Old Testament – Today we get a nice recap of the Ten Commandments in Deuteronomy chapter 5! We originally read these in Exodus chapter 20 and then again in Exodus chapter 34. There are some differences in the wordings of the Ten Commandments in each of these chapters, but not enough to worry about. Bible.org has a great overview of the Ten Commandments, based on Exodus chapter 20, at this link.
I love Deuteronomy chapter 6 verses 4 through 9 in our readings today! These verses are known as the Shema – which was named after the first word in this verse and means “Hear.” The Shema became the Jewish confession of faith, which was recited by pious Jews every morning and evening and it is still recited in synagogue services today. They are the last words a Jew says prior to death. “Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone. And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are away on a journey, when you are lying down and when you are getting up again. Tie them to your hands as a reminder, and wear them on your forehead. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”
Bible.org’s commentary on Deuteronomy chapter 6 titled “Responsibilities of Fatherhood” is at this link.
New Testament – Wow…. Verse 35 in Luke chapter 7 is such a profound teaching of Jesus’ for each of us to consider: “But wisdom is shown to be right by the lives of those who follow it.” Take a few moments to really meditate on this verse and what it means. For me this verse is a reminder that sometimes in life we have to move forward in faith on something “wise” we’ve heard, but maybe not experienced – and then later see that the wisdom is true. I’m not sure if I’m going to explain myself well here… but my thought is that as followers of Jesus, I think we can get lazy in our faith at times. As just one example – maybe we don’t think we really need to give financially to our church. We know the wisdom of Malachi 3:10, but maybe we haven’t really experienced the wisdom of giving. So, maybe we need to follow the wisdom first – and then we will later know the full truth and beauty of the wisdom. Hope this makes sense? I’d just say that if there is a struggle in your life that God is calling you to leave behind or move forward on – go for it! If you know you should be doing or not doing something – go with that wisdom you know and then it will “shown to be right by the lives of those who follow it.” Please follow Wisdom! Please follow Jesus!
A nice image of John the Baptist sending two of his disciples to meet Jesus is below, from verses 18 & 19 – “The disciples of John the Baptist told John about everything Jesus was doing. So John called for two of his disciples, and he sent them to the Lord to ask him, “Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?”
Bible.org’s commentary on Luke chapter 7’s readings today, titled “John’s Problem with Jesus” is at this link.
Psalms – Today in Psalm 68 verse 20 we read – “Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign LORD comes escape from death.” Do you believe God is a God who saves us? How did / does God do this saving? Do you believe that escape from death comes from God and his Son? I’ve been reflecting on this “death” aspect of our fallen world a bit lately, which has been sad to reflect upon. I had an experience with a few friends very recently where I was reminded of how self-destructive we can be in our lives. I think that without Jesus we can oftentimes not know where to turn for an escape from death – we do not know where to turn from an escape from our own self destructive behaviors. My friends need Jesus. I need Jesus. The world needs Jesus. Our God is a God who saves. From God and Jesus comes escape from death. May this season of Easter bring us, our friends, and families closer to the God who saves!
Proverbs – I love the imagery in Proverbs chapter 11 verse 30 today – “The godly are like trees that bear life-giving fruit, and those who save lives are wise.” That is a powerful last half of the verse. Those who save lives are wise… Are you saving lives? How? How might you be able to save lives? My one quick thought on this is to get involved in ministries that are serving the poorest of the poor. I honestly believe $1 a day can save a life, if not many lives. Sponsoring a child through Compassion or another worthy organization is an amazing way to save a life. $1 a day. Will you invest in a child who needs you today? Would this be wise?
Worship Video: Psalm 68:20 reminded me of the Chris Tomlin song “Let God Arise” with the lyric: “Our God is a God who Saves!”
Please join us in memorizing and meditating on three verses of Scripture today:“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.” Deuteronomy 6:4-6 NIV
Prayer Point: Pray that you will love God with all of your heart, soul and strength. Pray that God’s commandments are written upon your heart today and forevermore.
Comments from You & Questions of the Day: What are some of your favorite charities that serve the poorest of the poor worldwide? And in your own hometown? Do you think we should care that 1.2 billion people in our world today live on less than $1 a day? Do you think we should get involved in this issue? Do you think we should serve those living in poverty both internationally and in our own hometown? Also, what verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings? Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!
God bless,
Mike
p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Bible readings at this link.
p.s. #2 – Download a schedule of our Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.
p.s. #3 – I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!
BLOG READERS HISTORICAL COMMUNITY COMMENTS: (our Group Bible Study is below! : )
======= Ramona:
Deuteronomy 5:1-6:25
Obey God’s commands; listen, be careful to do; walk straight; don’t veer off; deeply respect, etc., words and phrases found all throughout today’s reading. Do you think God is trying to tell us something?
Jesus speaking in the 14th chapter of John states:
If you [really] love Me, you will keep (obey) My commands. (John 14:15 AMP)
We look at “love” as an emotion, and confuse it with mercy, though mercy flows from love. God says love is a verb and is a “doing.” We determine if someone loves us by what they do for us; God determines love for Him by obedience to His Word. Is there anyway we can reconcile what we call love to God’s definition? God is immutable so He can’t change, it is against His nature. We have to change our understanding of what love is to fit into God’s standard. Loving God His way, which is the only way that counts, brings BIG benefits for us,
And the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, to [reverently] fear the Lord our God for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as it is this day. And it will be accounted as righteousness (conformity to God’s will in word, thought, and action) for us if we are watchful to do all this commandment before the Lord our God, as He has commanded us. (Deuteronomy 6:24-25 AMP)
Grace and peace,
Ramona
======= Lila:
The 10 commandments is the basic laws in all of society. Yet, human as we are, we cannot completely follow it, which makes all of us sinners. However, Jesus says, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” Why would others then say that the 10 commandments have already been abolished when He even says, “I come not to destroy the law but to fulfill”.
Lila
======= John:
Lila,
Good questions. Some have come up before, but some people may have missed them or joined the blog late. Of course, repetition helps the learning process. : )
The commandments or the “Law” pointed out sin. There were blessings associated with keeping the Law, and curses (punishments) associated with breaking the Law. Sacrifices were prescribed to make atonements for sin of breaking the Law. As you point out – there would be a lot of sacrifices. : )
To be accurate the full passage from scripture is:
Matt 5:17
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” NIV
Jesus came to fulfill the prophets words of a Coming Messiah. So how did Jesus fulfil the law? For this I defer to the Believer’s Comementary which explains it better than I would in a post:
“The law had attached to it the penalty of death (Gal. 3:10); and to break one command was to be guilty of all (Jas. 2:10). Since people had broken the law, they were under the curse of death. God’s righteousness and holiness demanded that the penalty be paid. It was for this reason that Jesus came into the world: to pay the penalty by His death. He died as a Substitute for guilty lawbreakers, even though He Himself was sinless. He did not wave the law aside; rather He met the full demands of the law by fulfilling its strict requirements in His life and in His death. Thus, the gospel does not overthrow the law; it upholds the law and shows how the law’s demands have been fully satisfied by Christ’s redemptive work.”
—- MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. 1997, c1995. Believer’s Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments . Thomas Nelson: Nashville
So what changed after the Crucifixion and Resurrection. By becoming followers of Christ we no longer have to worry about the curses of the Law or making atoning sacrifices. Christ made that final all encompassing sacrifice for us.
Now the commandments are written in our regenerated hearts, and if we love Jesus we will obey them.
“Yet, while the Christian is not under the law, that doesn’t mean he is lawless. He is bound by a stronger chain than law because he is under the law of Christ (1 Cor. 9:21). His behavior is molded, not by fear of punishment, but by a loving desire to please his Savior. Christ has become his rule of life (John 13:15; 15:12; Eph. 5:1, 2; 1 Jn. 2:6; 3:16).” – ibid.
Specifically, nine of the ten commandments are mentioned in the New Testament. Not as law, but as training in righteousness for the childen of God.
1John 2:6
“Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.” NIV
Jesus walked “sinless”. Because of the war between flesh and “regenerated” spirit we will still sin. But it will not affect our salvation, and it will not affect our fellowship with God – if we pray, confess, and ask for restoration of fellowship.
However we still must TRY to walk sinless, even more importantly we should want to walk this way because of He who abides in us.
John
======= Paul:
I just like the way our Lord, “daily bears our burdens”.
Psalm 68:19 Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.
Selah
I think the word Selah means pause and reflect. So let us pause and reflect on this.
Paul
======== Anka:
33For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ 34The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and “sinners.” ‘ 35But wisdom is proved right by all her children.”
Recently,I have had to think about believers who point their fingers to those who eat certain foods,who drink wine.I thought to myself,if Jesus was so much against drinking wine,why didn’t he have grape juice during the Lord’s supper.Well doing a little research I found that one of the reasons prophets before Jesus were banned from wine was so people wouldn’t think they were drunk when in truth the Spirit of the Lord had come upon them..Even then,John the baptist was labelled “demonised”since he couldn’t be labelled drunk…and Jesus since he ate other foods apart from locust,wild honey and wine…(he couldn’t have been called drunkard if he was seen drinking juice or water)was labelled glutton and drunkard!!
My thoughts are,those who want to know the truth will find it,those who don’t will fight about trivial matters like food,drink,doctrines and like John the baptist…tend to fall away on account of prejudice.
I pray for Christians to be united,where I’m at now we disagree about spiritual gifts,wine,tithing,worship(pious or with shouts of joy),spiritual gifts….the list continues along with the finger pointing.
I pray we all learn that our walk with God is personal…we give account of our lives so we should search the scriptures and ask the Holy Spirit to tell us what God really wants of us.A kingdom divided against itself can’t stand,can’t we all agree to disagree on certain issues and love each other with our differences.I’m learning that loving one another and bearing our burdens also means that when I disagree with a christian on an issue,I should shut up(by God’s abundant grace:))and let the Holy Spirit set us straight.As Jesus himself said,wisdom is proved right by her children….let our fruits speak.
God bless you all
Anka
======= Laverne:
Deuteronomy 5;
(30-31 “Go ahead and tell them to go home to their tents. But you, you stay here with me so I can tell you every commandment and all the rules and regulations that you must teach them so they’ll know how to live in the land that I’m giving them as their own.”)
reminds me when these commnities displace people from one area to another no rehab nothing on how to live in a better way. All the city does is send them a letter getting as many volunteers as they can. Then the rest they pick them up and move this family who was living probably in a 1 bedroom into a townhome, Regentrification)?? Umm it’s sad – well they need to take a look at how it can be done. Move them but get them into a meeting or rehab so they are taught how to live and take care of the property. Give them the rules and regulations so they know how to live in land they will soon call their own. I really don’t know why that struck me but it did..lol
Laverne
======= Jenny:
Reading over those tablets, the 10 Commandments, I have broken every one, if not in action, in my heart! (to hate, is to murder). My pastor used to say the laws are there first and foremost to show us we are indeed sinners. Some ppl dont think they are sinners, i’ve heard, “oh, i dont consider myself a sinner, i dont go out with a chainsaw and murder ppl”. Well, yes, that would be sinful, but we have all broken many if not all, at least in our hearts. If you have broken just one God equates that has having broken them all.
These verses stood out for me:
Det. 5:15: “with a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm”……His love endures forever, sing praise, sing praise, forever God is faithful, forever God is strong, forever God is with us. forever…’ great song!
Deut 6:5: “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength…You shall bind them as a sign”
Deut 6:18 “And you shall do what is right and good in the sight of the LORD, that it may be well with you”
I read the link “John’s problem with Jesus”…it kinda was harsh on John, where what I read in Luke was I perceived something different, so u know me, i pulled out my trusty study Bible:
“John evidently kept apprised of Christ’s ministry-even after his imprisonment-through disciples who acted as messengers for him.
7:19 ARE YOU THE COMING ONE? “John was not the sort of man who vacillated. We are not to think that his faith was failing or that he had lost confidence in Christ. but with so many unexpected turn of events-John in prison, Christ encountering nonbelief and hostility-John wanted reassurance from Christ himself. That is precisely what Jesus gave him.
7:22 GO AND TELL JOHN “John’s disciples were to go and report that Jesus was doing precisely what scripture foretold of the Messiah–even though the scheme of prophetic fulfillment was not unfolding quite the way John the baptist had envisioned it.
7:23 HE WHO IS NOT OFFENDED “This was not meant as a rebuke for John the Baptist, but as an encouragement for him”.
Proverbs, to save a life is more to win souls, to lead others to Christ. Giving to charities and contributing to someone’s physical needs is very important, I think true Christians will feel that call on their life, to give and help others. One org. I know of is Christian Children’s Fund. I prefer not to say what I give or do because i want this to be for the Lord only, not seeking man’s praise.
But i think MORE important then any physical need is aiding someone to receiving Christ. Not that we can save them, but to direct them to the One who CAN save them….Jesus Christ!
Jenny
======= Jim:
My favorite charities…
The primary target can never really be the poor but on the culture that produced the poor (the first truth of systems theory is that every system is perfectly designed to produce the results it’s getting). For example, while it’s popular to think that guns are responsible for violence in Africa, political scientists agree it is rather the well-intentioned actions of Christian relief efforts that corrupt government-citizen relationships by “giving them fish instead of teaching them to fish.” Thus, training is always more important than food (where most organizations sadly primarily focus on quality of food even after the minimum diet is being met and not on the greater need of education – the “silver bullet” for all of society’s ills). Margaret Mead’s life work was basically the demonstration that most all of society’s ills were the direct result of people’s good intentions to address society’s ills (suggesting that most would go away if people would just ignore them and thusly stop supporting them).
My favorite charities that serves the poorest of the poor worldwide:
Amor Mission: http://www.amor.org (Mexico)
Two attorneys (husband and wife) quit their practice in L.A. and talked churches across the Southwest into allowing them help the churches choose where to build homes (and send food) for the poor of Mexico – then they went to churches in Mexico and asked them to help with such decisions providing: 1) No politics: no one could ever suggest that since one church got a new house for one of it’s members that one of it’s members had to get one – decisions could only be based on need, and 2) that any other church could participate. The biggest effect has thusly been on churches working together like never before (where strong feelings, for example, about men wearing earrings or women wearing pants had kept them apart). Amor also makes a big deal about using the simplest tools and including the family and friends during all aspects of construction to demonstrate how the community could have done all the work themselves (without special skills or expensive power tools). My children and I have worked on many homes for the poor in Mexico through this group and I can strongly recommend them.
Goodwill Industries: http://www.goodwill.org Every 57 seconds, Goodwill places someone in a job (and unlike the Salvation Army below, they always pay their employees at least minimum wage and fully disclose all finances with IRS 990-T forms readily downloadable). It’s the world’s largest nonprofit providers of education and career services for disadvantaged people. Last year, local Goodwills collectively provided employment and training services to almost a million Americans. As such, Goodwill is consistently ranked among the top charities as well as top in my checkbook. Also, see Volunteers of America.
Salvation Army: http://www.salvationarmy.org Commissioner Todd Bassett supposedly receives a salary of just $13,000 (plus housing) to manage this $2 billion organization and management guru Peter Drucker lists them as “By far the most effective organization in the U. S. No one even comes close to it in respect to clarity of mission, ability to motivate, measurable results, dedication, and putting money to maximum use.” See answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=564281. Sadly, about half way through their 125-year history, the Salvation Army and Universal Christian Church gradually quit the practice of all army members attending a service from the stage. For if they did, “there would no longer be anyone in the audience.” 2003 was likewise the last year for the church to track those converted in their annual report as the percentage had dropped to zero.
Others great charities for the poor include Catholic Charities (spending over 95% directly on programs- compare to average of 84%) and Asha for Education (India) – whose president is not paid at all. I also like the YMCA and often support them financially as well as by volunteering.
My favorite charities that serves the poorest of the poor locally:
Gospel Rescue Mission: http://www.grmtucson.com/ While other local charities spend more on overhead or have made poor investments, GRM has maintained a fairly steady path for helping the needy.
JobPath: (www.jobpath.net/)
Jobpath has a 99% success rate of doubling the incomes of the local poor (they received a half million dollar grant from the city a couple of years ago due to being well recognized for their success) focusing job training for the health care, construction, education, aviation, and bio-tech fields.
Tucson Jackson Employment Center is 75% (at the 6-month checkup) successful at getting the homeless full-time employment, spending mostly United Way monies, but is also funded by DOH, DOL, Tucson City, and various Homeless Assistance Grants. CASA (and CASA II) is a joint local program between the Jackson Employment Center, Travelers Aid Society, Salvation Army, and Open-Inn (www.openinn.org/tucson.htm) as a long-term transitional housing program for the homeless.
Others great local charities include Jobs for Life (focusing on character training), the Tucson Community Food Bank, and the Arizona Prison Ministry. I also regularly visit the homeless in parks with food, clothing, and advice.
What does your checkbook and calendar show about you? The Bible supports more than tithing… many biblical scholars believe that offerings, tithing, and other donations to the poor cost the average Jew half of their income (in a time when it was much harder to make a living). It’s been said that success is getting what you want while happiness is wanting what you get… but, joy is wanting half of what you get. To be happy for an hour, take a nap. To be happy for a day, go fishing. If you want to be happy for a year, win a lottery. If you want to be happy for a lifetime, constantly help others.
But, sincerity is never enough just as Jesus’ first temptation was to be relevant – making bread out of rocks for the hungry… we must instead follow audible holy instructions and not our own hearts. Fixing what makes us feel good or is easy according to our “gifts” (rather than lifting our cross) is like replacing the tire that isn’t flat… we still can’t get anywhere.
Jim
======= Briggs:
Good question for today Mike.
I think we Americans, and likely many others whom the Lord has blessed with comparatively abundant material means, too often are guilty of coveting our neighbor’s comforts rather than being thankful for the Lord’s blessings to them. We don’t appreciate or give thanks often enough for our own many blessings and we think far too little of others who are less fortunate than ourselves. I don’t want to sound too political but I think it’s a spiritual issue when large groups of Americans complain about the various immigrants moving into the USA; particularly from Central and South America. We boast of ‘the land of opportunity’ and ‘the great melting pot’ as having been cornerstones of this great nation, yet we deny to others the same opportunities that were afforded to us and our forefathers and agreeably made this nation great. It just feels selfish to me and while we support World Vision and other similar ministries, sometimes I wish there was a greater focus in our backyard.
Briggs
======= Bridget:
Check out Mercy Ships http://www.mercyships.org/home and Charity Water at http://www.charitywater.org/ Mercy Ships brings healing to the poor by sending their hospital ship staffed with volunteer doctors, nurses and other professionals to provide free surgeries. Charity Water drills wells for clean water supply. Their effort to raise funds is innovative and focused. God performs HIS work THROUGH us.
Bridget
======= Elizabeth:
Regarding charities–globally, we support World Vision and think it’s a great organization. I like the way they knit together brass and tacks relief/support with spreading the Gospel. Locally, we have a rescue mission that ministers to people coming out of addictions/homelessness, dark situations. I like the way they provide very structured support and love–knit together so that there’s accountability and mercy hand-in-hand.
******************
With regard to our deficit of mercy toward others,
I think it’s a huge gaping piece of our bigger sin problem. Jesus was careful to include parables like the Good Samaritan for this very reason. We are always stacking ourselves up to others–sadly, even in God’s acts of mercy toward others (thinking of the older brother’s response in the Prodigal Son and the parable of the worker who was irritated that he made the same wages though he worked all day and the other worker only worked a few hours).
Why do we care when someone gets the same wage or is reconciled? Why can’t we just be joyfully happy instead of tallying up what we did or didn’t do ourselves? We have a continual jealousy of others and thirst to come out ahead of others in light of the law.
Thank God He is a God of great mercy!
Elizabeth
======= Stephanie:
Today when I read in the old testament that “you shall not desire your neighbor’s house, his field, or his male servant…etc” it made me think of what we have been taught to do in America: keeping up with the Jonses. This “American Dream” is not very biblical! Compared to the rest of the world, most Americans are rich! I think we have a duty as Christians to use this wealth for the glory of God. We need to help those in our own backyard and abroad. I am so happy to see others know about World Vision. It is a fantastic organization! I sponser a child from India and look forward to receiving her letters.
Stephanie
======= Raeann:
I am a Salvation Army Bell ringer every Christmas and I donate regularly to the Key Thrift store in my town.
Raeann
======= Bobbie:
Sometimes or most of the time we love our self than to love God above all.We love this body which will decay but we forgot about our spiritual body that will last forever. Loving the LORD w/ all our heart, w/ all our mind, w/ all our soul, & w/all our strength is a command that we should obey in order to prosper in every aspects of our life.To GOD be the GLORY now and forever…
Bobbie
======= Steve:
Luke 7:11-15
Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. 12 As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.”
14 Then he went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” 15 The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.
Read a great commentary on these verses that pointed out some interesting points. Our society in general is lacking compassion because many have bought into the philosophy that happiness comes to those who avoid pain. If you want to be happy then you have to learn to love yourself and nurture yourself, then you will be happy. Not true. The heart of happiness is in mourning for others and to carry others hurt in our own heart.
Jesus was the happiest person on earth. He was full of joy but also full of compassion and willingness to suffer for others. How can someone who suffered so much also be the happiest? Doesn’t make sense unless we take Jesus (The Man of Sorrows) at His word and trust Him. One would think that someone who suffers a lot would be on a bummer but that is only true for someone who does not understand the words of Jesus. We’re not to block out the bad in our life, hoping it won’t rub off on us and drag us down. When we embrace the hurt and injustice of others and in our own life, we open the floodgates of irony and watch water flow uphill, oh the miracles that we take for granite. Jesus said “Happy is the man not who detaches himself, but who mourns, who is heartbroken, for he is the one who will be comforted.”
Deuteronomy 5:1-6:25
What stood out for me (again) were the Ten Commandments. This time, it was the practicality of them. True if we are walking with God and trusting in Him, these commandments are written in our hearts instead of on stone. But one has only to look around and see the fruit coming from those that have these commandments written in their heart and see changed lives.
Deuteronomy 5:29 (In the words of my Pastor)
This is God’s cry; this is God’s lamentation. “Oh that the people would hear Me and obey Me that they might be able to enjoy My blessings forever.” I’m sure that God laments over us. “Oh, if you would only follow me completely so that I can do for you all that I’m wanting to do.” We so limit that which God wants to do because He loves you so much. He is wanting to do so much for you.
Steve
======= Billy:
Thanks Mike for the links to the charitable organizations.
I like:
http://www.samaritanspurse.org/ If we have the wherewithal we should give. God has blessed many of us here in the United States with material comfort.
Luke 12:48
….From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.
Billy
======= Frederick:
Deuteronomy 5:28-29
28 The LORD heard you when you spoke to me, and the LORD said to me, “I have heard what this people said to you. Everything they said was good. 29 Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!
Fear, in an appropriate amount can be good. In verses 28 & 29, God said that it was good for the Israelites to fear Him so that they and their children obeyed Him and be blessed.
Deuteronomy 6:20-25
20 In the future, when your son asks you, “What is the meaning of the stipulations, decrees and laws the LORD our God has commanded you?” 21 tell him: “We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. 22 Before our eyes the LORD sent signs and wonders—great and terrible—on Egypt and Pharaoh and his whole household. 23 But he brought us out from there to bring us in and give us the land he promised on oath to our ancestors. 24 The LORD commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the LORD our God, so that we might always prosper and be kept alive, as is the case today. 25 And if we are careful to obey all this law before the LORD our God, as he has commanded us, that will be our righteousness.”
In the above verses, I can see that God felt ‘proud and satisfied’ if His people remembered His rules and hence taught their children about the wonderful things that God had done to them.
Frederick
====== Will:
Wow, I was really moved by this from your link today:
“In 1945, Rabbi Eliezer Silver was sent to Europe to help reclaim Jewish children who had been hidden during the Holocaust with non-Jewish families. How was he able to discover the Jewish children? He would go to gatherings of children and loudly proclaim Shema Yisrael ? “Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One.” Then he would look at the faces of the children for those with tears in their eyes ? those children whose distant memory of being Jewish was their mothers putting them to bed each night and saying the Shema with them.”
http://sheissafe.org She Is Safe is a favorite of ours. They partner with locals in ten of the least reached areas in the world. From their website, “She Is Safe works to free and empower women and girls in high risk places around the world. We prevent, rescue, and restore them from suffering, abuse, and exploitation. Then we equip them with skills and tools as they work to build new lives of freedom, faith, and a strong future.”
Will
======= Chris:
“The Lord your God…” 18 times in Deuteronomy this morning. I’ve heard it said that if you had a soldier writing letters to you from overseas, you would not just read a portion of that letter; you would read it from cover to cover, over, and over, and over…I am struck by the urgency and intensity of these words, spoken 18 times in 58 verses.
Jesus seems to convey that no matter what or how an individual conducts him(her)self people will find fault. Judging others’ seems to be a preoccupation with some folks. Is it the attempt to “best” them? Is it something else…or does it have to do with the lessons we learn in Deuteronomy about the ten commandments. Yeah, probably all of them. Examining ourselves is the hard part. Hopefully the lessons in Galatians 5:22 and 23 will help me get to that point…no law against that.
Psalms means praise, doesn’t it? It is amazing how praise will always lift my spirits. Call it “polyannish,” but it really does annex the negativity when we are praising God. Everything else
loses its importance when we lift our hearts to him.
The proverbs give us something to strive toward, as good people always get found out, as well as the ones who do harm.
Chris
======= Jill:
Love follows the same thing. We can’t love only to get back. We have to love unconditionally with the right attitude . I like giving gifts sometimes my gifts might seem buying love? Especially gor my DIL’s who I’m trying to earn favor. Do we buy gifts for kids to keep them? Divorced parents try to buy kids attention n love?
Also faith is a verb. It can’t be measured. It’s not the size of the faith. It’s whether we exercise it! Stretch your faith, step out of the boat! See what God can do. Wait and expect!!!
Jill
======= Susan:
Thank you so much for this ministry.
After graduating from seminary I am learning things that I never learned.
What a blessing to not only have the Word of God but also your commentaries and those of Tom Dooley.
What a blessing to my husband and me.
Susan
======= Robert:
Luke 7:18
John’s Question.
“Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?”
I think every body in the Middle East was asking that question. They are still asking it. I am asking it. This simple question sums up my own entire belief as Jesus Messiah. Is it true? I have to believe what Jesus says in Luke 4:18-21 and is Isaiah’s prophecy. You have to make your own decision.
Bob Deffinbaugh’s commentary gives us excellent references to the body of the question or interpretation, but not the spirit of the question which is really left to us as individuals. John asks it, Luke records it, and I have to make the choice. Like Bob says, “Let us learn, like John, to hold seemingly opposing truths in tension, until God reveals their unity and harmony in the future.”
In verses 7:22-23 Jesus response is probably not the answer John expected. It may not satisfy Bob and it certainly sounds too simple for me. What about the rest of the world?
Proverbs 11:30
“Godly men are growing a tree that bears life-giving fruit, and He that is wise wins souls.” (MSG).
This says something about our legacy. I love the tree of life imagery. Producing fruit! I really think as Mike does in supporting charities in this regard. My wife and I have made the Salvation Army a major part of our death benefit. We also support our church. We keep a helpful interest in the needs of the Indigenous Community that we live in. We really like a local private school that is a beacon of success in not only our community but the whole world. We share interest and support organizations in Liberia and Haiti.
Robert
======= Dee:
Speaking on the topic of love. My son recently asks me what does love mean? I was taken aback..I’ve always heard that love is not something you were born with, its more than a feeling..or emotion..it is something you “do” on purpose..like in the Bible with Jesus..He loved us in spite of, not because of..I couldn’t describe it any other way but tell my son..that we have to on purpose decide to love something, someone..it’s what we learn and are created to do..Love the Lord Your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength..Love Your neighbor as yourself..Luke 10:27, Deut 6:5..its just that easy..
Ministries and outreach..I give to Holt International ministries and have sponsored two or three kids by now..thirty a month I believe is what it usually asks to sponsor and it is a great ministry to kids who without this funding would not have food, clothes, education..I truly believe us as the body of Christ and his believers should be reaching out to less fortunate..As my pastor said one time in reference of the woman with the “blood” issue who touched the hem of Jesus’ garment to be healed..We need to be the one with the solution instead of the one with the problem..basically..others should be coming to us like the did Jesus if we are His true disciples to get relief..We should have what the World wants and is looking for and that is Jesus All Over Us All The Time..
Be Blessed~~
Dee
======= John:
Matt 11:19
“But wisdom is proved right by her actions.” NIV
Luke 7:35
“But wisdom is proved right by all her children.” NIV
Chip got me thinking on this: In the Greek text these two verses are exactly the same, but translated differently.
Nonetheless, it was discussed a while back where a school of thought substittutes Jesus’ name for wisdom in “Proverbs”.
What if you do that here:
‘But Jesus is proved right by his actions’
‘But Jesus is proved right by all his children’
[Note: Don’t get bogged down on “her” in original translation. Gk. “autos” can be his, hers, its. It is pronoun in agreement with noun it refers to in sentence. Wisdom was feminine so it was “hers”, Jesus is masculine so it would be “his” in above.]
John The Baptist
Just read:
John’s Problem with Jesus
(Luke 7:18-35)
By: Bob Deffinbaugh , Th.M.
at the link Mike provided above.
I would highly reccomend taking the time to go through his commentary.
In the conclusion, there are some thoughts that we should all take to heart, including me (maybe especially me : )
John
