Deuteronomy 13:1-16:17
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Wow. Deuteronomy chapter 13 starts off with a strong warning today – “”Suppose there are prophets among you, or those who have dreams about the future, and they promise you signs or miracles, and the predicted signs or miracles take place. If the prophets then say, `Come, let us worship the gods of foreign nations,’ do not listen to them. The LORD your God is testing you to see if you love him with all your heart and soul.” Do you believe there are false prophets in our world today? Are there people in our world that tempt us to worship false gods? It is possible one of the false gods we can be tempted to worship today is even our own self? Will we reject worshiping false gods and love and worship the one true God with all of our soul and heart?
Verse 22 is powerful for us to meditate upon – “”You must set aside a tithe of your crops–one-tenth of all the crops you harvest each year. Bring this tithe to the place the LORD your God chooses for his name to be honored.” What might “crops we harvest” be in our modern world today? Is there a place we can bring a tithe to God today? Do you believe that tithing honors God? On a side note, I generally try to practice giving 10% and saving 10%, and live on the remaining 80%. My 10% giving is spread among the local church, local and international ministries, and nonprofits.
Deuteronomy chapter 15 verses 4 and 10 & 11 stood out to me today – “There should be no poor among you, for the LORD your God will greatly bless you in the land he is giving you as a special possession…. Give freely without begrudging it, and the LORD your God will bless you in everything you do. There will always be some among you who are poor. That is why I am commanding you to share your resources freely with the poor and with other Israelites in need.” How do these verses speak to you? I find it interesting that these verses say both – there should be no poor and that there will always be some poor among you. I wonder why this is? It seems kind of like a kingdom of heaven ultimate reality and our fallen world temporary reality perhaps… Do you think the command to share our resources freely with the poor and others in need is still valid today? How are you doing in giving freely to the poor?
In verses 16 & 17 we read – “But suppose your servant says, `I will not leave you,’ because he loves you and your family, and he is well off with you. In that case, take an awl and push it through his earlobe into the door. After that, he will be your servant for life.”
Worship God: Today’s readings in Deuteronomy 15 reminded me of Matthew West’s song “My Own Little World:”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9Yasgzjc0w
Are you stuck in your own little world? Click here for Freedom!
Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: “Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year.” Deuteronomy 14:22 NIV
Prayer Point: Pray that you will always give your firstfruits to the Lord. Pray that you will give generously from all that you produce to the Lord and His Kingdom purposes.
Comments from You: 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
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