Deut. 17: 20 "...and not consider himself better than his brothers and turn from the law to the right or to the left. Then he and his descendants will reign a long time over his kingdom in Israel."
God is making a provision for a future king to rule Israel. God gives the people some standards and qualifications for a future king.
The movie The King's Speech is up for a few Oscar's this Sunday. It's the true story of King George VI who struggled to overcome a few speech impediments as well as a doubting public to become a great communicator and king. I have never lived in a kingdom under the rule and reign of a king. Much of the world has and to some degree still does. In Deuteronomy, God wants Israel to be clear that choosing a king is no small task. A king must be a noble person with character and integrity. I may not have an earthly, political king, but I do have an eternal, supernatural, miraculous king in Jesus. In a very real and true sense I belong to the greatest kingdom of all time!
Dear Jesus, help me learn to love and adore you, my great king! Amen.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
Multi-Site Church
Deut. 12:5 "But you are to seek the place the Lord your God will choose from among all your tribes to put his Name there for his dwelling. To that place you must go;"
God instructs the Israelites they are to have one place where they are to worship him. He wants them to distinguish themselves from the surrounding nations who worshipped pagan gods in many locations.
Historically and culturally, it makes sense for the Israelites to have one central location to worship. I get it. But thank goodness it's not that way anymore. Jesus said in John 4 "the time has come when we will worship God in spirit and in truth." It's no longer about a geographic location but rather the location of our hearts. We are free to worship our Lord at church, indoors, outdoors, in Jerusalem and Maplewood! In fact, true worship isn't about sitting in one place with our eyes closed and hands raised, it's about moving our feet and using our hands to love others!
Dear Jesus help me to worship you more outside of the church walls than I do indoors. Amen.
God instructs the Israelites they are to have one place where they are to worship him. He wants them to distinguish themselves from the surrounding nations who worshipped pagan gods in many locations.
Historically and culturally, it makes sense for the Israelites to have one central location to worship. I get it. But thank goodness it's not that way anymore. Jesus said in John 4 "the time has come when we will worship God in spirit and in truth." It's no longer about a geographic location but rather the location of our hearts. We are free to worship our Lord at church, indoors, outdoors, in Jerusalem and Maplewood! In fact, true worship isn't about sitting in one place with our eyes closed and hands raised, it's about moving our feet and using our hands to love others!
Dear Jesus help me to worship you more outside of the church walls than I do indoors. Amen.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Dinner Conversation
Deut. 11:19 "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."
Deut. 11 is awesome! There is loads of great stuff in this passage but verse 19 stuck out to me. God instructs his people to discuss him, his word, and his law at all times. They are to discuss God and his truth when they are sitting at home, walking along the road, all day every day.
I think if every home in the world did this, our world would be a much better place. What if discussing God and his truth were an integral part of our life-just as we discuss the day's events, weather and sports? I need to do this with my family. The cumulative effect of these kinds of discussions could literally be life changing for my children. What if we enjoyed discussing our savior more than the five day outlook, who in Hollywood is in rehab, and what the final five man rotation for the Twins will be? Tonight's dinner discussion will be Jesus.
Dear Jesus, help me have you on my mind more than anything else. Amen.
Deut. 11 is awesome! There is loads of great stuff in this passage but verse 19 stuck out to me. God instructs his people to discuss him, his word, and his law at all times. They are to discuss God and his truth when they are sitting at home, walking along the road, all day every day.
I think if every home in the world did this, our world would be a much better place. What if discussing God and his truth were an integral part of our life-just as we discuss the day's events, weather and sports? I need to do this with my family. The cumulative effect of these kinds of discussions could literally be life changing for my children. What if we enjoyed discussing our savior more than the five day outlook, who in Hollywood is in rehab, and what the final five man rotation for the Twins will be? Tonight's dinner discussion will be Jesus.
Dear Jesus, help me have you on my mind more than anything else. Amen.
Thursday, February 03, 2011
Short and Sweet
Deut. 10:12-13 "And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul, and to observe the commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?"
Moses is reminding the Israelites of their calling and purpose before they enter the promised land.
Deut. 10:12-22 contains some good stuff. I like it. Moses puts it pretty straightforward here for his people. Amidst all of the rules, laws, regulations, and history, he boils it down to this. Fear the Lord. Walk in his ways. Love him. Serve him with all of our heart and soul. Obey his commands. Stick to that and the rest should come easy.
Dear Jesus help me follow just what this says today. Amen.
Moses is reminding the Israelites of their calling and purpose before they enter the promised land.
Deut. 10:12-22 contains some good stuff. I like it. Moses puts it pretty straightforward here for his people. Amidst all of the rules, laws, regulations, and history, he boils it down to this. Fear the Lord. Walk in his ways. Love him. Serve him with all of our heart and soul. Obey his commands. Stick to that and the rest should come easy.
Dear Jesus help me follow just what this says today. Amen.
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