Mon.’s Devo - The Greatness of Our God

Read: Deuteronomy 4:1-49; Luke 6:39-7:10; Psalm 68:1-18; Proverbs 11:28
This is Moses’ last speech to the children of Israel before he was going to die and they were going to cross over with Joshua. He reminded them to not add to or take away from God’s laws. God’s laws were the most righteous laws of any nation on the earth and they were good. God warned them that if they or their children after them choose to follow the gods of other nations or worship the things God created instead of him, then God will destroy them. He reminded them that God was a jealous god, a consuming fire but he was also a god of mercy and will never fail them or forget his covenant with them. He would prove this as he went before them into the land and helped them drive out nations much greater and stronger than them.
Moses set aside three cities of refuge on the east of the Jordan : Bezer for Reuben, Ramoth for Gad, and Golan in Bashan for Manasseh. This cities would be where the Levites would live and be the cities of refuge for innocent people who accidentally killed someone.
In Luke, Jesus gave a parable directed straight to the religious leaders. They were the blind teachers leading their blind disciples into a pit they were themselves falling into. Instead of telling everyone else their sins, they needed to get the sin out of their own lives first.
Then he spoke to the crowd and told them that it did them no good to call him “Lord” and listen to his messages and then not act on them. The next story was an example of a man who not only knew who Jesus was but acted on his authority. This was the centurion who had a much loved servant who was dying. He sent a message to Jesus to come and heal him. This man was a Jew who had built a synagogue with the money he made. When Jesus was almost to his house, the Roman officer sent word that Jesus didn’t need to come to his house because he was unworthy of his visit. But he knew that Jesus needed only to speak the word and his servant would be healed. Jesus was amazed at the understanding and faith of this officer. He healed the servant.
Lord, You asked the children of Israel, “what other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way you are near us when we pray?” Thank you that you hear us when we pray and our prayer transcends time and space and distance. Remind us to pray without ceasing today and to expect results.