PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Deuteronomy.7-9
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God.” (Deuteronomy 8:14)
In these chapters, Moses reminds this younger generation to remember God.
When you face your opponents, remember that God will help you (ch.7).
When you experience prosperity, remember that God helped you (ch.8).
When you succeed, remember that it because of God’s love, not your greatness (ch.9).
The chapter ends with the humbling story of how Israel forgot God with the golden calf.
If it was possible for them to forget God after so many blessings, how about us.
As we experienced success and prosperity in the west, our need for God declined.
Our ‘golden calf’ was not a statue, but it is golden – our wealth and possessions.
Life was good, and we were successful, what could go wrong?
Well now we’re in a global crisis, and the things we were clinging to are unraveling.
Is the Lord disciplining the children He loves (Deuteronomy 8:5)?
Is the Lord testing us too, to show us how we were subtly sidelining Him?
I can only speak for me; was success in the world making me less focused on the Lord?
Now that I am in this crisis, is it drawing me back to relying on and trusting in Him?
PRAYER
Lord, this is testing my confidence in You. Remind me that even though we are experiencing trouble in this world, You have overcome the world, and I can be confident through this crisis too.
I think of the times that my witness as a follower of Jesus was compromised – how I kept my mouth shut when I should have spoke up. Now I have moments of pride that can sneak up on me – as if it is I that accomplished anything – I need a Moses that pleads for my salvation – and I have it in Jesus. I thank God for the HS’s work in me – that pricks me and reminds me whose I am- what my priorities should be. Thanks be to God – Jesus enables me to be obedient!
“Who can stand up against the Anakites?(COVID-19)” 3 But be assured today that the Lord your God is the one who goes across ahead of you like a devouring fire. (Deut 9:3).
Lord you have delivered Israel from all their enemies too strong for them, you brought them out of the land of slavery in Egypt, you gave them the land of Canaan, a land with wheat, barley, vines, fig trees, pomegranate, olive, honey .. a land where they lack nothing.. It is not because of their righteousness for they are a stiff-necked generation but because you are faithful and merciful God.
In Jesus you promised Lord that we will have life to the full (John 10:10) and because Jesus lives, we will also live (John 14:19). Merciful Father God our Creator deliver us from this COVID-19 pandemic. May the surge of infection flatten out by April 30. Grant wisdom and protection to the frontline workers that they will remain safe so they can continue to help the sick. Enlighten the scientists and researchers that they may find a way to completely eradicate this corona virus. Our righteousness is in Jesus who died on the cross at Calvary to wash our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness and He rose again defeated death and because Jesus lives, we live. Thank you Father for our life!
The Lord God is God. When we go after other gods, we will perish. Live for Him. Serve Him! That Way is the only Way to live – to have Life. Put other gods in His place, we will surely die as He told His people long ago. We must not turn aside from the Way He told us to live. Do this and live is what He said.
However we have gone our own way and worshiped other gods. We/I need to return to God and worship Him in all that I do. My trust is in God alone.
In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My comforter, my all in all
Here in the love of Christ I stand
In Christ alone who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
Till on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live
There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ
No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand