Deuteronomy: The Laws Of The Ages

KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Saturday, February 27, 2016
Chapters: Deuteronomy 19-20
Message: Deuteronomy: The Laws Of The Ages

Hello My Friend,

I love to read the Old Testament, it is such a reminder that we are no different than the Jews. You will often read of the great lengths that God went through to rid His chosen of any evil, even going as far as destroying entire cities of people. So, is God the same ruthless God today that He was years ago? Yes, God is the same God. He brought salvation to anyone who willingly came to Him, even the stranger. He had an abundance of patience and mercy toward them, and yes, He was a just God, if they sinned, especially out of rebellion they got punished according to the law. What is different today? We are under a new law, and that is the law of grace through Jesus Christ. “For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” - Galatians 2:19-21.

One thing many people misunderstand when reading the Bible is that there were different laws set for the ages. You see, the laws of Adam and Eve's generation were different from those of Abraham's, the laws of Jacob's were different of those leaving Egypt. Now, the newest generation was about to embark on a new journey, one into a land they never knew, and now a new law had to be established for that age. Some of the statutes were removed, others amended, yet many remained, one being what happens to a person who kills someone. The cities of refuge would be a place of protection for those who killed someone by accident to flee for their lives.

“And this is the case of the slayer, which shall flee thither, that he may live: Whoso killeth his neighbour ignorantly, whom he hated not in time past; As when a man goeth into the wood with his neighbour to hew wood, and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe to cut down the tree, and the head slippeth from the helve, and lighteth upon his neighbour, that he die; he shall flee unto one of those cities, and live: Lest the avenger of the blood pursue the slayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and slay him; whereas he was not worthy of death, inasmuch as he hated him not in time past. Wherefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt separate three cities for thee. And if the LORD thy God enlarge thy coast, as he hath sworn unto thy fathers, and give thee all the land which he promised to give unto thy fathers; If thou shalt keep all these commandments to do them, which I command thee this day, to love the LORD thy God, and to walk ever in his ways; then shalt thou add three cities more for thee, beside these three:” - Deuteronomy 19:4-9.

“he shall flee unto one of those cities, and live:” Flee, to escape from danger. How many times have we ran to escape danger? Being someone who grew up in the ghetto, you learned how to defend yourself and escape danger. You knew the places to go to keep from getting hurt. In this sinful, wicked world we need an escape, we need a place to flee from the dangers that surround us. Our refuge, our escape, is Jesus Christ. One would say, what can Jesus do when faced with a gun pointed at your head? One can pray, and if anything see a miracle. God does not want His people to die, but if they do, He wants them in the hands of His Son, who is the only one we can flee to to escape eternal death. “Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” - 2 Corinthians 5:6-8.

A couple of months ago I got added to this “Christian” group, we talked and got along pretty well, I began posting my devotion only to be stopped a few days later. I was told that my teaching was incorrect, that we are not to follow the whole Bible, only the writings of Paul, and that the Gospel of Christ did not apply to us. I was also told to observe and remain silent while they taught me. I do not have to tell you how fast I left. And we wonder why so many people are dying and going to hell? I understand that we are no longer subject to the laws of Moses, but where do people get this stuff? Every generation has to deal with their share of false witnesses, those who accuse us of doing something wrong. Moses tells the Israelites how they were to handle false witnesses.

“If a false witness rise up against any man to testify against him that which is wrong; Then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before the LORD, before the priests and the judges, which shall be in those days; And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother; Then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to have done unto his brother: so shalt thou put the evil away from among you. And those which remain shall hear, and fear, and shall henceforth commit no more any such evil among you. And thine eye shall not pity; but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.” - Deuteronomy 19:16-21.

“so shalt thou put the evil away from among you.” Danger! Danger! Danger! Get away from those who do not preach the Gospel of Christ! Paul did not teach another Gospel, but he scorned those who did. “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.” - Galatians 1:6-8,11,12.

God wants us to know that He knows it is not easy living in the world with so many false religions, people, and corruption, which is why He prepares us for battle. The Israelites were about to face their battle into the promised land, with the promise that God would be with them. “When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them: for the LORD thy God is with thee, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. And it shall be, when ye are come nigh unto the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people, And shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, ye approach this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them; For the LORD your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you. And the officers shall speak unto the people, saying, What man is there that hath built a new house, and hath not dedicated it? let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man dedicate it. And it shall be, when the officers have made an end of speaking unto the people, that they shall make captains of the armies to lead the people.” - Deuteronomy 20:1-5,9.

“that they shall make captains of the armies to lead the people.” There are many saved people who are off the grid, oh, they may not live in the world, but they do not live with God in their lives either, unless something happens. While God may use people like this to remind them that He is still around through affliction or something, those who serve Him have a bigger task, we are soldiers in this army of His. Our mission is to talk to the people and get as many as we can to know the truth before it is too late for them. Ignorance does not save us, only Christ does. The law changed when Christ gave Himself on the cross for all mankind, it will not change again until He returns, and it is the same law for all, Jew or Gentile.

“Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.” - 2 Timothy 2:1-3,14-16.

Jesus Christ Revealed: Today Christ is revealed in the cities of refuge. Jesus is our refuge from the death sentence passed down to us for sin. All who seek refuge in Him flee eternal death and live. Praise God!

Today's Prayer: God, It seems the closer I get to You evil gets even closer, I am trusting You to keep that evil from getting into my life. The only way I know to do that is by staying in Your Word, drawing closer to You, and keeping my eyes, ears, and heart on You. Lord, lead me and guide me, be with me in all that I do, and give me the strength and endurance to overcome all the evil that tries to provoke me, and draw me into away from You. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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Deuteronomy: What God Has Given

KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Friday, February 26, 2016
Chapters: Deuteronomy 16-18
Message: Deuteronomy: What God Has Given

Hello My Friend,

I challenged God this week, I made a small sale and took the money I gotten from it and gave it to God, saying, “I am giving You all that I have with the promise that You will quadruple it”. Guess what? Monday morning I received a phone call for work that more than quadrupled it. It is not what we give that matters to God, it is the acknowledgment that everything we have comes from Him, and our willingness to trust Him with it. There is no doubt that every Christian has lots to be thankful for, most of all His Son. “Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion. Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God. For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart.” - Ecclesiastes 5:18-20.

It is no doubt that every Christian has much to be thankful for the things that God has given us, most of all His Son. It is great to give praises to God when He answers that long awaited prayer or when He does something amazing that we were not expecting. It can be easy to lose sight of His gifts when life gets busy, which is why it is great that we have holidays for giving thanks to God for His gifts. Through Moses, God reminds the Israelites of the holy days they are to observe when they get into the promised land. “Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty: Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee. Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment. Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous. That which is altogether just shalt thou follow, that thou mayest live, and inherit the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.” - Deuteronomy 16:16-20.

“Every man shall give as he is able,” Everything we have is a gift from God. God does not want everything we have, giving to Him has nothing to do with a certain percentage of what we make, it is about willingly offering what we are able to give. When God gives us things we need to acknowledge that. It is not always money that He gives, food, shelter, health, are all gifts. We may not be the healthiest, but if we are walking and out of bed then it is a gift. Imagine what God will give simply by willingly giving Him what we are able to give? “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” - Matthew 7:7-11.

We must realize that God does not give us things because we deserve them, I really do not know why God gives me as much as He does because I know I do not deserve it. God gives us things because He loves us, just like any parent gives gifts to their children even when they do not deserve them. God did not choose the Israelites to be His people because they were the best of the best, He chose them because He made a promise to Abraham. Being a descendant of Abraham did not mean they were automatically saved from judgment, they too had to be justified for their sins. God has always been a just God, and He expects all of His people to obey His laws. With any law that is broken we must stand before a judge to plead our case, while some cases are easy to make the right judgment on, others were not, which is why God came up with a judicial system for the Israelites.

“If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of controversy within thy gates: then shalt thou arise, and get thee up into the place which the LORD thy God shall choose; And thou shalt come unto the priests the Levites, and unto the judge that shall be in those days, and enquire; and they shall shew thee the sentence of judgment: And thou shalt do according to the sentence, which they of that place which the LORD shall choose shall shew thee; and thou shalt observe to do according to all that they inform thee: According to the sentence of the law which they shall teach thee, and according to the judgment which they shall tell thee, thou shalt do: thou shalt not decline from the sentence which they shall shew thee, to the right hand, nor to the left.” - Deuteronomy 17:8-11.

“thou shalt not decline from the sentence which they shall shew thee,” These were supreme court decisions, and once the sentence was given it had to be carried out, no ifs, ands, or buts. Every soul has been sentenced to death and hell for breaking the law of God. The supreme court judge is Jesus Christ, but He is more than a judge, He is a Saviour. Every person will stand before Him to plead their case, He is not looking to see what we did for society, how much money we gave, or even what we did for Him. He is looking to see if we believed in and received Him as our Saviour before we died physically. Knowing Christ as our Saviour is the only way we can be acquitted of the death sentence. “Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man. And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me. I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.” - John 8:15,16,26.

Since we are all saved by grace through the greatest gift of all, the greatest gift we can give to God is ourselves.

It was important for the Israelites to drive out the heathens that were possessing the land as soon as they got there. God already knew these people would not accept Him, but He was not about to have them exposed to what they were doing, including their false gods. “When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee. Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God. For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so to do. The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;” - Deuteronomy 18:9-15.

“The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee,” The Prophet is none other than the Lord, Jesus Christ Himself. Everything from the sacrifices, to the tabernacle, to the law was a foreshadow of Christ, and that would one day come in the flesh and replace the need for all these things. Any god or doctrine that defers from the Gospel is false and we need to stay away from them. Let me tell you, the closer you get to God the more you are going to be approached by false prophets claiming to know God, and it takes a strong faith and close relationship with God to be able to stand up to them, which is why it is best that we avoid them at all cost. “For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.” - Hebrews 10:1,12,14.

A feature that I have not done for a few years is returning to the devotional, where Christ is revealed throughout the chapters.

Jesus Christ Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through the prophet God would send to speak His Word.

Today's Prayer: God, Thank You for everything You have given me, from the life You have given me, to eternal life through Your Son, to the computer I type this on, I am truly blessed by You. It seems the closer I get to You evil gets even closer to me, I am trusting You to keep that evil from getting into my life. The only way I know to do that is by staying in Your Word, drawing closer to You, and keeping my eyes, ears, and heart on You. Lord, lead me and guide me, be with me in all that I do, and give me the strength and endurance to overcome all the evil that tries to provoke me, and draw me into away from You. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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Deuteronomy: The Word Of God Stands

KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Thursday, February 25, 2016
Chapters: Deuteronomy 13-15
Message: Deuteronomy: The Word Of God Stands

Hello My Friend,

As Christians we are not always going to see eye to eye on everything, in fact, we can get into some heated discussions over the Bible. Let me tell you, the word of God is just as it is written, God did not omit anything, He did not error in what He allowed in there, and He did not mean one thing and say another. For instance, a thousand years to God is a literal thousand years. It is natural to have questions when we read and obscure passage, but if you take the time to study further you will see that God means exactly what He says. We must realize that every word in the Bible is literal, if you question something as simple as the difference between one and a thousand years, then that means you will question salvation by grace, eternal salvation, and the resurrection, and then it is God you have to answer because it will cause a division between Him and His people.

“But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” - 2 Peter 3:8-10.

There is a big key to know whether or not a person preaching, teaching, or interpreting the Bible really believes every word, they are saved. You can read the Bible all you want, but unless you are saved it will not have the same meaning. I have literally had people screaming at me as to why I have faith in God when He had a man stone for picking up sticks. The truth is this, the Holy Spirit and a open heart is the only way we truly understand the word of God, otherwise we are going to either draw our own crazy conclusions or listen to others. Moses warns the Israelites that they are going to be approached by people who think they know God and He speaks to them, but are not. They were warned not even to listen to them, and to instantly reject their teachings.

“If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him. If thou shalt hear say in one of thy cities, which the LORD thy God hath given thee to dwell there, saying, Certain men, the children of Belial, are gone out from among you, and have withdrawn the inhabitants of their city, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which ye have not known; Then shalt thou enquire, and make search, and ask diligently; and, behold, if it be truth, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought among you;” - Deuteronomy 13:1-4,12-14.

“for the LORD your God proveth you,” There are many false prophets out there claiming to know God and even Jesus Christ, God allows them in the world for one reason and one reason only, to prove our faith in Him. There is only One God and He is in the form of three persons, God the Father, Jesus, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, any other perception of God is false. There is only One Way to God, and that is through Jesus Christ, any other way given is false, this goes for both the Jew and the Gentile. Those who reject that both Jews and Gentiles (anyone not a Jew) must be saved through Christ reject God's truth that whosoever shalls call upon Christ is saved. You cannot believe bits and pieces of the Bible as truth, You must believe all of it. “What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:” - Romans 3:9-11,23,24.

Now, as Christians we are not under the law of Moses, meaning we are not required to follow hundreds of commands, but that does not mean that God is pleased with everything that we do. Since we are Christians, that means we are not only God's people, we are His children, and we are holy, which also means He expects us to be different from those in the world. Moses reminded the Israelites how God had given them three distinguishing privileges, He chose them, they were His people, and they were holy people, they were not even allowed to eat food that would defile them.

“Thou shalt not eat any abominable thing. And thou shalt eat before the LORD thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always. And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it; or if the place be too far from thee, which the LORD thy God shall choose to set his name there, when the LORD thy God hath blessed thee: Then shalt thou turn it into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose: And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the LORD thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household, And the Levite that is within thy gates; thou shalt not forsake him; for he hath no part nor inheritance with thee.” - Deuteronomy 14:3,23-27.

“and thou shalt eat there before the LORD thy God,” Today, God does not choose for us one particular place to dwell, that is because He dwells in the soul of every born again believer. That means we are free to enjoy the things that our soul desires. Key word, soul, God wants us to feed the desires of our soul, not the lusts of our flesh. When we acknowledge God and thank Him for every thing we put in or on bodies we are less likely to give in to the lusts of our flesh. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” - Galatians 5:22-25.

To be released means to be free from confinement, bondage, or obligation, God enforced a release every seven years on any debt owed by any person that was not paid. If a person owed money to a creditor and could not afford to pay it, the creditor had seven years to try to claim it, at the end of the seven years, if it has not been claimed, that person would be released from paying the debt. Moses reminds the Israelites that God will bless them and keep them free from bondage, but they are to never borrow anything from other nations.

“For the LORD thy God blesseth thee, as he promised thee: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, but thou shalt not borrow; and thou shalt reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over thee. If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother: But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth. Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him nought; and he cry unto the LORD against thee, and it be sin unto thee. Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto.” - Deuteronomy 15:6-10.

“but thou shalt not borrow;” Do you know how nations fall? They borrow from other nations to pay debts they owe. Christians are to be lenders and not borrowers, in fact, it is better to give something with the intent that it will never be repaid than to owe someone. Let me tell you, debt comes easy, and fast, especially because nothing we currently have is a sure thing, anything can happen. The debt we owe for sin is enormous, no matter how good we try to be we cannot pay it off. Christ died to pay that debt for us, when we receive Him as our Saviour that debt is paid off, and we are released from the bondage of it. “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” - Romans 6:22,23.

Today's Prayer: God, I know Jesus paid the price of my sin debt for me and no work I do for You is needed for my salvation or to remain saved. I want to please You, to live in obedience to Your commands, and to serve You with all my heart and soul. Show me the way, Lord, keep me in Your Word to know Your truths and to be able to discern from the false prophets who try to change Your word or truths . In the name of Jesus. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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Deuteronomy: What The Law Could Not Do

KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Wednesday, February 24, 2016
Chapters: Deuteronomy 10-12
Message: Deuteronomy: What The Law Could Not Do

Hello My Friend,

Grace, the wonderful unmerited favor of God, it is the only reason why He does not wipe everyone off the face of the earth and why He fulfills every promise He makes to His people. When God gave the law it was never meant to be a permanent solution for His people. What the law could not do, Jesus did do on the cross, so while we are no longer kept under the law we must not forget that it was meant to bring all to Christ, being justified by faith. “Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” - Galatians 3:21-24.

As Christians it can be easy to forget that not too long ago people were still offering animals to God as a way for them to be redeemed or cleansed from their sins. To truly have a great relationship with God we really do need to remove the sin from our lives, after all, it is what separates us from Him even when we are saved. We are not forced into a relationship with God, we must come to Him willingly, but if we do, He expects some things from us, not to keep us saved, but that we might live the best life we can possibly have with Him on earth. Moses explains to the Israelites what God requires from them to be blessed by Him.

“And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, To keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good? Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the LORD'S thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is. Only the LORD had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, even you above all people, as it is this day. Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked. For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward: He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment.” - Deuteronomy 10:12-18.

“which regardeth not persons,” God does not and will not treat anyone different than another. Yes, some people do receive the favor of God through their obedience to Him, but He does not play favorites. What the law could not do, save eternally, Christ did do. We are saved by grace through Christ when we willingly receive Him as our Saviour, and then our works count. “Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God. For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;” - Romans 2:9-12.

Let me tell you, the more you allow Christ to live in and through you you will certainly circumcise or remove the thick skin around your heart as the Holy Spirit reveals things that you ought not to be doing. God has much to show and give us when our hearts are right with Him, but curses also come if sin remains. Moses reveals the blessings and curses that come from being one of God's people.

“Every place whereon the soles of your feet shall tread shall be yours: from the wilderness and Lebanon, from the river, the river Euphrates, even unto the uttermost sea shall your coast be. There shall no man be able to stand before you: for the LORD your God shall lay the fear of you and the dread of you upon all the land that ye shall tread upon, as he hath said unto you. Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day: And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known. For ye shall pass over Jordan to go in to possess the land which the LORD your God giveth you, and ye shall possess it, and dwell therein. And ye shall observe to do all the statutes and judgments which I set before you this day.” - Deuteronomy 11:24-32.

“I set before you this day a blessing and a curse;” Disobeying God always comes with a curse, death. Saved or not, sin slowly becomes the death of us. What the law could not do, remove the curse of death, Christ did do. All who believe and receive Him are no longer cursed with death, but life. Let's be honest, no matter how much we try, we will never be completely sin free, as long as we carry this flesh around us we are going to do things that displease God, but thanks to Jesus we are free and that curse is removed. “But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:” - Galatians 3:11-13.

Most people, regardless of their faith, try to do good in hopes of a better life, but the truth is, we all try to do what is right in our own eyes which is why it is important that we have Christ in our lives on a daily basis. He not only keeps our heart, mind, and soul looking to Him at all times, He keeps us in the will of God. The Israelites were about to embark on a new land that they knew nothing about, the guidance Moses was giving them was to make them ready to enter the promised land, but the rules were about to change. From food to God's house, Moses encourages them to follow the law, but warns them not to even ask about their gods.

“Observe and hear all these words which I command thee, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee for ever, when thou doest that which is good and right in the sight of the LORD thy God. When the LORD thy God shall cut off the nations from before thee, whither thou goest to possess them, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their land; Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise. Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods. What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.” - Deuteronomy 12:28-32.

“How did these nations serve their gods?” This is how people get caught up in cults and false religion, they have discontent in their lives, do not follow God's word, and seek other ways to fill that void. If we are saved, Christ needs to be prominent in our lives, we may not always understand His ways, but that is where the Holy Spirit comes in, He is our guide to His ways. What the law could not do, give the Holy Spirit a permanent place in our souls, Christ did do. Once we receive Christ as our Saviour we are empowered with the Holy Spirit, that means God is always with us, but we need to stick to His plan, not add to it or remove anything from it. “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.” - Proverbs 3:5-7.

Today's Prayer: God, I will never understand the qualifications to being one of Yours is simply believing in Your Son, nevertheless, I am and that is truly a blessing in itself. Lord, I know Jesus paid the price for me and that no work I do for You is needed for my salvation, but I want to have a great relationship with You. Lord, lead me and guide me, show me the way You want me to take, let me look not to the left or right, but straight ahead to You. Keep me in Your Word to know Your truths and teach me to lean on Your understanding and not mine, help me to discern truth from lies and warn others too. Increase my faith and trust in You so I can find joy through all of my trials, and let me not forget that what the law did not do, Your Son did for me. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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Deuteronomy: Follow My Commands And Live

KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Tuesday, February 23, 2016
Chapters: Deuteronomy 7-9
Message: Deuteronomy: Follow My Commands And Live

Hello My Friend,

Live, to be exempt from death, temporal or spiritual, to have life prolonged, to act habitually in conformity to. By now, all saved born again Christians ought to known that to know Christ personally as their Saviour means they are saved by grace through their faith in Christ alone. If you have received Christ and believe that your salvation can be taken away, then you are not following the commands of God. In order to have the best life we can live here on earth, we need to understand that while our works do not save nor keep us saved, our works do keep us in line with God, and allow us to live peaceably and productively in this world. “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” - Romans 8:13-15.

Think about all the things you have been through over the years, those before Christ came into your life and after, what happened before Christ? As I recall, my problems only got bigger. In fact, it was in the midst of my biggest problem ever that I realized I needed Christ. Has it always been easy following Christ? No. But now the problems come with the hope of an expected end. You know, God did not just choose us because we are the best bunch of people, He chose us because He made a covenant with us, to never leave nor forsake us when we put our faith and trust in His Son. Now, as the Israelites prepare for their entrance into the promised land, Moses reminds them that they are holy and chosen by God Himself.

“For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations; And repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that hateth him, he will repay him to his face.” - Deuteronomy 7:6-10.

“above all people that are upon the face of the earth.” Christians are by far perfect, they are in fact, the fewest in number, but God lifts them up higher than all the rest. Why? We are not redeemed by any works of our own, but by the works of Christ, who died on the cross for us. Because we believe in His Son, and receive Him as our Saviour He is faithful to us, He is full of mercy and grace toward us, and He will never break His promise to give all who receive Him eternal life. Any good that we do after we are saved comes from our love for God as we learn His ways and follow them. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” - Ephesians 2:8-10.

Since God's people are few in number, they who put their faith and trust in Him, are mighty. Everything that God allows us to go through is because we are a holy people, special people, and chosen by Him because of our faith in His Son. Moses reminds the Israelites to observe God's commands, and as long as they did they will be blessed, but he also warns them what would happen if they forget God.

“For the LORD thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills; Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day: Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage; But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day. And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the LORD thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish. As the nations which the LORD destroyeth before your face, so shall ye perish; because ye would not be obedient unto the voice of the LORD your God.” - Deuteronomy 8:7,11,14,18-20.

“for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth,” The talents, the skills, the disposition you have are all given by God to give you power to do the work necessary to get paid. God wants to see us work, in fact, He says if we do not work we ought not to eat. Now, when we are willing to do everything in our own power, God will continue in His power so that nothing is impossible. “Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?” - James 2:18-22.

Again, we are not perfect, God does not expect us to be, what He does expect us to be is faithful, to follow His commands and live. As we walk through the maze of life with Christ we become humbled, dependent upon Him, learn to trust Him more, and He return blesses us through our faith and obedience. As Moses continues, he assures them that God will be there for them, that He will go before them, fight for them, and help them drive out of the people and idols. He also stresses the importance of realizing they are not receiving anything for the good that they have done.

“Understand therefore this day, that the LORD thy God is he which goeth over before thee; as a consuming fire he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy face: so shalt thou drive them out, and destroy them quickly, as the LORD hath said unto thee. Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the LORD thy God hath cast them out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness the LORD hath brought me in to possess this land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD doth drive them out from before thee. Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Understand therefore, that the LORD thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiffnecked people. Remember, and forget not, how thou provokedst the LORD thy God to wrath in the wilderness: from the day that thou didst depart out of the land of Egypt, until ye came unto this place, ye have been rebellious against the LORD.” - Deuteronomy 9:3-7.

“Remember, and forget not,” Not by works of righteousness which have we done, but by faith are we saved. Not by any good works of our own are we saved, but by our faith in Jesus Christ and His finished work. Because we have sinned we all deserve death and hell, now, no one wants the admit that even their little white lie deserves death and hell, but the truth is, it is a sin and any wrongdoing, whether it was meant for good or evil receives the same judgment. That is where Jesus comes in, God promises to save us, by our faith in the finished work of His Son. Why? Because we are stiffnecked, stubbornly adhering to our own purpose, difficult to manage, and unyielding to God, not all the time, but quite a bit. It is only by grace, unmerited love that God keeps His promise. “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one.” - John 10:27-30.

Today's Prayer: God, All we have to do to realize how blessed we are is to look back on the life we lived without You in it. It was cold, dark, and depressing, trying to fit in where we didn't belong, trying to blend in with a world that did not accept us. Oh, we had some fun, but in the end we were the ones who suffered. It is only by Your grace, Your love, and Your favor, that You picked me up out of the rut I was in and gave me a new life. The world still tries to drag me in, but I know You are always with me, right there in front of me, making sure that I am safe and secure. I know I will mess up, but thanks to Your amazing grace all I have to do is come to You and You will make it right. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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Deuteronomy: Lord, I Need You

KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Monday, February 22, 2016
Chapters: Deuteronomy 4-6
Message: Deuteronomy: Lord, I Need You

Hello My Friend,

“Sometimes when life seems gentle and blessings come my way, I turn my gaze away from You and soon forget to pray. But when the sky grows darker and courage turns to fear, my anxious voice cries upward with words You long to hear. Lord, I need You.” True Christians have one thing in common besides their salvation, they get extremely blessed as they remain faithful to God. The problem with that is no matter how faithful we are or how strong our faith, we all get relaxed to the point that we feel we do not need to depend on God for everything. We have to be careful when we get too relaxed for that is when trouble comes, temptation and affliction is just waiting around the corner. What do we do? Cry out to God. “Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast. I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me.” - Psalms 57:1,2.

Now, no faithful Christian thinks that they could backslide completely away from God just because they get too relaxed, but the truth is, all it takes is to skip a church service here or skip a Bible reading there and you are on your way. God was about to send the Israelites into the promised land, He warned them of the dangers of not getting rid of all the people on the land, and what would happen should they remain there with them.

“Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which he made with you, and make you a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, which the LORD thy God hath forbidden thee. For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God. When thou shalt beget children, and children's children, and ye shall have remained long in the land, and shall corrupt yourselves, and make a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, and shall do evil in the sight of the LORD thy God, to provoke him to anger: I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that ye shall soon utterly perish from off the land whereunto ye go over Jordan to possess it; ye shall not prolong your days upon it, but shall utterly be destroyed. When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice; (For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.” - Deuteronomy 4:23-26,30,31.

“if thou turn to the LORD thy God,” We all get backslidden once in a while, I mean there is not one faithful Christian that does not become stagnant in prayer and Bible reading once in a while, it just becomes a routine, even when serving God. The problem comes when we have days or weeks of this, if we do not heed the warnings (afflictions), the world will slowly creep in, and before you know it, we stop serving God and eventually stop God all together. It is a scary thought, but happens all the time, many once strong, faithful Christians have renounced their faith in Christ, turned to false religion, and even worse, stopped believing. However, God loves us the same, He is merciful, never forgets the covenant He made with us, and is always waiting to hear us call His name. “But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.” - Psalms 4:3.

Every child of God when facing affliction contemplates walking away from Him, it is just in our nature to want to run when problems come. The consequences that come from walking away from Him are enormous. Why? Do you understand that you belong to Christ? He bought your soul with His blood, and once saved you cannot go back into the world without it affecting you. Backsliding comes we forget that and stop following His commands.

God gave us His word to live by, not to punish us for not keeping every command, He knows we will not keep them all, but to keep that close connection with Him. Of all the commandments, the most important are the first ten, follow these and the rest will not even come into play. Moses stresses the importance of learning, listening, and keeping, and not adding to God's commands.

“And Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them. The LORD our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. The LORD made not this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive this day. These words the LORD spake unto all your assembly in the mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice: and he added no more. And he wrote them in two tables of stone, and delivered them unto me. Ye shall observe to do therefore as the LORD your God hath commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. Ye shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess.” - Deuteronomy 5:1-3,22,32,33.

“who are all of us here alive this day.” God is speaking to you, not to those who have passed away, but to every one of us who are alive today. “Learn, remember, and keep my commands and live so that your life is prolonged.” I heard a priest saying a prayer for a man that just died, he asked God to forgive his sins and take him to heaven. Sadly, this man, if he did not do that before he died is not in heaven, and sadly the priest is too blind in following his religion that he failed to realize that every person must come to Christ on their own to be saved. We cannot do anything about those who are gone, we can reach those who are alive, and the most effective way is for us to get in God's word, stay in it, and live it, then when the devil or anyone else tries to step in we are ready and prepared and God will hear us. “Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.” - 2 Timothy 2:14-16.

We obviously cannot avoid being in the world, but we can choose not to get caught up in it by keeping God's commands. No matter how good we are or try to be, if we even allow a small portion of the world in us without God we will fall. There is key to keeping God's commands and prolonging our life, fear God. Fearing God is respecting Him, honoring Him, acknowledging Him, and following His commands not because we have to, but because we love Him and want to. Moses reminds the Israelites of the blessings that will come by fearing God.

“Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it: That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son's son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged. And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.” - Deuteronomy 6:1,2,5-9.

“and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.” Everything we do has an impact on ours and everyone else's lives around us, which is why as Christians even when we close our eyes God's word ought to be prominent in it. I do not mean we are to memorize every bit of Scripture written and quote it all day long, anyone can memorize Scripture, but more import than knowing the words are living them. We are not perfect, we are going to mess up every day, but praise God when we call on Him He is always faithful to answer. “Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.” - James 1:21-24.

Today's Prayer: God, It is Your desire that we stay faithful to Your teachings. Scripture gives many examples of those who knew to do right, but chose to do wrong. The consequences of doing wrong not only made them suffer, but others around them as well. Lord, help me to avoid the traps that take me away from Your truth and backsliding away from it. It is only by reading Your word and applying its truth to my life that I even have a chance to fight the battles around me. Lead me and guide me, give me Your power to be the godly example You want me to be for all who cross my path. Let me never forget that You are always with me, that You always want me to depend on You, even when things are going good. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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Deuteronomy: When God Says No

KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Sunday, February 21, 2016
Chapters: Deuteronomy 1-3
Message: Deuteronomy: When God Says No

Hello My Friend,

The Book of Deuteronomy is the fifth book of the Old Testament/Bible and contains thirty-four chapters. The author of the book is Moses and it was written to the Israelites, the timeline is approximately 1451BC. The purpose of the book was to reinstate the law to the new generation of Israel that was given forty years ago on Mt. Sinai to their parents. What we are to learn from the book is that obedience to God always brings blessings, but disobedience judgment. “For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward: He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment.” - Deuteronomy 10:17,18.

You know, we all desire things in life, and God knows every one of them. Somethings we get right away, some things take a little or a long time, and yet there are some that we never will get. How do we know whether it is a no, slow, or go request? Just think how God would handle things and for from there. Forty years have passed since the Israelites had the opportunity to cross over the Jordan into the promised land, just like God said, they spent one year for each day that the twelve spies got a taste of the promised land in the wilderness. Those who did not believe, trust or tempted God along the way were gone, Moses reminds them of why they spent forty years in there in the first place, but first says, it is time to move forward into the promised land.

“And it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, that Moses spake unto the children of Israel, according unto all that the LORD had given him in commandment unto them; The LORD our God spake unto us in Horeb, saying, Ye have dwelt long enough in this mount: Turn you, and take your journey, and go to the mount of the Amorites, and unto all the places nigh thereunto, in the plain, in the hills, and in the vale, and in the south, and by the sea side, to the land of the Canaanites, and unto Lebanon, unto the great river, the river Euphrates. Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give unto them and to their seed after them.” - Deuteronomy 1:3,6-8.

“go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers,” Sometimes when we are waiting on God to fulfill His promises it can literally feel like a lifetime, and in some cases it may be, many people are saved in the last hours of their lives. While waiting on God, do not get depressed because something is taking longer than expected, we must move forward and just maybe as we keep walking by faith we will see that special request answered. Keep in mind that even if we never see it in our lifetime, we do have something much better awaiting us. “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.” - Hebrews 11:13-16.

The main reason why they had to wait forty years was because of their unbelief. Saved or not, if someone we know does not believe in something chances are slim that we will see some things in our lifetime until that person is out of our lives. Now Moses gives them a review of the commands God had given when their fathers were alive, and some new ones to be used specifically in the land they were about to possess. He reminds them that even though they spent years in the wilderness, God always took care of them.

“Ye have compassed this mountain long enough: turn you northward. And command thou the people, saying, Ye are to pass through the coast of your brethren the children of Esau, which dwell in Seir; and they shall be afraid of you: take ye good heed unto yourselves therefore: Meddle not with them; for I will not give you of their land, no, not so much as a foot breadth; because I have given mount Seir unto Esau for a possession. Ye shall buy meat of them for money, that ye may eat; and ye shall also buy water of them for money, that ye may drink. For the LORD thy God hath blessed thee in all the works of thy hand: he knoweth thy walking through this great wilderness: these forty years the LORD thy God hath been with thee; thou hast lacked nothing.” - Deuteronomy 2:3-7.

“thou hast lacked nothing.” We may not have the best things in the world, but we always have the things we need. God knew what they needed, food, shelter, water, cattle for the offerings, He always provided them with what they needed, everything else they got was came from their hard work. “Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:5-7,19.

While God does promise to give eternal life and His Kingdom to all who believe in His Son, that does not mean we will not have to battle any giants along the way nor that we will get everything we want in doing so. Moses warns the Israelites about the giants they would face entering the promised land, how he begged God to let him enter, but could not. He also assures them that even though he would not be there, God would as long as they listened to His warnings, followed His instructions, and let Joshua be the leader he was called to be.

“Ye shall not fear them: for the LORD your God he shall fight for you. And I besought the LORD at that time, saying, O Lord GOD, thou hast begun to shew thy servant thy greatness, and thy mighty hand: for what God is there in heaven or in earth, that can do according to thy works, and according to thy might? I pray thee, let me go over, and see the good land that is beyond Jordan, that goodly mountain, and Lebanon. But the LORD was wroth with me for your sakes, and would not hear me: and the LORD said unto me, Let it suffice thee; speak no more unto me of this matter. Get thee up into the top of Pisgah, and lift up thine eyes westward, and northward, and southward, and eastward, and behold it with thine eyes: for thou shalt not go over this Jordan. But charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him: for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which thou shalt see.” - Deuteronomy 3:22-28.

“speak no more unto me of this matter.” When God says no, He means it and there is no convincing Him otherwise. While Jesus said that if we ask anything in His name believing we will receive it, it only works if it is in God's will to allow us to receive it. God factors many things in when we make requests, including disbelief, our faith, and obedience, and although He tells us no to some things, we must not give up on God, we move forward with the promise of eternal life, knowing that we do have much better things waiting for us beyond the Jordan. “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:” - Hebrews 12:28.

Today's Prayer: God, It never ceases to amaze me that with all I have done in my life You love me and provide for me. I know I am not going to heaven for any good that I have done, but through my faith and trust in Your Son, who cleaned my soul when I applied His blood upon me. When Jesus returns, I want to be able to hear Him say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” Lord, lead me and guide me, keep me serving You, obeying You, loving You, and trusting You no matter what comes in my life, and keep me looking for that blessed hope of Your glorious Kingdom. Let me not forget all that You blessed me with because of something I want that You say no to. Reveal to me anything I am asking that You do not want to hear, and replace it with things that You do. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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