, sometimes with the severe discipline of war, famine, wild animal attacks and disease? How do we reconcile that with a god of love? We reconcile it by realizing that He only does it to drive us back to him because only with him can we find true joy and love and peace. He hates to see us destroying our civilizations with our deluded ideas of self-importance, pride, greed and lust. We are blind to the end result of our rebellion against God, but He knows that it leads to hell on earth. Look at the worst that is in the news and you get an idea of how bad things can get. God always starts by prodding us gently but if we don't listen, He will bring his dreadful judgments on us - to save us.
I pray for our countries, our political leaders and our spiritual leaders. I pray that they will look to God for guidance. I pray that people will see that God is good! But also that He is powerful and the Sovereign Lord.
The judgment of God is most commonly viewed today as an archaic idea with no relevance to modern society. Our modern "god" is kind, forgiving, accepting of our sins and quite all right with our own definitions of morality. Not so the God of the Old Testament who brings harsh judgment down on his people when they wander off after idols and engage in terrible violence and sexual immorality. Do we believe in a god who intervenes in the world, sometimes with the severe discipline of war, famine, wild animal attacks and disease? How do we reconcile that with a god of love? We reconcile it by realizing that He only does it to drive us back to him because only with him can we find true joy and love and peace. He hates to see us destroying our civilizations with our deluded ideas of self-importance, pride, greed and lust. We are blind to the end result of our rebellion against God, but He knows that it leads to hell on earth. Look at the worst that is in the news and you get an idea of how bad things can get. God always starts by prodding us gently but if we don't listen, He will bring his dreadful judgments on us - to save us.
I pray for our countries, our political leaders and our spiritual leaders. I pray that they will look to God for guidance. I pray that people will see that God is good! But also that He is powerful and the Sovereign Lord.
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