Tues.’s Devo - Authority

Read: Deuteronomy 4:1-49; Luke 6:39-7:10; Psalm 68:1-18; Proverbs 11:28 God was very explicit about his commands. They were to be read and obeyed exactly like he said, nothing added and nothing subtracted. The scribes and Pharisees had whole books that they added to God’s laws, but Jesus kept referring to God’s original words and not theirs. *** Moses explained that when they crossed into their land they were to obey God’s laws which would be a witness to the people there of how wise their God was. No other people had a God who was near to his people and answered them when they called out to him. God’s laws are righteous and fair. They were never to forget the fear they felt when they stood before Mt. Sinai and heard God speak from the mountain and saw the fire on the top. They would have been kids then, but it had to have made a huge impression on them. *** What they didn’t see was any form of God, so they were never to make any object to replicate him. *** Moses reminded them that God would not let him enter into the land because of his sin because God is a jealous God. He reminded them also of the ones of their group who had been killed because they worshiped Baal. They were to tell all of this to their children and teach them to fear the Lord. They were never to make any idol of any kind - this is evil in God’s sight. *** Moses called them into a covenant with God. When they crossed over, they were to heed God’s laws. If they didn’t, they would die quickly and be utterly destroyed. They would be scattered among the nations and live in nations that worshiped idols. They would join with them in idolatry until they woke up and began to search for their God. When they searched for him with all their heart, soul and mind, they would find him again because God is so merciful and forgiving. *** No other nation heard God’s voice, experienced his deliverance and saw his hand move but them, because they were his chosen people. He is the only God, period! *** God gave them three cities of refuge: Bezer for the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead for the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan for the tribe of Manasseh. These were the tribes that settled east of the Jordan, the first tribes to settle in their land. *** Jesus used natural things to represent spiritual truths. Specks and logs represent the little and big obstacles that hinder us from seeing correctly. If we have the right perspective of our own weaknesses, we will be able to look over those in others. I often realize that the thing that upsets me most in others is the thing that I have refused to see in myself. *** Jesus gave them a test to know whether a person was good or evil and we know by what they produce. A good person will not produce evil, neither can an evil person produce good. But a sinner can become a new person through Christ. Satan produces evil people. God produces good people with a will to choose him or reject him. Sinners are not necessarily evil people; they can be saved. Evil people will not be saved. *** Jesus said that we will know the difference by what comes out of their mouth. These people were calling Jesus, “Lord” but their actions weren’t lining up to their confession. Jesus’ words were the foundation we build our new life in Christ on. *** The next story illustrates what Jesus was saying. A very humble man who was a Roman officer had a slave who was dying. He humbled himself to go to the Jewish elders to ask if they could ask Jesus to come and pray for his slave. The elders told Jesus how kind this man was to the Jews. He had built them a synagogue in their town for them to worship God. *** As Jesus was going to meet this man, he sent a message to Jesus saying he was not worthy of the honor of having Jesus at his house, so Jesus could just sent his word and heal his slave. Jesus was amazed at this man’s faith because that is exactly how it works. This man understood the authority in Jesus’ words. The man’s slave was completely healed. *** Lord, may we realize the authority of your Word and that you have given us authority that you had. Increase our faith to see your hand move through us. May we never forget the things you have done for us.