God Speaks
Moses Stresses the Importance, Benefits of Obeying or Consequences of Disobeying the LORD’s Commands
Verse of the Day: “Be careful to obey all these regulations I am giving you, so that it may always go well with you and your children after you, because you will be doing what is good and right in the eyes of the LORD your God.” (Deuteronomy 12:28 NIV 2011)
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We Respond
Reflection: Consider the following questions regarding Deuteronomy 11-13:
1. What does this chapter tell me about God?
2. What does this chapter tell me about the human beings He created?
Here is one possible answer to each of these questions. Ask the Holy Spirit if there are any others for you personally to ponder.
Deuteronomy 11
1. God has laid out the laws and decrees that He expects people to follow so that they can receive the blessings He has prepared for them.
2. People have to choose between obedience to the LORD God which leads to blessings or disobedience to Him which leads to curses.
Deuteronomy 12
1. God chose the Israelites, gave them the land of Canaan, and gave them instructions as to how to live there.
2. People, particularly the Israelites, were to be careful to obey the LORD God’s instructions as long as they lived and in order to live long in the land God was giving them.
Deuteronomy 13
1. God instructs His people in how to deal with those within the community of faith who would try to turn them away from worshiping Him.
2. People can be drawn away from following the one true God by noted individuals, family members and close friends, or whole communities.
The author of this blog is indebted to Dennis Prager for insight into this chapter, particularly from pages 225-235 in The Rational Bible: Deuteronomy.
Prayer:
3. How might I pray regarding Deuteronomy 11-13?
Dear LORD God Almighty, I acknowledge that, as my Creator, You have every right to set the ground rules of our relationship. You have laid out in the scriptures what You expect of me. Even though I know what You want, I can’t do it. Jesus, You knew that. That is why You came as a baby. You experienced all that it means to be a human being, yet You never sinned. Because of Your life of complete and perfect obedience, Your substitutionary death on the cross, and Your sending the Holy Spirit to live in me, I am now able to fear, love, obey, and serve You as I ought. The numerous ways that You blessed, protected, and provided for the Israelites reminds me of the many ways You have blessed, protected, and provided for me over my lifetime. Thank You, and don’t let me forget to be grateful when things are going well and to continue to trust and obey You when they aren’t. I commit myself whole-heartedly to Your Word. I determine (with the help of the Holy Spirit) to hear, read, study, memorize, meditate on, speak about, and live out the truths of the Bible constantly and consistently. If I remain in a dependent relationship with You, You promise to bless me as You did the Israelites, driving out my enemies. I pledge to demonstrate my love for You, LORD God, by walking in Your ways and holding tightly to You. Help me also to announce Your blessings and curses in public as well as private. May multitudes see Your work in believers’ lives (or their own) and come to trust and obey You for Your glory, LORD.
LORD God, thank You that I don’t have to try to figure out on my own how to worship You properly. You have given me the scriptures so that I can learn about You and how to follow You. Please help me to detach from and destroy anything that would interfere with my having a close, interactive relationship with You. I want to feast with my family and friends in Your presence, O LORD, and to celebrate all that You have enabled us to accomplish. Please help me keep my word and fulfill my vows to You and to other people. Please help me to act properly toward my spouse, my children, and all those who serve me in some way, especially those who help me spiritually. Thank You for the food You provide; please show me how to handle it properly. May I celebrate Your presence in all I do. LORD, do You want me to be a vegetarian or a meat-eater? I am willing to do whatever You say. Help me to respect life but not put animals equal to or ahead of people. I commit myself to following You, LORD, not following the “gods” and customs of the people around me that don’t trust and obey You. I don’t want to do any detestable act that You hate. I respect and intend to obey all Your instructions and commands. May I never add anything to them or subtract anything from them.
Dear LORD God, creator of the universe and everything in it, thank You for showing how serious it is for someone to try to pull believers away from following You. Holy Spirit, I need Your help to faithfully serve the LORD my God and fear Him alone. Please help me to obey the commands You directed to be written in the Bible. Help me to listen to Your voice and cling to You. I don’t want to be drawn away from You by charismatic leaders, family members, close friends, or the culture around me. I desire to love, obey, and cling to You, the LORD, the triune God of the Bible, and You alone. I determine to bring honor, not disgrace, to Your name. May I always bring You glory, LORD. AMEN
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, if He wants you to work on one of the suggestions below or something else more personal that He points out.)
4. What action does the LORD want me to take in response to Deuteronomy 11-13?
- I will spread at least 15 minutes daily building my relationship with God through reading the Bible and interactive prayer.
- I will meet regularly with two or three other people to hold each other accountable to trust and obey the LORD God and walk in His ways.
- I will gather at least weekly with a local congregation praising and worshiping God, studying His Word and asking Him how He wants us to serve Him and the people around us.
- I will break connections from anyone, anything, or any idea that would try to pull me away from God.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.