Tag: Discipleship

Reflections on Deuteronomy 9-11

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

Moses continues to exhort the people to follow the Lord as he notes God’s faithfulness to them.

  • God’s Faithfulness – Why is God so faithful to these rebellious people? The answer in part is found in his covenant promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  Because of that covenant, he will bring them into the land (9:5).  In response to that covenant, God has already made the people as numerous as the stars of heaven (10:22).  God faithfully keeps his promises.  What promises do you need to claim today?
  • Fear, Love, Serve, Obey – Moses challenges the people to fear the Lord, walk in his ways, love God, serve him, and obey him (10:12-13). That same challenge applies to us.  How well do these verses describe you?  In what ways do you need to grow in your walk with the Lord?
  • Choices – The people had a choice: to obey and be blessed, or to disobey and be cursed (11:26-28). We too have a choice each day to obey or not.  Blessing comes from obedience.  Disobedience will bring discipline.  What choices are you making?

Classic Quote

On By BrianIn Classic Quotes1 Comment

OldBooksHe, therefore, is the devout man, who lives no longer to his own will, or the way and the spirit of the world, but to the sole will of God; who considers God in everything, who serves God in everything, who makes all parts of his common life parts of piety, by doing everything in the name of God, and under such rules as are conformable to His glory.

– William Law

Deuteronomy 9-17: Our Relationship with God

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(9-11) Who is this God with whom we have a relationship?  What do you learn about him from this passage?

What do these attributes suggest about how we should relate to God?

(14) Who are we in relationship to God according to v1-2?

What does this suggest about how we should relate to God?

(10-11, 13) What words are used in these verses to describe how we should relate to God (10:12-13, 11:1, 11:13, 13:4)?

How do these words relate to each other?

What part does the heart play (see also 10:16, 11:18)?  Why is that important to recognize?

(12-13) Israel’s relationship to God was to be exclusive.  No other gods were permitted.  What specific steps was Israel to take to keep from following other gods?

How might we be vigilant today to guard our hearts from idols and remain wholly faithful to our God?

(12, 14) As part of their relationship with God, the people were to bring their sacrifices and tithes before the Lord in order to eat and rejoice before the Lord (12:12, 12:18, 14:26).  When do we gather to rejoice before the Lord?  Why is this so important?

(15-17) An important part of their relationship with God was to be generous to the poor and just in their dealings.  If we love God, we must love people. Give examples of how we might live this out.

Passion Points

On By BrianIn PASSION Points

Here are some good posts for your weekend reading:

Making the Most of Your Bible Reading – Godwin Sathianathan (FTC)
God desires to speak something to you. He has something for you in His Word for your particular day. Do you believe that? Are you eagerly anticipating what He might say to you today?

3 Truths to Speak To Your Temptation – Tim Challies
Sin promises joy but brings pain, sin promises happiness but brings shame, sin promises life but brings death, sin promises freedom but brings guilt, sin promises heaven but brings hell. It is always, always a lie.

Play Hard – Jared Wilson
We need to remember to play hard. We need to take having fun seriously. This means….being mindful in our rest, play, and fun that these things are gifts from God meant to help us celebrate being made in God’s image as Creator and project in some way the creative story he is telling with the universe.

Ten Things I Learned at Church on Sunday – Erik Raymond
God met us as a church in the ordinary and showed us his extraordinary faithfulness, grace, beauty, and power.

Hope you have a great Lord’s Day with your local church meeting with our great God!

Reflections on Deuteronomy 5-8

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

Our passage today teaches us about God and how we should respond to him.

  • Saving God (5:6-21) – God saved the people of Israel from slavery. In response, they were to obey him.  God has saved us from slavery to sin through Jesus Christ.  In response, God expects us to obey him.  Are you responding properly to your Savior?
  • Great God (5:22-33) – In the fire and thunder of Sinai, the people got a glimpse of God’s greatness. The goal was that the people might fear God with a reverent awe.  Do you have a reverent fear of God?  Do you treat him with reverence and awe?
  • One God (6:4-5) – There is only one God. That being said, we owe him all of our allegiance.  We are to love him with all of our being, with every part of who we are, with all that we have.  In what ways are you loving or failing to love God with your thoughts, words, actions, time, finances, activities, work, rest, family, relationships?
  • Loving God (7:6-15) – God showed his incredible love to the people of Israel by making them his treasured possession, delivering them from Egypt, and blessing them. Note that his love was based not on them, but simply his act of love.  In response, again they are to obey God’s commands.  To what extent have you grasped God’s love for you?  He loves you not because you are lovable, but simply by his choice to love you.  Ponder his amazing love for you.  How will you respond?

Sermon Songs: Ephesians 4:26-27

On By BrianIn Ephesians Hymns

MusicNotes

We put off our old sinful way
We put on what is right
Renew our minds from day to day
Walk with Him in the light

And in our anger we won’t sin
To anger we won’t hold
Won’t give Satan a chance to win
By grace we’ll fight – be bold

And when we fail – we will repent
Our sin we will confess
Look to our Savior who was sent
To grant us forgiveness

 (To the tune of “O God Our Help In Ages Past”)

Reflections on Deuteronomy 1-4

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

Moses reminds the people of their history with the intent that they learn from it and serve God alone.

  • Unfaithfulness – Throughout the discourse, Moses reminds the people of their unfaithfulness and the consequences of their unfaithfulness. He challenges them to learn from their past unfaithfulness and be faithful to God.  What can you learn from Israel’s past unfaithfulness?
  • God is near – Despite their unfaithfulness, God is with them. He is always near, and so they can call upon him in prayer (4:7).  What needs do you have?  Remember that God is with you, and you can talk to him anytime.
  • Guard your soul – Moses challenges them to “keep your soul diligently” (4:9). They must guard their hearts lest they be led astray. Are you keeping your soul diligently?  What dangers do you need to guard against?
  • One God – Moses teaches the people that there is only one God over all the earth; therefore, they should not serve the false gods of the nations around them. In the midst of the religious pluralism of our day, let us remember there is only one true God, and let us serve him alone.