Deuteronomy 11
Remember what you sawverses 1-7
THEREFORE, you shall LOVE the LORD your God – and keep HIS
charge – statutes – judgments – commandments – always
And KNOW you this day
for I speak not with your children which have not known
and which have not seen the chastisement of the
LORD your God – HIS greatness
HIS mighty hand – HIS stretched out arm
HIS miracles – HIS acts
which HE did in the midst of Egypt
to Pharaoh king of Egypt
and to all his land
and what HE did to the army of Egypt – to their horses – chariots
how HE made the water of the Red sea to overflow
them as they pursued after you
and how the LORD has destroyed them to this day
and what HE did to you in the wilderness
until you came into this place
and what HE did to Dathan and Abiram – the sons of Eliab
the son of Reuben – how the earth opened her mouth
and swallowed them up – and their households
and their tents – and all the substance that
was in their possession
in the midst of all Israel
BUT your eyes have seen all the great acts of the LORD which HE did
Keep the commandments to be blessedverses 8-9
THEREFORE, shall you KEEP all the commandments which I
command you this day – that you may be STRONG
and go in and possess the land -whither you go to possess it
And that you may PROLONG your days in the land
which the LORD swore to your fathers to give
unto them and to their seed
a land that flows with MILK and HONEY
Promised land different from land of Egyptverses 10-12
For the land – whither you go in to possess it – is not as the land of Egypt
from whence you came out – where you sowed your seed
and watered it with your foot – as a garden of herbs
BUT the land – whither you go to possess it – is a land of hills and valleys
and drinks water of the rain of heaven
a land which the LORD your God care for
the eyes of the LORD your God are always on it
from the beginning of the year even to the
end of the year
Obedience to LORD brings rainverses 13-15
And it shall come to pass
IF you shall hearken diligently to MY commandments
which I command you this day
to LOVE the LORD your God
to SERVE HIM with all your heart
and with all your soul
That I will give you the RAIN of your land in his due season
the first RAIN and the latter RAIN
that you may gather in your corn – wine – oil
And I will send grass in your fields for your cattle
that you may eat and be full
Disobedience takes rain awayverses 16-17
Take heed to yourselves – that your heart be not deceived
and you turn aside – and serve other gods
and worship them
THEN the LORD’S wrath be kindled against you
and HE shut up the heaven – that there be NO RAIN
and that the land yield not her fruit
And lest you perish quickly from off the good land which the
LORD gave you
Completely wrapped in the Word of LORDverses 18-21
THEREFORE, shall you lay up these MY words
in your heart and in your soul
and bind them for a sign upon your hand
that they may be as frontlets
between your eyes
And you shall TEACH them your children
SPEAKING of them when you
sit in your house – walk by the way
lie down – rise up
And you shall WRITE them on the door posts of your house
and on your gates – that your days may be multiplied
and the days of your children
in the land which the LORD
swore unto your fathers to give them
as the days of heaven on the earth
Dimensions of the Promised Landverses 22-25
FOR IF you shall DILIGENTLY keep all these commandments
which I command you – to DO them
to LOVE the LORD your God
to WALK in all HIS ways
to CLEAVE unto HIM
THEN will the LORD drive out all these nations from before you
and you shall possess greater nations and mightier than yourselves
Every place whereon the soles of your feet shall tread shall be yours
from the wilderness of Lebanon – from the river – the river Euphrates
even unto the uttermost sea shall your coast be
There shall NO MAN be able to stand before you
FOR the LORD your God shall lay the FEAR of you
and the DREAD of you on all the land that
you shall tread upon – as HE has said to you
Choice between blessing and curseverses 26-32
BEHOLD – I set before you this day a BLESSING and a CURSE
A BLESSING – IF you OBEY the commandments of the
LORD your God which I command you this day
and A CURSE – IF you will NOT OBEY the
commandments of the LORD your God
BUT turn aside out of the way which I command you this day
to go after other gods – which you have not known
And it shall come to pass – when the LORD you God hath brought
you in to the land whither you go to possess it
that you shall put the BLESSING on mount Gerizim
and the CURSE on mount Ebal
Are they not on the other side Jordan
by the way where the sun goes down
in the land of the Canaanites
which dwell in the champaign over against Gilgal
beside the plains of Moreh?
FOR you shall pass over Jordan to go in to possess the land which the
LORD your God give you – and you shall possess it
and dwell therein
And you shall OBSERVE to do all the statutes and judgments
which I set before you this day
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 2 And know you this day: for I speak not with your children which have not known, and which have not seen the chastisement of the LORD your God, HIS greatness, HIS mighty hand, and HIS stretched-out arm. (4148 “chastisement” [muwcar] means discipline, training, exhortation, warning, correction, education, instructions, or the imposition of painful consequences or other disadvantages upon someone for their disobedience as part of a process of improving someone’s character or actions)
DEVOTION: Who is God speaking to? HE is only speaking to the adults who have seen the LORD work in their lifetime. HE wants them to know that only if this generation obeys the LORD will the next generation be blessed. The same is true if they are disobedient. Their children will feel the discipline of the LORD.
Each generation is held accountable for what they do with the LORD’S commands. If they keep the standard the LORD has set for them, then their children will also know the blessings of the LORD.
When we see the LORD working in our life, we need to be sure to praise HIM for the blessings. We have to be a thankful people. We have to not think that we deserve blessings. We don’t deserve them. We deserve a place reserved for us in the lake of fire that has been reserved for the devil and his angels.
So when we experience the discipline of the LORD and learn from it and teach the future generation the truth of the chastening of the LORD we are being faithful servants. Remember whom the LORD loves HE chastens.
There has never been a generation that is perfect. Every generation of humans commit sin. All humans commit sin from the day they are born until the day they die. Some commit them on purpose because they don’t know the LORD. Others that do know the LORD, sin because they have not reached perfection, which will only happen after they die.
Genuine believers know that they have to confess their sins regularly to receive the blessings of the LORD. If children see their parents and grandparents admitting their sin, they will learn to confess like their parents and grandparents. Fellowship with the LORD is important. Only believers can have fellowship though confession of sin after salvation.
Fellowship is based on confession. Salvation is based on the blood of Christ for our sins that we have to admit through repentance. Once we repent the LORD gives us eternal life in heaven and blessings on earth.
The children of Israel needed the blessings of rain for their crops to grow. The LORD is in control of the weather. Some think that there is global warming, so the LORD sends cold to show that they are wrong. We are never going to control the weather.
CHALLENGE: The LORD is always going to control the weather.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 12 A land which the LORD your God cares for; the eyes of the LORD your God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year to the end of the year. (1875 “cares” [darash] means sought, study, examine, to tread, to seek or ask, follow, to worship, inquire, make inquisition, question, require, search, or frequent)
DEVOTION: Review of history is important to the family of God. If the past blessings and deliverances are remember, the future looks brighter. Parents are to train their children by telling them of what the LORD had done for them in the past. The children have never seen what the LORD had done in Egypt. The children had not seen what the LORD did in the wilderness. The only way they were going to know the power of the LORD was for the parents to tell them.
Without proper training the next generation would not know the greatness of the LORD. Without proper training they would not know the mighty hand of the LORD. Without a passing of the miracles of the LORD, the children would never expect a miracle from the LORD.
Strength is given to the children by the parents. IF the God of the parents is weak, the faith of the children will be weak. If the God of the parents is strong, the faith of the children will be strong. Belief is passed on by the parents and grandparents.
The LORD sought a land that was just right for HIS people. The LORD waited for the people of the land to go so far into sin that they needed to be destroyed. HE sent the children of Israel to destroy them. In this chapter HE is reminding the children of Israel all HE has done in the past for them. HE is warning them not to follow the gods of the land. HE is telling them that if they obey HIM, they will be blessing.
If they chose to disobey HIM, they will be cursed. One of the curses for disobedience was that the LORD would hold back the rain for the crops. The LORD is always watching over HIS people.
HE is always concerned for HIS people. HE has promised to never leave them or forsake them. There is not a time period in a year that the LORD is not watching over HIS people. HE is always there. HE is there in the winter, summer, spring and fall.
These same promises are given to us in the New Testament. We are promised a place in heaven. We are promised that if we are obedient, HE will bless us. If we chose to disobey HIM, HE will chasten us. If we chose to obey HIM, HE will also prune us to help us produce more fruit for HIM.
There is not a time period when the LORD is not watching over HIS people. Do we realize that the eyes of the LORD are upon us? We are not able to hide from HIM!!!
CHALLENGE: The eyes of the LORD are always watching us. HE wants us to serve HIM. HE wants us to train the next generation to serve HIM. Are we cleaving to the LORD daily?
: 16 Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and you turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them. (3249 “turn aside” [yacuwr] means depart, to change direction, to go off, to go away, to depart from God, or to change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense; especially in relation to leaving a set course)
DEVOTION: Progression of disobedience is stated in this verse and throughout the Word of God. The children of Israel didn’t just jump into great sin it always came gradually. It starts most of the time with discontent with what the LORD was providing for them. They had a poor memory regarding their time in Egypt. They thought they had it so good in Egypt when it got rough in the wilderness.
We don’t understand what rough really is until we lose all of our blessings. This never happens but we become discontent if we are not blessed as much as we think we should. That is only the enemy talking to us in our hearts.
Our hearts are very deceptive. They make us think that we deserve more when in reality we are not close to the LORD at all. The children had the LORD very close to them in the wilderness. HE talked with them. HE showed HIMSELF in a cloud and in fire. HE gave them food. HE gave them clothes and shoes that didn’t wear out. All this was HIS provision and more but they still were not satisfied.
We are the same way. We seem to always want a little bit more that we think the LORD should give us because we are such great servants of HIM. We are lying to ourselves. Discontent doesn’t come from the LORD.
Our walk is affected just like the walk of the children of Israel. We start walking in a different direction because we think that we can get our blessings on our own and so we try. We start collecting things or watching things or generally turning away from the LORD.
HE has to chasten us to get us to return to the right path. We don’t like chastening. All we want is blessings any way we can get them. God doesn’t work that way but our enemy does. He would like us to sell our soul to him for a little bit of oatmeal.
CHALLENGE: Make sure you are not worshiping our belly or our bank account or our favorite individual. Worship only belongs to the LORD.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 22 For if ye shall diligently keep all these commandments which I command you, to do them, to love the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, and to cleave unto him; (1692 “cleave” [dabaq] means follow hard, keep close, stick, pursue, stay with, cling, adhere, or united)
DEVOTION: God gave the children of Israel HIS standard for living. HE was not just letting them live their life any way they pleased. HE was making sure that they knew what HE expected and gave them examples of when they were disobedient of what the consequences were for sin.
Moses kept repeating the standards. He kept reminding them of what happened in the past. He recorded all the good, bad and ugly things that were experienced by them from the time they left Egypt until they reached the Promised Land forty years later. He even reminded them of what happened in Egypt for so many years even though their memories were not good regarding their stay in Egypt.
So they were commanded to love the LORD. They were commanded to walk according to HIS standards. They were commanded to stay glued to the LORD in all their internal life as well as their external life. Their life centered on their proper relationship with HIM and HIS standards.
Their hearts were to be glued to the heart of the LORD. If they could really understand “love” it would help them to understand that their relationship was one of genuine friendship with a God who cared about them. Once they realized this fact, they would WANT to walk in a way that pleased HIM and not themselves.
CHALLENGE: Too often we think that what pleases us pleases the LORD. That is not the case. Only obedience to HIS standard is pleasing HIM and brings HIM glory. We are to bring HIM glory more times than we are to please ourselves.
: 26 Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse (1293 “blessing” [Barakah] means something bringing prosperity and life, benediction, invocation of good, extremely fortunate, treaty of peace, or prosperity)
DEVOTION: The LORD is in the business of giving people prosperity in their life. HE is the one who can give it the right way to the right person. HE is the one who wants to bless HIS people whether in the Old Testament or the New Testament.
Every human being has a choice in their relationship to the LORD. In the Old Testament it was obedience to the commands of God like the ones given in the Ten Commandments. If the members of the children of Israel were obedient to the commandments and the statutes and whatever else the LORD gave them, they would be prosperous.
In the New Testament we have to have a proper relationship with Jesus Christ to receive the benefits the LORD gives to those who are followers of HIM through Christ. The list is very long but it is just as good as the list given in the Old Testament.
Every individual has a choice to make regarding their relationship to the LORD. The choice is a lifetime choice it is not want that is made easily. It is one that means commitment to the standards the LORD sets for HIS people.
No one is sinless. We are all sinners from the day we come into the world until the day we leave. The only one who was sinless that came to this earth was Jesus Christ. HE was accused of many sins by the Pharisees and HE knew they were wrong.
We are accused of many sins but the LORD and we know that HE is right. We have an advocate who speak for us before the Father. It is Jesus Christ.
Does that mean that we sin any time we want to? NO!! It means that we will sin but we can confess our sins and HE is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
This should be a daily activity. We should not set out to sin but we should be willing to confess when we do. There are some people in some Christian circles that think that they have stopped sinning – they are wrong. There are some people in our churches who think that they and look down on others and judge them – they are wrong.
Leadership needs to confess sin. When they try to help someone, who has sinned they are to come with a humble spirit knowing that they are still sinners as well.
CHALLLENGE: What type of believer are you? Judgmental or Forgiving and willing to walk along side of someone who is struggling? Your actions and attitude show whether you want them to or not.
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Writeverse 20
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Chargeverse 1
Statutesverses 1, 32
Judgmentsverses 1, 32
Commandmentsverses 1, 8, 13, 22, 27, 28
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD (Jehovah)verses 1, 2, 4, 7, 9, 12, 13, 17, 21, 22, 23, 25, 27-29, 31
God (Elohim)verses 1, 2, 12, 13, 22, 25, 27-29, 31
LORD your Godverses 1, 2, 12, 29, 31
Chastisement of the LORDverse 2
Greatness of the LORDverse 2
Mighty hand of the LORDverse 2
Stretched out arm of the LORDverse 2
Miracles of the LORDverse 3
Acts of the LORDverse 3
Great acts of the LORDverse 7
Swear to fathersverse 9
Eyes of the LORD thy Godverse 12
LORD your Godverses 13, 22, 25, 27, 28, 31
LORD’S wrathverse 17
Commandments of the LORD your Godverse 27
LORD your God gives landverse 31
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead – God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Egypt – Pharaohverses 3, 4, 10
Army of Egyptverse 4
Waters of the Rea Seaverse 4
Nations driven outverse 23
Wilderness of Lebanon to the seaverse 24
Fear of the LORD on all mankindverse 25
Canaanitesverse 30
Gilgalverse 30
Plains of Morehverse 30
Pass over the Jordanverse 31
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Deceivedverse 16
Turn asideverses 16, 28
Serve other godsverses 16, 28
Worship other godsverse 16
Curseverses 26, 28, 29
Not obeying the commandmentsverse 28
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Love the LORDverses 1, 13, 22
Keep HIS commandmentsverses 1, 8, 22, 27
Chastisementverse 2
Eyes have seen great acts of the LORDverse 7
Strong verse 8
Inheritanceverses 8, 10-12, 17, 21, 31
Prolong your lifeverses 9, 21
Promised land flowing with milk and honeyverses 9, 10, 23
Careverse 12
Serve the LORDverse 13
Hearken diligently verse 13
Provision of the LORD: Rainverse 14
Provision of the LORD: Foodverse 15
Take heedverse 16
Lay up the word of Godverse 18
Teach the word of Godverse 19
Speak the word of Godverse 19
Walk in the way of the LORDverses 19, 22
Write the word of Godverse 20
Cleave to the commandmentsverse 22
Blessingverses 26, 27, 29
Obeyverse 27
Observeverse 32
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Dathan and Abiramverse 6
Earth swallowed up
Israelverse 6
Possess the landverses 8-24
Every place your feet shall treadverse 24
Fear of Israel by the nationsverse 25
Blessing on Mount Gerizimverse 29
Curse on Mount Ebalverse 29
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
Perish quicklyverse 17
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QUOTES regarding passage
11:10–15. Mentioning the contrasts between the Promised Land and Egypt might have been prompted by the reference to Dathan and Abiram (v. 6). These men had referred to Egypt as “a land flowing with milk and honey” and complained that Moses had not given them anything better (Num. 16:12–14). However, the land of Canaan had far more potential for agriculture. Whereas the people in Egypt had to depend on irrigation, God’s people would have rain from heaven, for He watches over the land year-round. But this rain, unlike irrigation, did not depend on human ingenuity or skill, but rather on the will of Israel to obey the commands of the rain’s Giver. This involved loving and serving Him (cf. Deut. 10:12). The autumn … rains (also called the early rains) come in September–October, and the spring rains are in March–April (cf. Joel 2:23). Those rains begin and end the rainy season. The rains are necessary to help crops and trees grow, including grain (wheat, flax, and barley), grapevines (wine), olive trees (oil), and grass in the fields. (Deere, J. S. (1985). Deuteronomy. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 282). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
The Promised Land was “a land of milk and honey,” but if the rain didn’t come at its appointed seasons, nothing would grow and the people would starve; and only God could send the rain. Baal was the Canaanite storm god, and often in their history, the Jews turned to this false god for help, and God had to chasten them. Elijah’s dramatic encounter on Mount Carmel with the priests of Baal proved that the Lord Jehovah was the true and living God (1 Kings 18:16ff). Unlike the land of Egypt, which depended on irrigation from the Nile River, the land of Israel received the life-giving rains from heaven, sent by the Lord. Often in Jewish history, God shut up the heavens and disciplined His people until they confessed their sins and returned to Him (Deut. 28:23–24; 2 Chron. 7:12–14). God would watch over and care for the land and its inhabitants (Deut. 11:12). If the nation of Israel feared God, loved Him, and obeyed Him, He would send the crops in their seasons and feed the people and the flocks and herds. God wasn’t “buying” their obedience; He was rewarding their faith and teaching them the joys of knowing and serving Him.
The problem wasn’t with God or the land; it was in the hearts of the people. “Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived” (v. 16). If the people turned aside from worshiping Jehovah, His anger would be kindled and He would have to discipline them. Since their idolatry polluted the land, God would have to remove them from the land and cleanse it; and this He did when He sent the Jews into captivity in Babylon. The greatest deterrent to idolatry was the Word of God (vv. 18–21; see 6:6–9), the treasure that God had given to Israel and to no other nation. That Word was supposed to govern their lives and be the topic of their conversation. As we have seen, the Jews took this commandment literally and made phylacteries for their arms and heads and mezuzahs for their houses but failed to receive the Word into their hearts. Christians today face the same danger. It’s much easier to wear a gold cross on our person than to bear Christ’s cross in daily life, and to hang Scripture texts on the walls of our homes than to hide God’s Word in our hearts. If we love the Lord and cleave to Him, we will want to know His Word and obey it in every area of our lives. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1999). Be equipped (pp. 74–75). Colorado Springs, CO: Chariot Victor Pub.)
13. The verse is not only in the Pl. and a repetition of certain formulas, but it also changes the speaker (my commandments can only mean God’s). It is evidently inserted by an editor (so too Steuern. and Bertholet) (who also altered the opening of the next verse, q.v.) because he thought it again necessary to safeguard the promise by repeating the usual deuteronomic condition. But the condition breaks into the theme of the writer which for the moment is only the contrast between the two lands. On the contents of the v. see on 10:12. (Smith, G. A. (1918). The Book of Deuteronomy in the Revised Version with Introduction and Notes (pp. 148–149). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.)
Ver. 13. And it shall come to pass, if you shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, &c.] In the name, and by the authority of the Lord, the only lawgiver: to love the Lord your God, and to serve him with all your heart, and with all your soul; see ch. 10:12. Jarchi interprets this of prayer; but it is not to be restrained to that only, but includes the whole service of God, in all the parts of it, performed from a principle of love to him, and in sincerity and truth.
Ver. 14. That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, &c.] Such a quantity of it as the land required, a sufficiency of it to make it fruitful, and that in proper time: the first rain and the latter rain; the former rain in Marchesvan, the latter rain in Nisan, as the Targum of Jonathan; the first fell about our October, which was at or quickly after seed-time, to water the seed that it might take root, and grow and spring up; and the latter fell about March, a little before harvest, to ripen the corn, and swell and plump the ears of it, and make them yield more and better; see the note on Joel 2:23. that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil; which were the principal things the land afforded for the sustenance of men; bread-corn, the stay and staff of human life, and which strengthens man’s heart, and makes him fit for labour; wine, which is his drink, and makes the heart of man gladsome and cheerful; and oil, which in these countries was used instead of butter, and was fattening, and made the face to shine, Psal. 104:15. The in-gathering of these fruits were at different times; the barley-harvest first, the wheat-harvest next, and after that the vintage, and the gathering of the olives; and by means of rain in due season they were favored with each of these. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 2, p. 47). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
11:11–15 The idyllic picture of the land (cf. 6:10–11; 8:7–10) recalls the description of Eden (Gen. 2:5–13) and is an added incentive to conquer it. The eyes of the Lord your God are always upon it suggests care and protection as well as bounty. if you will indeed obey. This command lies in the center of idyllic land descriptions, highlighting the centrality of obedience. early rain and the later rain. Both October/November and March/April rains are needed for good crops. eat and be full. See Deut. 6:10–11 and 8:12. (Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (p. 348). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
Science tells us there are three kinds of tears. Basal tears flow continually into our eyes to lubricate the eyeball and flush away debris, and reflex tears flow as a response to either pain or contact with an irritant (like when we’re chopping an onion!). It is the third kind of tears – emotional tears – that only we humans have. And that is because only we humans can look upon the plight of another and shed tears of compassion; only humans can be brought to tears by the tears of another person. (p. 216, Signs of Life by David Jeremiah)
The CHURCH in an age of CRISIS by James Emery White
Because of the internet, there is a widening chasm between wisdom and information.
This creates a new challenge for educators. Rather than primarily dispensing information, Kelly said educators must spend much more of their time helping students evaluate information. (p. 153)
The more dependent we are on specific technological portals for information, and the less educated we are to discern the value of where those portals lead us, the more captive we will be to that source of knowledge and that source alone. (p. 155)
But the larger cultural current is how technology has become our god, and its providers our spiritual guides. Nothing brought this into the light of day more than a single death [Steve Jobs]. (p. 155)
What elevated Jobs to the role of secular spiritual guru? It seems only one thing: our cultural fascination – yes, even worship- of technology. Steve Jobs was heralded because he invented the Mac, the iPod, the iPhone, and the iPad. We so cherish those technological achievements that we award honor and even moral stature to their creator. (p. 156)
Philemon 1
Paul urges Philemon to have mercy on his runaway slave, Onesimus, who has become a Christian.
INSIGHT
If anyone is a servant of Christ, he cannot be a tyrant to men. Jesus taught forgiveness, compassion, and gentleness not harshness, anger, and retribution. Paul urges Philemon to forgive, receive, and restore his runaway slave, Onesimus, as a brother in Christ, now that he has become a Christian. The fact that this letter has been preserved indicates Philemon’s favorable response. Although we do not have slaves today, our employees, co-workers, associates, and neighbors deserve respect from us. Service to Christ requires a forgiving spirit. (QuietWalk)
After Vicki’s old car broke down with no option for repair, she started scraping together money for another vehicle. Chris, a frequent customer of the restaurant where Vicki works at the drive-thru window, one day heard her mention she needed a car. “I couldn’t stop thinking about it,” Chris said. “I [had] to do something.” So he bought his son’s used car (his son had just put it up for sale), shined it up, and handed Vicki the keys. Vicki was shocked. “Who . . . does that?” she said in amazement and gratitude.
The Scriptures call us to live with open hands, giving freely as we can—providing what’s truly best for those in need. As Paul says: “Command [those who are rich] to do good, to be rich in good deeds” (1 Timothy 6:18). We don’t merely perform a benevolent act here or there, but rather live out a cheerful spirit of giving. Big-heartedness is our normal way of life. “Be generous and willing to share,” we’re told (v. 18).
As we live with an open, generous heart, we don’t need to fear running out of what we need. Rather, the Bible tells us that in our compassionate generosity, we’re taking “hold of [true] life” (v. 19). With God, genuine living means loosening our grip on what we have and giving to others freely. By Winn Collier (Our Daily Bread)
THE APOSTOLIC WITNESS
And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 1 John 4:14-16
The apostolic witness is most important. What is it? John, in effect is putting it like this: “The important thing is to know God. But how can I know God? ‘No man hath seen God at any time.’ But we have seen and do testify that Jesus is the Son of God.” That is the statement.
Notice how he puts it. He had not had a vision. What then? Thank God, “we have seen.” He said it all in his introduction: “That which…we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life….That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you,” said John. No man has seen God, but we have seen Jesus, and Jesus said, “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father” (See John 14:9).
In other words, the apostolic vision on which my faith is grounded is this: It is a belief in that which the apostles tell us they saw, and the explanation of their understanding of what they saw is found in the four Gospels. The statements in the Gospels are not simply objective statements; they are statements plus interpretation, and at long last modern man has come back to see that. They used to contrast John with Matthew, Mark, and Luke. They said that John preached, but that Matthew, Mark, and Luke just gave the facts. But they now have to admit that what all four wrote was facts plus interpretation. Like John, the men who wrote the first three Gospels believed and understood that Jesus is the Son of God and the Savior of the world. They saw and testified; in other words, they saw, and they expounded.
A Thought to Ponder: The explanation of the apostles’ understanding of what they saw is found in the four Gospels.
(From The Love of God, p. 125, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
A Resting Place
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour.” (Titus 3:5-6)
Certainly one of the most precious doctrines of all Scripture is that reflected in our text. Our salvation depends not on our own “works of righteousness” but upon His mercy and grace, given us freely through the atoning work of Jesus Christ our Savior.
The grand old hymn “My Faith Has Found a Resting Place” reflects this theme. Let us use its four verses and chorus to focus our study as well as our hearts these next four days.
My faith has found a resting place, Not in device nor creed;
I trust the Ever-living One, His wounds for me shall plead.
I need no other argument, I need no other plea,
It is enough that Jesus died, And that He died for me.
Nothing we could do (i.e., device) or nothing we or our church could believe (i.e., creed) can provide a resting place for our faith. “For we which have believed [i.e., faith, same Greek word] do enter into rest….For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works” (Hebrews 4:3, 10). The only work that counts for anything is that which the ever-living One accomplished when He died on the cross. “Who his own self bore our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes [i.e., wounds] ye were healed” (1 Peter 2:24). It is not so much our physical health in view here but the healing of our sin-sick souls.
Since “Christ died for our sins” (1 Corinthians 15:3), there is no more penalty to be paid. Since He rose from the dead, He conquered both sin and its power, and our faith can rest.
(JDM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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