Mon.’s Devo - Choices

Read: Deuteronomy 11:1-12:32; Luke 8:22-39; Psalm 70:1-5; Proverbs 12:4 Moses continued his talk but he turned his attention to the eye-witnesses of all the miracles God had done. Many were children when they came out of Egypt and saw everything God did for them. In the New Testament, the apostles, with the exception of Paul were all eye-witnesses of Jesus’ miracles and death. More responsibility was put on those who had seen much. The land they were going to was not like Egypt that had to irrigate water for their crops. This land would be watered from heaven and was a land of hills and valleys and a good land for raising food and animals. As long as they continued to worship and obey the Lord and his laws, He would water their land in the right seasons and they would be blessed. God would also drove out all the nations ahead of them and give them the land. He was giving them the choice between a blessing and a curse. When they entered the land they were to proclaim the blessings on Mt. Gerizim and the curses on Mt. Ebal and make an official proclamation of their choice. Once again he told them that once they entered they must smash and burn down all their sacred places and images and completely erase the names of their gods. They were to worship the Lord the way He told them and at the place that He designated. At that place they would all eat and fellowship together as a national family. At that designated place of worship, they were to take care of the Levites in their hometown because they were not given any land. They were not to offer sacrifices where they wanted but had to bring them to the designated place. They could eat meat if drained of its blood anytime they wanted, but if it was an offering to the Lord, they had to bring it to the designated place. In the designated place, they were to pour the blood out on the altar but they could eat the meat. When they drove out the people of the land, they were not to learn of their worshipping habits because their worship was detestable to the Lord and included child sacrifices. In Luke, the disciples were crossing the Sea of Galilee when a fierce storm came upon the boat. It started filling up with water while Jesus was asleep in the boat. They woke him up in a panic. Jesus stood up and rebuked the wind and the waves and the storm stopped and all was calm. He turned to his disciples and asked, “Where is your faith?” They were amazed. They arrived at the land of the Gerasenes where a demoniac ruled in the graveyard. It was his principality that met them in the sea. The demon in him was extremely frightened when Jesus recognized him and cast him out. He begged him not to torture him. Jesus asked the spirit his name and he said “Legion”. A legion was anywhere from 3,000-6,000 foot soldiers. That is how many demons was in that man. No wonder he could break chains and shackles! The demons begged Jesus not to throw them into the bottomless pit so Jesus sent them into some pigs. They drove the pigs off the cliff into the water. The town’s people came to see this great wonder but it was too much to take in so they asked Jesus to leave. They were filled with fear over something they had never seen. Jesus did leave and the man who had been delivered asked to go with him but Jesus told him to go home and share with them what had happened to him. His testimony would save his city. Lord, we make the choice to choose Your blessings and not the curse. Help us to understand what pleases you and what does not. Give us a heart to love the things you love and hate the things you hate.