Wed.’s Devo - Walk in the Fear of the Lord 3-26-25

Read: Deuteronomy 5:1-6:25; Luke 7:11-35; Psalm 68:19-35; Proverbs 11:29-31 Moses called the people together. This was the new generation of people who had grown up in the wilderness and were only children, or not even born yet when Moses received the law at Sinai. He reminded the people of what had happened on that day and how the Lord showed up with fire and spoke audibly to them. It was so awesome and fearful that the people asked that God not do that again. God was pleased that they feared him and wished that they would live in fear of him, but knew it wouldn’t happen. Moses told them that their God was the only God and they must worship him with all their heart, soul and strength. They must remember his laws and teach them to their children so they would walk in them. *** God was soon going to bring them into the land he had promised them and they would live in prosperous cities, in houses they didn’t have to build. They would be stocked with goods they didn’t have to produce and they would have plenty of food and water that they didn’t have to work for. They must remember in their prosperity to worship the Lord who gave it to them. They were to drive out the inhabitants of the land and remember that they were once slaves in Egypt. God brought them into this land to live righteously as his children. Then he would continue to bless them. We are about to be tested in this same blessing of abundance. We need to heed the same words Moses told the people and obey his Word. In Luke, Jesus sees a funeral procession and sees the widow who has just lost her only son. He is filled with compassion for the mother so he walks up to the coffin, raises up her son and gives him back to his mother alive. *** This was a picture of him. He was the only hope of Israel which was like an only son. He was about to die on the cross and the people would be like this woman - bereaved and lost. He raised the son to show them that they didn’t need to mourn, he was rising from the dead and would return to them. *** John the Baptist heard about all Jesus was doing while he was still in prison. He had to be wondering why Jesus had not come and set him free since it says of the Messiah that he would set the prisoner free. He sent a message to ask Jesus if he was indeed the Messiah or if they should keep looking for someone else. (Maybe he was reminding Jesus that he was still in prison.) Jesus response was to tell John of all he was doing and he added, “and blessed are those who are not offended in me.” I think he was trying to tell John that instead of wondering why he wasn’t doing what John thought he should be doing, he should be excited about what he is doing. God can do anything and everything, but in his wisdom, he does what is best. When we aren’t getting a particular prayer answered, we need to instead concentrate on what God has done and is doing. John was a “marker” and he had completed his race. He was about to be set free and promoted early having finished his destiny. He understood this much better when he received his reward. Some get to the finish line before others. John and Jesus were both early finishers! Others, like Abraham and Daniel have destinies that last much longer. *** Jesus gave John a personal benediction giving honor to him as the greatest that had ever lived. The people agreed, but the experts in the law had rejected John’s baptism thus rejecting God’s plan for their lives. *** Jesus gave them a rebuke for being so judgmental. They didn’t like John who wouldn’t fraternize with them and they didn’t like Jesus who sat and ate with them. He concludes with, “wisdom is shown to be right by the lives of those who follow it.” In other words, wisdom would bear witness to who is right in the end. Everyone will be at the Great White Throne Judgment and they will witness who had wisdom by their reward. *** Lord, may we always treasure you above all the world has to offer. Thank you for blessings and prosperity, but you are the real treasure. May we walk in wisdom and in fear of you always.