Wed.’s Devo - Moses’ Last Words

Read: Deuteronomy 4:1-49; Luke 6:39-7:10; Psalm 68:1-18; Proverbs 11:28 We are reading the last advice from Moses before he is going to leave the earth. He commanded them to keep every law and commandment God had given them and not add or take away from them. He reminded them what happened with the people who began to worship Baal at Baal Peor. *** God’s laws would give them wisdom and understanding in the eyes of the people of other nations. They would envy them for having a God who is so near and hears them when they cry out to him. *** Moses warned them to guard their soul and not forget what they had seen the Lord do for them. They were to pass down these stories to their children and their grandchildren so they would fear the Lord also. They were to recount how they stood at the bottom of the mountain at Sinai and heard the voice of the Lord out of the midst of the fire. They were to recount to them how the Lord himself wrote their laws on tablets of stone. *** When God spoke to them, they didn’t see him so they were not to try to make any image to represent him that resembles any creature on earth. Nor were they to worship the elements in the sky like they did in Egypt. God brought them out of that nation to be his own possession. *** If they did begin to worship other gods, they would not live long in their land. God would scatter them among the nations of the earth where they would worship false gods that were not real. Then, if they began to seek Him with all their hearts and soul, they would find him. In the latter days, when they are in tribulation, they will return to the Lord and obey him. God, who is merciful, will forgive them and he will remember his covenant he made with them and save them. *** What God did for Israel, he had never done before. Never had he birthed a nation with such signs and wonders. He did this so they would not forget him and his covenant with them. It would go well with them as long as they obeyed his commandments. *** Moses set apart three cities of refuge in the land they now possessed which was now the land of Reuben, Gad and half of Manasseh. Theses cities were Bezer in the land of Reuben, Ramoth in Gad and Golan in Manasseh. *** In Luke, Jesus gave a parable explaining that everything we do comes from our heart. If our heart is bad then we cannot do good, but if our heart is good, then we will do good. The things we complain about in others are the blind spots in our own eyes. *** Those that followed Jesus and actually did what he preached were building firm foundations to stand on during the storms of life. Those who just listened and didn’t let it affect their lives would not stand in the storms. *** Jesus then went into the town of Capernaum. One of the centurions sent his elders to ask Jesus to come and heal his servant who was very valuable to him. They spoke highly of the centurion telling Jesus how he had built their synagogues for them. Jesus followed them and when he was near the house, the centurion sent servants to Jesus. The centurion didn’t think he was worthy to have Jesus come to his house, but if Jesus would pronounce his servant healed, it would be enough. Jesus marveled that this man understood the power of confession and prayer. He commented that he had not found such faith in Israel. When the servants returned home, they found the servant healed. *** Lord, may we have the faith to believe in things we cannot see. Thank you that you hear our every prayer and you answer when we cry for help. We honor and praise your name.