Devotion Thoughts - 07/04/2011

Deut 31:1-30


Although still in reasonable health, Moses knew that his death was imminent, so he shares his last thoughts with the difficult people he had led for forty years. For Christians facing an unknown and probably very difficult future there can be no better advice than what Moses gave the people in v. 6: 'Be strong etc...'. And the same advice is good for individuals as in v.8. It is good to know that, once we have committed the future to the Lord, we can step out in confident faith. This was to be taught regularly and to coming generations.


Although Israel had been given God's covenant, He Who knows the future knew that the people were going to stray after Moses died. To help them remember His commandments God taught Moses a song that he was to teach the people. While they might not read the Law regularly, they certainly would know the song!


Deut 32:1-27


This was the song Moses taught the people. Throughout His relationship with Israel God was busy teaching and instructing them (v.10 ff).


[NOTE: If God instructed such a huge number of people simultaneously, it is reasonable to suppose that He also taught Adam and Eve all they needed to know about life and living.]


The song stresses the punishment in store for those who ignored God and made a point of worshipping idols.


So why did God not wipe Israel out altogether? There is a clue in v.27. If God had wiped out Israel by using their enemies then the enemies would believe that it was by their own power that they wiped out Israel. God wanted to make it clear that He helped their enemies by foretelling the consequences of Israel's disobedience, their downfall, in the song.


Luke 12:8-34


Here Jesus encourages us to witness for Him. When we do He, in turn, will tell the Father that we belong to Him. I believe this is what Christians will do, even if, when challenged, they can only say: 'I am a Christian'. I also believe that those who don't witness for Jesus when challenged are not Christians; which is why Jesus will reject them in the Father's presence.


When I was a senior at school I came to use the name of Jesus as a swear word. I'm not proud of that, but I do know that I have been forgiven, for that is the meaning of 'everyone who speaks against the Son of Man will be forgiven [after confession, of course]' (v.10). So when I hear others, including actors in movies, using the name of Jesus wrongly (it does not say 'blasphemously' in the Greek) I know I can still, and feel I must, pray for their salvation. But it is futile to pray for those who blaspheme the Holy Spirit [belittle the Holy Spirit and His work]. But God is so gracious in this respect. Many a time I have heard the name of Jesus 'spoken against' (probably Paul the Apostle did as well until his Damascus Road encounter with Jesus), but rarely have I heard anything blasphemous said against the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit, as our Teacher, will know who will be saved and who will not be. He must be the One Who ensures that we never speak blasphemously against the Holy Spirit.


Jesus warns against covetousness, telling a couple of parables that highlight that God is against it. The lesson is: only fools are materialistic enough to leave God out of their lives (v.21). Paul was right to suggest that we should 'learn' to be content with or without' material goods (Phil 4:11,12). There is more to life than material things. Jesus recommends the pursuit of a place in God's Kingdom as being the best employment for us to engage in (v.31).


Psalm 78:32-55


The psalmist bemoans the fact that in spite of seeing all God's wonders and miracles and having Him to lead them in the cloud by day and the fire by night, they still disobeyed Him (v.32). It seems that there was a 'yo-yo' effect going on: sometime sinning - getting punished - asking forgiveness - being restored - sometime sinning .... ad infinitum. Wow! It is so much easier to simply obey the Lord!


In a similar way, Christians also have a yo-yo spiritual life. One day we are on fire - the next day we do something wrong - we confess - are on fire - do something wrong - confess - on fire .... So what's the answer? It took me many years to realise that I must see myself as a slave of God with no rights - but knowing that God loves me and is committed to my well-being, wanting me to have the best possible - so leave everything (my needs, my future etc) to Him (See Isa_43:25). Sounds simple, but it will take everything we are made of to be obedient to God's will for us (as written in His Word!).


Proverbs 12:21-23


The basic message does not change: blessings for the just; bad times for the unjust. This, indeed, is part of the message of the Bible. The purpose is to show us how we cannot save ourselves; we must live holy lives to please God, yet we cannot live holy lives without God's help.

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