SCRIPTURE: Deuteronomy 8
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
“Jesus answered, ‘It is written: `Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” [Matthew 4:4] Jesus quotes from Deuteronomy 8:3. Israel is on the threshold of a new mission; so is Jesus. Israel is being tempted to doubt, to be afraid, to be distracted from her mission; so is Jesus. Satan is doing whatever He can to undermine God’s plan, both through Israel and through Jesus. Even something as ‘harmless’ or minor as bread can become a stumbling block.
God reminds Israel that they were nothing without Him. Their success was because of Him, not because of their own power and strength. He warns them about getting comfortable in their success and prosperity, so that they forget to rely on Him. Jesus faces the same challenge. Satan tempts Him to not rely on God in the wilderness, but to use His own power to get food for Himself. But Jesus knows better. His survival (and Israel’s) does not depend in His own power or technique; He lives, survives and thrives because of the backing of God.
This does not mean we should do nothing and simply let God take care of us. There were occasions when this was true – like Israel at Jericho or Jesus in the wilderness – but these were intended to be signs not to forget, in all their work and effort, that their victory was in God.
As we prepare to change location for our church’s ministry, we need to do our part to organize and strategize for success. But before that, through that, and after that, we need to repeatedly acknowledge that our survival and success is totally dependent on the Lord’s blessing. It’s not because we are better than others that we will succeed, but because the Lord is working in and through us – even despite us.
As I work through all the details of this new ministry initiative, I need to remind myself again and again that our only hope for success is in the Lord’s blessing. Like Moses in Psalm 90, we need to finish all our efforts with these words: “May the favour of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us– yes, establish the work of our hands.” [Psalm 90:17]
We also need to remember that Satan will do WHATEVER he can to distract, discourage, deceive and ultimately defeat us. We can’t let our guard down, or take our focus off of the Lord.
PRAYER:
Lord, remind me again and again that my success, our success depends on You alone. Establish the work of my hand, establish the work of our hands!
Thanks Tony for the song above. It is lovely.
Cindy
Not what these hands have done
can save this guilty soul,
not what this toiling flesh has borne
can make my spirit whole.
Not what I feel or do
can give me peace with God;
not all my prayers, and sighs, and tears
can bear my aweful load.
Thy work alone, O Christ,
can ease this weight of sin;
Thy blood alone, O Lamb of God,
can give me peace within.
Thy love to me, O God,
not mine, O Lord, to Thee,
can rid me of this dark unrest,
and set my spirit free.
Thy grace alone, O God,
to me can pardon speak;
Thy power alone, O Son of God,
can this sore bondage break.
I bless the Christ of God,
I rest on love divine,
and with unfaltering lip and heart,
I call this Saviour mine.
In my faith walk, my pilgrim’s progress, my journey of joy in His Sonshine, I must keep reminding myself of His presence in all of my living. I must see Jesus and not look at the waves. I must remain focussed because it is He who makes all things a possibility. I just need to do all I do with all my might serving the Lord, my God. He will guard and guide me along the way but I must not stray because He is there, always. Help me to do Your will this day Lord and all the days of my life.
Christ be beside me, Christ be before me,
Christ be behind me, King of my heart.
Christ be within me, Christ be below me,
Christ be above me, never to part.
Christ on my right hand, Christ on my left hand,
Christ all around me, shield in the strife.
Christ in my sleeping, Christ in my sitting,
Christ in my rising, light of my heart.
Christ be in all hearts thinking about me,
Christ be on all tongues telling of me.
Christ be the vision in eyes that see me,
In ears that hear me Christ ever be.