126th Week, Deuteronomy Chapters 10-14 (Click on Title for Vide Intro)

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Click on Title for Video Introduction


Monday, Deuteronomy Chapter 10
Deuteronomy 10
Verse 19
Bart Strayer 

Verse 19:  So show your love for the alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt.

THOUGHT
This verse got me thinking about my life and people that I surround myself with. It is easy for us Christians to surround ourselves with other Christians and grow away from the lost because we can’t relate with them.

It is true. Salvation changes every perspective on your life. However, let’s not lose our ‘relate’ ability for the common unsaved person. Yes, they may have different priorities than we do, but there are ways to be their good friend and to love them without compromising our beliefs. Jesus did it all in His life. 

The fundamental operation of missions is to go into unchurched regions of the world and establish relationships with nonbelievers for the opportunity to share the gospel some point down the road. Salt Shakers, let’s not shrink back into our ‘Christian cubby—holes’.  Keep your relationships with your nonbeliever friends healthy.

PRAYER
Dear God, we thank You for the gift of Your Son. Help us to love all people, not just our brothers and sisters in Christ. Help make those relationships with the unsaved meaningful for Your purposes. Put people in our paths for the opportunity to love on them.  In Jesus Name. AMEN


Tuesday, Deuteronomy Chapter 11
Deuteronomy 11
Verse 2
Bart Strayer

Verse 2:  Remember today that your children were not the ones who saw and experienced the discipline of the LORD your God: his majesty, his mighty hand, his outstretched arm.

THOUGHT
People ask me, “What education do you need to be a market maker in index options?”  Well, some say no education, it’s a craft, you learn by doing, not by reading books. Others say, you have to be highly educated in mathematics and investments. I think, you can’t operate in one extreme or the other. Education combined with action yields the best learning curve.

Where am I going with this? Oh yeah....Let’s not forget, in the 40 years that Israel wondered in the wilderness, a new generation was born. As with all people, events in our lives teach us about ourselves, our family, our friends, and for those of us who believe, our God. That is why the application of God’s Word is so important. Those that just read or listen to God’s Word and not apply it are totally missing out on the Christian life. God reveals Himself to us through our prayers, tests of faith, and our total dependence on Him. These are actions!  ‘Putting the rubber to the road’, God reveals Himself to us through His Word and our testimony.

PRAYER
Dear God, continue to reveal Yourself to us as we live out our lives.  Never let a circumstance pass us by without us knowing that You do nothing without purpose. Help us to take Your Word and apply it so that we may fully appreciate the depth of Your love for us. In Jesus Name. AMEN


Wednesday, Deuteronomy Chapter 12
Deuteronomy 12
Verse 31
Bart Strayer

Verse 31:  You must not worship the LORD your God in their way, because in worshiping their gods, they do all kinds of detestable things the LORD hates.

THOUGHT
Ever noticed that God had very specific instructions for His people during this time period. As is apparent from our readings, they are very detailed at times. That leads to the question: ‘why so much detail?’  Ever heard the phrase: ‘I’m two steps ahead of ya.’?  Well, God is like a million steps ahead of us. He knows our struggles before they are struggles. He knows what will happen if we don’t follow through on instructions. He knows our temptations. Many times through His specific instructions, He is trying to have us avoid the problem before it gets to be one. Sometimes we may not fully understand God’s ways, however, we must just trust and obey.

PRAYER
Dear God, help us to trust and obey. Holy Spirit, fall a fresh on us today. Sometimes the circumstances of our lives can be hard and confusing.  Help us, no matter what, to trust the truth set forth in Your Word. AMEN


Thursday, Deuteronomy Chapter 13
Deuteronomy 13
Verse 4
Bart Strayer

Verse 4:  It is the LORD your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him.

THOUGHT
God’s words sound harsh in this chapter. Why? There is nothing more important in this life than your relationship with God. It is what gets you to eternal life in the presence of God. When comprehending eternity, I can’t think of anything so short, but yet so important than the decision to walk with Christ in this life. That is why when reading this chapter; it may sound like God is going overboard when it comes to defending your faith. Let nothing stand in the way of your relationship with Christ.  Letting cancerous words penetrate your beliefs may have eternal consequences.

PRAYER
Lord, help us protect our precious relationship with You. Give the discernment to put up our guard against false teaching. Yet, give us fertile ground in which Your truths will take root and grow in our lives.  We praise You for Your abundant grace for us. AMEN


Friday, Deuteronomy Chapter 14
Deuteronomy 14
Verse 22-23
Bart Strayer

Verse 22-23:  “Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year. Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the LORD your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to REVERE the LORD your God always.”

THOUGHT
Is it just me or do I seem to get the money verses a lot?  

I liked the last few words of verse 23, “learn to revere the LORD your God“. I like the word ‘revere’. The formal meaning is “to regard with awe”. When we give, that helps us to learn to revere Him. It is one act of many that helps us to revere our God.

It also reminds us that all we own belongs to Him. He asks for 10%, we are stewards over the 90% left. Being a steward means, “One who manages another’s property or finances.” You are also stewards over your children. God has entrusted you for a short time with His precious gift of life. Take a moment and reflect on what stewardship means in your life and how you are performing as God’s stewards.

PRAYER
Dear God, we are thankful for yet another week in Your Word. We are thankful for found payroll boxes and Your strength through trials. Help us to keep learning to ‘revere’ Your awesome works in our lives. Help us to be good stewards over all the many blessings in our lives, whether it is children or money. In Jesus Name, AMEN










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