BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and Amen!” Psalm 72:18,19 ESV

At the end of this psalm we find a notation that, “the prayers of David….are ended.” (Psalm 72:20 ESV) So, it is of interest what David’s desire is from himself and for his son Solomon as they reign over God’s people. We consistently see a plea for righteousness and justice, especially justice for the poor.

“May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice!” (Psalm 72:2 ESV) It is often said that the character of a nation is reflected in how it treats the less and the least. This is something that we see throughout scripture. In Proverbs we read, “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done.” (Proverbs 19:17 NIV) In this we certainly see the Lord’s view of the dignity of all humanity, regardless of their economic condition. 

Jesus said that poverty will be present at all times and in all circumstances. “You will always have the poor among you…” (Matthew 26:11 NLT) As a result, we face challenges with poverty in our day, as much as any time in history.

As David prays for blessing on the “King” he points to his righteous actions and his compassion and protection. “For he delivers the needy when he calls, the poor and him who has no helper. He has pity on the weak and the needy,
and saves the lives of the needy.” (Psalm 72:12,13 ESV)

Then we see that righteous governance results in recognition and favor among the “nations.”

“May his name endure forever, his fame continue as long as the sun! May people be blessed in him, all nations call him blessed!” (Psalm 72:17 ESV)

As David ends this psalm, he does so not with a petition for help, but a praise to the Lord for who He is and what He does.

The Lord alone is the One who always does wondrous things. He is to be forever praised. While human reputation may be wide spread, only the Lord is the One whose glory can fill all the earth.

May the God of wisdom, continue to provide to leaders the wisdom needed to be righteous leaders, who administer justice in a way that honors the Lord.

Prayer for today…. Lord, we can only lead and be wise when we recognize that You are the One who grants the strength and the wisdom, to be righteous and just. Continue to teach us how to apply that to our lives in the midst of all the challenges we face in our world today in rightly responding to those in need.

During my campaign for City Council one of my strong supporters has been John Clarke. John has served in the past as a City Councilor and County Commissioner. However, he and his wife among a few master photographers in Colorado. He took pictures of our wedding, our 25th anniversary and our daughter’s wedding. Since we celebrated 40 years of marriage in 2016, perhaps we can consider the picture John took of Debbie and me as another in our collection.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY….  “Do not say in your heart, after the Lord your God has thrust them out before you, ‘It is because of my righteousness that the Lord has brought me in to possess this land,’ whereas it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord is driving them out before you.” Deuteronomy 9:4 ESV

There is no match for the greatest of God. There is no foe that can stand against God and His purposes and the judgments He executes. The rebellious generation of God’s people feared the “giants” in the land. They viewed their walled cities as obstacles too great to overcome.

So as the Lord through Moses prepares another generation to inherit what the previous one refuse to, He says,

“Know therefore today that he who goes over before you as a consuming fire is the Lord your God. He will destroy them and subdue them before you. So you shall drive them out and make them perish quickly, as the Lord has promised you.” Deuteronomy 9:3 ESV

You can trust in the Lord’s power and know His judgments are “true and righteous altogether.” The Lord holds individuals and nations to account. The promises of the Lord to Abraham and his descendants were at the same time God’s judgment against the nations whose sin had created an out cry before God, just as the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.

God’s people became God’s tool, the sword of the Lord. As a result, when the nations would flee before them the response was not to be “how great we are” but “how awesome and powerful is our God.”

The Lord is looking for faithful, but not perfect people whom He can use to accomplish His purposes. God’s people still had the inclination to be “stubborn” – yet the Lord was going to use them to confirm His promises and to show the He is faithful to His Word.

Moses recounts the failures of the past generation beginning with the golden calf. He does so not to shame, but to remind. He asks and answers an important question,

 “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord, which I am commanding you today for your good? Behold, to the Lord your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it.” (Deuteronomy 10:12-14 ESV)

The challenge to God’s people was to avoid being like the people of the land of Canaan and to receive the same punishment the Lord was bringing on the inhabitants of the land. They would avoid that error by fearing the Lord and demonstrating their love for God, through living by the Lord ways. God’s desire for His people then and now is always for “our good.”

Prayer for today…. Lord when you work through us, help us to remember that it is not how “great we are” but how “great You are!” Allow us to always remain humbled by the fact that You use us for Your purposes, even knowing our own failures and temptations.

Part of campaigning is being in parades. Saturday was Fort Collins St. Patrick’s Day Parade. First parade I have been in for years. It was a great event even with cool weathers and some early morning rain.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. “You shall not do according to all that we are doing here today, everyone doing whatever is right in his own eyes, for you have not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance that the Lord your God is giving you.” Deuteronomy 12:8,9 ESV

The greatest temptation and challenge for humanity is to make up and live by their own rules and desire. It is seen throughout history; it is seen in God’s people.

The verse above given as a warning from Moses to the generation that was inheriting the promise land, it what would happen in the next generation. The final verse of Judges pronounces the state of the nation,  ^“In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 21:25 ESV)

This began with a generation that, “….did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel.” (Judges 2:10 ESV) They began living as if there was no God and they failed to see or recognize the Lord that was in their midst. This is what Moses was trying to warn them about.

God’s law was going to be fully enforced as the “law of the promise land.” As they came to a “place of rest” and had secure homes and land and crops and possessions they were to live under the leadership of the Lord.

God’s people were to destroy the false gods and altars and all signs of idolatry of the nations they were dispossessing from the land. Why was this important, because the Lord said, “You shall not worship the Lord your God in that way.” (Deuteronomy 12:4 ESV)

This one act of disobedience would be the “Achilles heel” to the Israelites. They began to co-exist with the idolatrous nations and soon as Moses warned their hearts were drawn away to do one of two things. To worship the false gods or to add the worship of false gods to the worship of the Lord God. The other affront to the Lord was to worship the Lord God as if He were an idol. In others words, they selected how they would serve the Lord instead of following the instructions from the Lord as to how they were to serve Him.

This can sound all too familiar. We see it in our day. People may not reject the Lord, but they worship the Lord and believe in the Lord in a way that is the making of their own minds and hearts. As a result they make the true God in to a false god.

Compromise and accommodation may be appropriate as a political strategy, but it is deadly when it comes to serving the Lord with all of our hearts, soul, mind and strength.

Prayer for today…. Lord make us aware of the areas of our life we have allowed to be influence more by the thoughts of the world around, more than by obedience to You. May we be those who do not fail to experience Your power and Your and ways. In the words of the old hymn, “keep us true to you.”

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY….  ^“Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’  You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day.” Deuteronomy 8:17,18 ESV

Moses continues to prepare a generation that is to inherit the promise land by sounding some strong and persistent warnings. They were to be on guard against some things, because they would be tempted to forget about the Lord’s provision, the Lord’s faithfulness and the Lord’s purpose for their lives.

They were to remember the testing in the wilderness.  ^“And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not.” (Deuteronomy 8:2 ESV)

In the midst of all their needs, the Lord provided manna for them to eat. He supernaturally made sure their clothes and sandals didn’t wear out or their feet swell.

“…he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word^[ that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Your clothing did not wear out on you and your foot did not swell these forty years.” (Deuteronomy 8:3,4 ESV)

They were to take care and remember that their provisions came from the Lord and because of following Him. It was not through their own abilities, or wisdom and cunning.

“Take care lest you forget the Lord your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes…and when your herds and flocks multiply and your silver and gold is multiplied and all that you have is multiplied, then your heart be lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery…“Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’ You shall remember the Lord your God,  for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day.”  (Deuteronomy 8:11,13-14;17-18 ESV)

Finally, they were to be on guard and remember to follow only the Lord and not the gods of the land they were inhabiting. The nations they were conquering were receiving the judgment of the Lord and the same would fall on God’s people if they followed the same path.

“…if you forget the Lord your God and go after other gods and serve them and worship them, I solemnly warn you today that you shall surely perish.  Like the nations that the Lord makes to perish before you, so shall you perish…” (Deuteronomy 8:19 ESV)

In our lives we need a focused, persistent faith and keeps us moving in the right direction, keeping our eyes on the Lord and fulfilling His purpose for our lives.

Prayer for today…. Lord help us to remember and not forget how you provide for us and give to use all that we need and Your Word that guides our life. Help us to be those who daily make the decision to follow You and to please You and to commit our lives to Your work.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.  And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” Deuteronomy 6:4-7 ESV

As Moses prepares the “promise land generation” for their future He not only reinforces the law they are to follow, but why they are to follow these commands. These verses introduces what we call the “greatest commandment.” It is the greatest because it is what provides the motivation for following the ways of God.

Before this time the law was communicated from the context of the “fear of the Lord.” God’s people were called to follow the One who had delivered them, rescued them, provided for them and had been faithful to them. Now the context of obeying as an expression of love for God is pointed out.

My friend Jeff Lucas comments, “I’m not in love with God, but I love God.” It is not some romanticized relationship, it is one based on action and commitment. That is actually at the heart of love. I Corinthians 13, the well-known chapter on love, does not refer to any feelings, it simply puts forward what love does and what love does not do. Jesus told His disciples, “If you love me, you will obey my commands.” (John 14:15)

The importance of loving God is to be passed from generation to generation. The dynamic described as one where faith building lessons are to take place in the course of a day, in the course of a life. “…when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” There can be “special” times, but any time there is an opportunity to instruct and motivate love for God is special.

Loving God, obeying His ways would be the key to securing their future and laying hold of the promises of God. “…you shall do what is right and good in the sight of the Lord, that it may go well with you, and that you may go in and take possession of the good land that the Lord swore to give to your fathers…” (Deuteronomy 6:18 ESV)

When children ask about the laws of God, it would be important for them to understand that all they have and all that they are, is from the Lord. Without the Lord, they would be slaves and possessors of nothing. Because of the Lord they are free and have lands, crops and possessions. In addition it is what preserved them as a “righteous” people. A special or set apart people. They were instructed to tell their children,

“…the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as we are this day. And it will be righteousness for us…”  (Deuteronomy 6:24-25 ESV)

Prayer for today… Lord, we see the greatest commandment is for all time. It is to be at the heart of all we do and what we are. It is the foundation upon which we can build a firm foundation for our life. It is a reminder that what we have is from You and our future is dependent upon You.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY….. “For ask now of the days that are past, which were before you, since the day that God created man on the earth, and ask from one end of heaven to the other, whether such a great thing as this has ever happened or was ever heard of.” Deuteronomy 4:32 ESV

As Moses addresses the generation that will inherit the promise land, he not only admonishes them about the importance of staying true to the Lord and not turning from following the Lord, but points our why they are a different nation and a different people with a unique purpose. He asks some rhetorical questions to drive home the point.

“For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the Lord our God is to us, whenever we call upon him? And what great nation is there, that has statutes and rules so righteous as all this law that I set before you today?” (Deuteronomy 4:7,8 ESV)

The Lord God was One who revealed Himself to His people and His ways to His people. They did not have to question what He desired, He made it clear and “put it in writing.”

Not only is the relationship special, but the creation of the nation was special.

“Did any people ever hear the voice of a god speaking out of the midst of the fire, as you have heard, and still live? Or has any god ever attempted to go and take a nation for himself from the midst of another nation, by trials, by signs, by wonders, and by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and by great deeds of terror, all of which the Lord your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?” (Deuteronomy 4:33,34 ESV)

This was all so that the Lord God would be seen for who He is, not just a “god” but the God. There is no other true God. All other so called “gods” are of mans creation and imagination.  

“To you it was shown, that you might know that the Lord is God; there is no other besides him.” (Deuteronomy 4:35 ESV)  The Lord’s intention is for His people to be a special people for generations to come. That would be as a result of their obedience and faithfulness to the Lord.

“Therefore you shall keep his statutes and his commandments, which I command you today,that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days in the land that the Lord your God is giving you for all time.” (Deuteronomy 4:40 ESV)

As the Lord through Christ calls to Himself the “people of God” we see a similar relationship. Christ followers today, are those who are to see themselves as those with a special destiny and purpose because of all that Christ has done. Just as the Lord God acted in a sovereign way to create “His people” – so the Lord has acted in a sovereign way through Christ to bring to life and relationship all those who place their faith in Christ. We not special, but made “special” by Christ. We are given relationship and a purpose that we are to honor and fulfill.

Peter wrote to Christ-followers these words, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9 NIV)

Prayer for today…. Lord allow us to remember the favor we have because of our faith in Christ. Enable us to be those who recognize our “calling” and our divine “purpose.” May we be those who with all humility and gratitude for what You have done live to bring glory and honor to Your name.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. “In the fortieth year, on the first day of the eleventh month, Moses spoke to the people of Israel according to all that the Lord had given him in commandment to them…See, I have set the land before you. Go in and take possession of the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give to them and to their offspring after them.” Deuteronomy 1:3,8 ESV

The Book of Deuteronomy picks up where Numbers left off. Except it is now 40 years later. A new generation has risen as the rebellious ones have died in the wilderness. The Lord speaks to Moses and tells him that it is time for His people to enter into their possession.

But they don’t just “charge ahead” as it were. Moses takes time to prepare the people for the task ahead. The first step in that process is to remind them how they got to where they had been and where they are.

Moses begins by recounting how the Lord had him choose leaders from the tribes to share the burden of responsibility for the people. He then tells them how they were in this same spot 40 years ago and how spies went into the land and instead of trusting in the Lord who had shown Himself strong and faithful, they gave in to fear and panic.

“And the Lord heard your words and was angered, and he swore, ‘Not one of these men of this evil generation shall see the good land that I swore to give to your fathers.” (Deuteronomy 1:34,35 ESV)

We then see the clock fast forward, “So as soon as all the men of war had perished and were dead from among the people, the Lord said to me, ‘Today you are to cross the border of Moab at Ar.” (Deuteronomy 2:16-18 ESV) The move toward inheriting the promise land begins with victories on the east side of the Jordan River. 

Moses tells the people how that he had disobeyed the Lord and was not going to be allowed to enter the promise land with them, but another one, Joshua, would lead them

So we see with great details Moses recounts the history of God’s people to the new generation. He lets them know the faithfulness of God in the past, the rebellion of the past generation and they are able to see the Lord bring victories in the present. Moses reminds them of the laws that are to guide their conduct and admonishes them to fully obey the Lord and to follow Him as the sure path for a bright future.

As we look at the history of God’s people from Egypt to the promise land, we see that disobedience and rebellion may delay, but not destroy God’s plans and purposes. God is looking for those who will fully trust Him and follow Him. In doing so, He will remind us of the past to encourage a “different spirit” and a better outcome for our lives than what was experienced by those who refused to fully trust and obey.

In the New Testament we see Paul making reference to the past failures to God’s people to serve as reminders and to instruct believers in his day. I believe taking note of the history and the lessons learned are important for us as well today. We can observe and know that God doesn’t change, and in many ways human nature is seen consistent over the eons as well.

Prayer for today…. Lord, thank You for the lessons we can learn from the past. Allow us to be humble as we look at the failures of others and to realize how we face our doubts and inconsistencies as well. Give us the strength to obey You and inherit all the promises You had for us.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor.” Galatians 6:2-4 ESV

Understanding Paul’s main focus on freedom from the “law” in writing to the Galatians gives greater perspective to the various parts. As Paul admonishes about the importance of bearing one another’s burdens and fulfilling the law of Christ; it is set in contrast to the impossibility of fulfilling the Old Covenant with all of its laws and the individual responsibility to offer the proper sacrifices in the proper way at the proper time.

The “law of Christ” is “to love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength and to love your neighbor as yourself.” That is at its core what the Old Covenant was about. However it involved over 600 specific laws that told you how to please God, be in right relationship with Him and how to be right with people. The result despair or a “better-than-thou” attitude, especially among the religious elite, as we saw in Jesus day.

Paul’s teaching is that relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ puts the “law of God on our hearts.” We obey, because of our love for God, we don’t obey the “law” so God will love us.

Then we see a call to corporate concern. An awareness that when one “falls” it is not time to condemn, it is time to pick up and restore. “…if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness.” (Galatians 6:1 ESV) The “law” called for people to be condemned. The “law of Christ” calls for them to be restored.

This restoration is the duty of those who recognize their own vulnerability. “…Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.” (Galatians 6:1 ESV)  Some have pointed out that this is caution concerning being tempted by the same sin. All of us have out points of vulnerability. But we should be on guard in having an attitude of, “I would never commit that sin.”

So Paul says we can fulfill the law of Christ was we live with a “one another” attitude in life. So often, people will view their spiritual life as “private” – as “no one’s business.” The Bible teaches just the opposite. We are to “spur one another on to good works.”  We are to care for one another, love one another, rejoice with one anther, serve one another, to encourage one another.

We are called to a community of faith. Just as God created through Abraham a “community” of God’s people related to a common ancestor; we are part of a community of faith, because we are all “born again” by a common faith, by the same Savior. We are part of the “blood line” of Jesus.

Prayer for today… Lord, thank You for the family to which you have called us and to which we belong. We are not on our own. We are “in this” together. Enable us to live freely with Your higher calling, Your higher law. Help us to serve you from our hearts and to serve others out of love and obedience to You.