THE STORY OF JESUS: Deuteronomy 12-15
“You must not worship the Lord your God in their way.” (Deuteronomy 12:4)
Moses warns God’s people not to imitate the ways of the nations.
Immoral worship practices, child sacrifice, disregard for the poor, greedy living.
Don’t be sucked into their dead-end practices, they will ensnare and ruin you.
Always make God’s Way your standard for life, and worship!
If you read these chapters, you will be troubled by some of the details.
But pay attention to the heart of God as He warns them about the snare of compromise.
God wants the best for them, and for us, when He warns against sinful selfish living.
Moses Law served for Israel in its time, but now we are under Jesus’ Law.
And He gets to the heart: love, humility, generosity, mercy, justice, truth, forgiveness.
We are still tempted to choose the world’s way over Jesus’ Way.
When Jesus says He is the way, the truth, the life, He means it.
You cannot find the blessing you desire by choosing to follow any of the path.
If we think Jesus’ Way is hard, wait until we see how hard the sinful way becomes.
Like Moses, Jesus urges us to live WITH, LIKE and FOR God… the only way to lasting joy.
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, help me to see the subtle and sinister ways I am tempted each day to live and act selfishly, contrary to Your way. Help me not just to SAY I follow You, help me to actually do it.
Follow God’s Word.
Listen to Him.
Hear His voice.
Observe His way since it is the only way. The WAY is God’s Word.
Do this and live, that’s what the Master said. Live life according to His way. Do what is right in His eyes and not our own eyes.
Follow God’s ways. Keep your eyes on Jesus in your journey of life and not on your neighbours. Listen to His voice saying, ‘This is the way. Walk in it.’ Do what is right in His eyes.
All we do is in the presence of the Lord. That should also guide us in our living for Jesus – Emmanuel – God with us. He is near – always. I am never alone.
Give generously. Be a blessing as God has blessed you. Freely give as the Lord God freely gave unto us.
The joy of the Lord God is our strength and to know Him is to love Him and do His will.
Verse 1
The joy of the Lord is my strength
The joy of the Lord is my strength
The joy of the Lord is my strength
The joy of the Lord is my strength
Verse 2
The word of faith is nigh thee
Even in thy mouth
The word of faith is nigh thee
Even in thy mouth
The word of faith is nigh thee
Even in thy mouth
The joy of the Lord is my strength
Verse 3
He gives me living water
And I thirst no more
He gives me living water
And I thirst no more
He gives me living water
And I thirst no more
The joy of the Lord is my strength
Verse 4
Since you have His joy
You may shout with it
Since you have His joy
You may dance with it
Since you have His joy
You may laugh with it
The joy of the Lord is my strength