“See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death, and destruction. For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to Him, and to keep His commands, decrees, and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.” [1]
The Lord wants us to enjoy a good and prosperous life. Loving God leads to that life! Obeying the Lord leads to that life! Keeping His commands leads to that life!
Once He has brought us into the good life, the Lord doesn’t want us to be defrauded of it. He warns, “Make sure there is no man or woman, clan, or tribe among you today whose heart turns away from the Lord our God to go and worship the gods of those nations; make sure there is no root among you that produces such bitter poison. When such a person hears the words of this oath and they invoke a blessing on themselves, thinking, ‘I will be safe, even though I persist in going my own way,’ they will bring disaster on the watered land as well as the dry.” [2]
Don’t let someone poison you against the Lord! Persisting in our own ways leads to disaster for us personally and for our nation if it does the same.
“Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, ‘Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?’ Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, ‘Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?’ No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.”
God is an ever-present help in time of need. Rely on Him to help you choose life and prosperity not just one day of your life, but all your days.
[1] Deuteronomy 30:15-16
[2] Deuteronomy 29:18-19
[3] Deuteronomy 30:11-14
The Bible contains curses and blessings. God’s heart is to bless us. He is, however, willing to let us suffer a lesser pain (earthly pain) to avoid a greater pain (eternal condemnation). It hurts to love someone who disregards you. The Lord blesses those who love Him as well as those who love their neighbor.
“If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all His commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God. However, if you do not obey the Lord your God and do not carefully follow all His commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come on you and overtake you.” [1]
We want the Lord's blessings don't we?
When Sherry first married me, she often prayed the following prayer, “Two things I ask of you, Lord; do not refuse me before I die: keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown You and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.” [2]
I am thankful for the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that moved Him to start a relationship with me. He gave me a godly wife. He compels us to read His Word, to pray and to serve Him daily. These are His undeserved blessings to us. I am thankful to our Heavenly Father for His promise of eternal paradise with Him based on the saving merits of His Son Jesus Christ.
Blessing, glory and honor be to His Holy Name!
[1] Deuteronomy 28:1-2, 15
[2] Proverbs 30:7-9
“You must have accurate and honest weights and measures, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. For the Lord your God detests anyone who does these things, anyone who deals dishonestly.” [1]
Some cultures exalt the person who is able to take advantage of the other, but to God such dealings are detestable. Our Lord Jesus suffered loss for the sake of saving sinners.
“Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit.” [2]
“By justice a king gives a country stability, but those who are greedy for bribes tear it down.” [3]
Let us pray for those in authority that they would govern their people with justice and that they would arrest those who try to bribe them.
[1] Deuteronomy 25:15-16
[2] 1 Peter 3:18
[3] Proverbs 29:4
“In order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” [1]
“God’s power neither displaces weakness nor overcomes it. On the contrary, it comes to its full strength in it (en +astheneia). At issue is how God manifests His power. Paul’s opponents claimed that it is best seen in visions, ecstasies and the working of signs and wonders. [2] Paul, on the other hand, maintained that God’s power is most effectively made known in and through weakness. Indeed, God’s power is made perfect in weakness (teleitai ‘to find consummation’ or ‘be accomplished.’ [3] ‘There is a certain finishing and perfecting power in weakness.’ [4] ‘Not that we are to cherish our infirmities. Weakness of itself will perfect nothing. But when the human vessel is weak, the divine power is especially evident, and the weakness proves to be a fine discipline.’ [5]
Paul accepted his weaknesses and learned to take pleasure in them. Why, because these very weaknesses afford the opportunity for the power of Christ to rest on him. The verb episkenoo …actually means to ‘make one's quarters in’ or ‘take up one's abode in.’ So God’s power not merely ‘rested on’ or ‘over’ Paul but took up residence in him.” [6]
[1] 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
[2] 2 Corinthians 12:1, 12
[3] 2 Corinthians 12:9
“Do not be far from Me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help. Many bulls surround Me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle Me. Roaring lions that tear their prey open their mouths wide against Me. I am poured out like water, and all My bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted within Me. My mouth is dried up like a potsherd, and My tongue sticks to the roof of My mouth; you lay Me in the dust of death. Dogs surround Me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce MY HANDS and MY FEET. All My bones are on display; people stare and gloat over Me. They DIVIDE MY CLOTHES AMONG THEM and CAST LOTS FOR MY GARMENT.” [1]
Who wants God to be far from them when surrounded by people who are like raging bulls, roaring lions, and gross dogs. Our Lord prayed for His Father to be near Him. He felt His life being poured out. His heart was melting like hot wax. They pierced His hands and feet right through. They cared for His garment, but not for Him.
“For this reason He (Jesus Christ) had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that He might become a merciful and faithful High Priest in service to God, and that He might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.” [2]
What a painful way to become a merciful and faithful high priest! But nevertheless, He made atonement for our sins. And He helps when we are tempted during trials.
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have One (Jesus Christ) who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet He did not sin.” [3]
Hallelujah! What a Savior! “Thank You Lord Jesus for Your great passion for us. I pray that we would be filled with passion for You, and for the people You died for.”
[1] Psalm 22:11-18
[2] Hebrews 2:17-18
[3] Hebrews 4:15
Our Lord Jesus went outdoors, taught, and preached in their cities. He revealed to them the kingdom of God with power and authority. [1]
Jesus knew what the people expected of their Messiah but remained true to Himself, namely being the Son of God. Jesus Christ “is the image of the invisible God” and “the express image of His person.” [2] He could not sin. He could not compromise God’s nature.
John the Baptist sent two disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you he (the Messiah) that should come, or do we look for another?” Jesus told his messengers, “The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the good news preached to them.” [3] Jesus helped those who could not help themselves. They were in pits too deep to climb out of, and Jesus rescued them. He revealed God’s heart for them.
Jesus noted something different about John the Baptist to a crowd of listeners. John preached in open fields (the wilderness) and not in fancy buildings, yet people flocked to him. John did not wear fancy clothes, yet they listened to him. [4]
Jesus compared his listeners to children sitting in the markets who express disappointment in those who do not conform to their expectations. They wanted people to dance to their music. They wanted people to cry when they cried. They wanted John the Baptist to eat and drink with them. When he didn’t, they said, “He has a devil.” When Jesus ate and drank with sinners, they called Him a glutton, wino, and a friend of sinners. Jesus said that wisdom is justified by her children. In other words, wisdom is demonstrated by the good fruit it yields. [5]
Jesus rebuked the cities that did not repent after they saw His mighty works. He told them that cities famous for being evil would have repented if they had seen His miracles. He warned them, “I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.” [6]
Jesus prayed, “I thank you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hid these things from the wise and prudent, and have revealed them unto babes, even so, Father: for so it seemed good in Your sight.” Then, He explained, “All things are delivered unto Me of My Father: and no man knows the Son, but the Father; neither knows any man the Father, save the Son, and He to whomsoever the Son will reveal Him.” In other words, the only way to know God is if Jesus Christ reveals Him to you. [7]
The people that Jesus spoke with wanted to come to God on their own terms. His miracles did not matter to them. They wanted Jesus to present God to them according to their preferences.
Our Lord Jesus did extend an invitation to them. He said, “Come unto Me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” [8] God’s terms include God’s presence and His help.
What about us? Are we willing to receive God on His terms?
“Jesus, Savior, Son of God, please continue to reveal the Father to us. Please graciously grant to us the holy audacity to profess You as Lord to people who need You. Thank You once again for the invitation to come to You. It is in Your Name that I pray. Amen.”
[1] Matthew 11:1
[2] Colossians 1:15; Hebrews 1:3
[3] Matthew 11:2-6
[4] Matthew 11:7-10
[5] Matthew 11:16-19
[6] Matthew 11:20-24
[7] Matthew 11:25-27
[8] Matthew 11:28-30
I heard Dr. Adrian Rogers speaking on the radio. He brought out that there was more to Sodom’s sin than immorality. He quoted the Bible, “Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy.” [1]
The Sodomites looked down on others. They indulged in gluttony. They lacked concern for their deprived neighbors. Adrian was not making light of immoral sin. He was bringing out other characteristics of the Sodomites that were detestable in God’s sight.
“They were haughty and did detestable things before Me. Therefore, I did away with them as you have seen.” [2]
A humble attitude, fasting from food to focus on praying for spiritual renewal and putting others before ourselves is good for us. The desire of our Savior is to save us from this present evil age.
[1] Ezekiel 16:49
[2] Ezekiel 16:50
1. The test to prove yourself.
Prove that you are somebody special. The correct response is to not to do it. Your proof of identity and worth is found in the Word of God: the Bible. The Bible tells you that God created you in His image and sent His only begotten Son to save you from your sins.
“The tempter came to Him and said, ‘If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.’ Jesus answered, ‘It is written, man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” [1]
2. The test to take risks; to gamble; to falsely believe that you are invincible even if you are not obeying God.
The correct response is to not gamble with your life. Don’t test the limits of how far you can take rebellion against God. This is to listen to the devil. God loves you, but He is also holy. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. When you live an obedient life towards God, He blesses you.
“Then the devil took Him to the holy city and had Him stand on the highest point of the temple. ‘If you are the Son of God, he said, ‘throw yourself down. For it is written, He will command His angels concerning You, and they will lift You up in their hands, so that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’ Jesus answered him, ‘It is also written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” [2]
3. The test to forsake God in preference for temporary pleasures.
The correct response is to choose to worship God and worship Him only no matter what your status is in the eyes of the world. God is eternal. The devil is temporary. Those who listen to the devil will perish with the devil. He is a liar and deceiver. Those who listen to and obey God bear good fruit in this life because they live for God and neighbor, whereas those who live selfishly (themselves instead of Christ on the throne of their hearts) will perish with the devil.
“Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. ‘All this I will give You,’ he said, ‘if You will bow down and worship me.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Away from Me, Satan! For it is written, Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’ Then the devil left Him, and angels came and attended Him.” [3]
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” [4]
“Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” [5]
[1] Matthew 4:3-4
[2] Matthew 4:5-7
[3] Matthew 4:8-10
[4] James 4:7
[5] 1 John 5:5
