SCRIPTURE: Deuteronomy 17
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.” [John 15:7].
According to Moses, the king needs to keep a written copy of God’s will close to his heart, to be with him always so that he faithfully follows that will [Deuteronomy 17:18-20].
The words of God are to remain with and in him, if he is to succeed and prosper.
This passage shows again how serious it is that God’s people stay true to God’s will and purpose.
The reason that death is the penalty for sin, is because death is the consequence of sin.
To go against God is to go against life.
And not only does it kill the individual, it produces misery and death for others.
The opposite is also true.
If we stay close to God and His will, or to use Jesus’ words, if we “remain” in Him, then we will experience life and blessing.
We will reign with Him for a long time, or for eternity.
We will receive all that we need and all that we ask for, when we are rooted in Him.
The message throughout the bible is that the Lord and His truth need to be front and center in our lives.
To be in the Lord, and to allow the message of His written book to permeate our lives – is essentially the same thing.
Both of them qualify a personal relationship with the Lord – just relating to God (prayer) or just reading the bible by itself is incomplete without the other.
The Lord and His message go hand in hand.
If we want to succeed, to prosper, to fulfill the Lord’s purpose for our lives, we need to keep Him and His truth close to our hearts, “to read it all the days of our lives”.
The blessing of doing so is increasing health, strength, confidence, success, blessing – everything we could ask for!
The curse of not doing so is slow but certain misery and death.
Life unravels apart from the Lord, and such a life takes down many others as well.
Many people suffer when we stray from the Lord.
THIS is why we need to purge this evil from our lives!
PRAYER:
Lord, sin is more serious than I realize. Help me to cling to You and Your message, and to strive to live according to it, with all Your strength in me.
Live the Word each day.
All too often we tell ourselves that it is none of our business. If our brother is living in sin it is our business and that sin must be put to death. God’s people live in God’s presence and must carry out His Word.
The instructions given to the king are good also for the people. He is to take a copy of the scroll and to read it all the days of his life. Why? So that he reveres the Lord and carefully follows His way. I must do the same. God’s people must do the same.
If you want true life – live in His Word.
If you want true happiness – do His Word.
If you desire to be a Kingdom kid – love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. All for Him each and every day. Always. God is first each day. Also today.
Today is the ‘Lord’s Day’ and I must live this day for Jesus and in His power I am able.
All for Jesus, all for Jesus!
All my being’s ransomed powers:
All my thoughts and words and doings,
All my days and all my hours.
Refrain
All for Jesus! All for Jesus!
All my days and all my hours;
All for Jesus! All for Jesus!
All my days and all my hours.
Let my hands perform His bidding,
Let my feet run in His ways;
Let my eyes see Jesus only,
Let my lips speak forth His praise.
Refrain
Worldlings prize their gems of beauty,
Cling to gilded toys of dust,
Boast of wealth and fame and pleasure;
Only Jesus will I trust.
Refrain
Since my eyes were fixed on Jesus,
I’ve lost sight of all beside;
So enchained my spirit’s vision,
Looking at the Crucified.
Refrain
Oh, what wonder! how amazing!
Jesus, glorious King of kings,
Deigns to call me His belovèd,
Lets me rest beneath His wings.