The Highlighter [Deuteronomy 5 - Joshua 8]

Sorry I'm a day late on this. I was slammed yesterday as I was finalizing some "2 weeks before Winterfest" details.

Nonetheless, here's just a few of the many passages that blessed me this week:

Deuteronomy 5:33 Walk in all the way that the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your dayus in the land that you will possess.

Deuteronomy 6:14 Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you.

How many times must we be reminded of this? The Israelites needed this reminder before crossing into the promised land. And thousands of years later, I need this reminder before I get out of bed each day. No, I don't have a problem with bowing down to statues or fountains. But even today there is a strong temptation to follow the ways of man. To make money the most important thing in our life. To seek power, to seek fame, to try and make a name for ourselves. Our cars, stereos, computers can all quickly become Gods to us. Let's not follow the God's of men, but the God in heaven.

Deuteronomy 8:5 Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the LORD your God disciplines you.

The father/son analogy is one of my favorite illustrations to use in describing God's love. God doesn't give us certain commands to pick on us or to be mean. He wants us to be safe and protected. Protected by his love. Through his love we become holy.

Deuteronomy 14:2 for you are a people holy to the LORD your God. Out of all the peoples on the face of the earth, the LORD has chosen you to be his treasured possession.

I just really like that phrase treasured possession.

Deuteronomy 20:4 For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.

Why be afraid? The LORD goes with us and fights for us against our enemies? To quote one of my favorite preacher and blogger, "For a Christian, fear is not an option."

Deuteronomy 31:8 The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

My thoughts on this verse will kind of overlap that of the next verse so...

Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.

Throughout the end of Deuteronomy and the first couple of chapters of Joshua, God continuously promises to be with his people. I believe that is a promise that he continues to keep throughout our days on this earth. Knowing that God is with us brings peace, comfort, and security. He is our ultimate provider, our Abba, Father. God is with us! Let's rejoice because of that.

God Bless!

NOTE: Yes, I'm aware that I left out the Shema, Deuteronomy 6:4ff. While it is a blessing to read, I chose not to include it in this list. Usually when I type these up every week, I just select some of the many passages that have blessed me. But if you'd still like to talk about the Shema, that's great too!