Sun.’s Devo - Remember God

Read: Deuteronomy 7:1-8:20; Luke 7:36-8:3; Psalm 69:1-18; Proverbs 12:1 There were seven nations that occupied the promised land that were to be completely destroyed. They were not to marry their sons or daughters or keep any of their idols or ways of worship or gods. If they obeyed the Lord and his laws they would not experience any infertility or miscarriages, nor would their cattle. They would not suffer from any of the diseases of the land. They were to destroy them and show no mercy because if they did, these people would do so much harm to them as a nation that it would destroy God’s plan for them. They were not to fear them because the God who delivered them from Pharaoh in Egypt would fight against their enemies and would drive them out with terror. He would do this little by little so they would have enough time to settle in their land. For forty years, God had tested them in the wilderness so that they would learn to trust him for their daily bread and all their needs. Their clothes hadn’t worn out, nor their shoes. When they got into their land and had built their new houses and were enjoying the abundance of the land, they were not to get proud and forget God. They were not to forget all the trials and deliverances they experienced in their walk through the wilderness. If they did forget God then they would be destroyed just like the nations they were about to destroy. This is a good word for us. We are about to walk into the time of the greatest time of abundance and wealth we have ever known. These warnings are just as important for us. We cannot forget all God has done for us and how we lived on every Word that he gave us and depended upon him for every ounce of hope. He is worth so much more than the riches of this world. Jesus was invited to the house of a Pharisee to eat supper. This Pharisee was probably rich and lived in a nice house. He was appalled when a lady that was probably a prostitute came in and began pouring expensive perfume on Jesus feet and kissed his feet while wiping them with her hair. Jesus didn’t see her as a prostitute but saw a humble loving heart that was full of gratitude. Jesus knew that the Pharisees were judging her and most of all him, so he told them a parable about forgiveness. The story was about two men who owed a man different amounts of money. The man forgave both of the men their debt. Jesus asked the Pharisee which one of the men loved the man who forgave them the most. Simon, the Pharisee answered that probably the one who had owed him the most. Jesus said that she was the one who owed God more because she had been forgiven the most. Then Jesus forgave the woman of her sins and sent her on her way. They Pharisees were now appalled that Jesus thought he could forgive sins. He couldn’t win for losing with them. In the last paragraph we get a bit of interesting information. Joanna was the wife of Herod’s business manager. He was no doubt very rich. She had become a great follower of Jesus and gave him lots of money from her husband’s salary to fund Jesus’ ministry. Lord, may we never forget all you have done for us. May our wealth be of our hearts and not our pocketbook. May we choose the things that bring life and hope.