Hmmm, who do we think we are? Indeed! How many of us follow the path of our choosing, as opposed to seeking God's counsel first? I know I certainly have....and admittedly, still do. And then in retrospect I say "Oops, Lord, sorry! What would you have me do now that I'm here & have gone ahead & done this?" Feel the slap on the hand yet? It's amazing how I discover things in my Bible that I just never saw before. Oh, I don't know....like the whole book of Deuteronomy! Ok, I read it in my first Bible. But, I got myself a new Bible because I'd marked up my older one & couldn't see anything with fresh eyes. Ummmm, got that back in 2007. Seriously, almost 4 years & I haven't read Deut yet?! But, oh how the Holy Spirit it faithful to reveal SO much through the fresh eyes of a clean page, and life experiences over those 4 years to make verses just leap off the page! Here's what I've seen, dear BB's with related Scripture the Spirit lead me to also share:
"...what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the LORD’s commands and decrees..." (Deut. 10:12-13)
"but I gave them this command: Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in obedience to all I command you, that it may go well with you." (Jer. 7:23)
"But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul. When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you, then in later days you will return to the LORD your God and obey him. For the LORD your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your ancestors, which he confirmed to them by oath." (Deut. 4:29-31)
"Fear the LORD your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name. Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you..." (Deut. 6:13-14) (These "gods" could be any number of things we idolize: tv, other people, sports figures, money, addictions, etc.)
"Do not put the LORD your God to the test as you did at Massah. Be sure to keep the commands of the LORD your God and the stipulations and decrees he has given you. Do what is right and good in the LORD’s sight, so that it may go well with you and you may go in and take over the good land the LORD promised on oath to your ancestors..." (Deut. 6:16-18)
"Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments." (Deut. 7:9)
"If you pay attention to these laws and are careful to follow them, then the LORD your God will keep his covenant of love with you, as he swore to your ancestors." (Deut. 7:12) (see that? we must FIRST follow God's laws carefully & THEN he will keep His covenant. Why would He bless us if we don't bother to follow Him?)
"Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD." (Deut. 8:2-3) (God causes us to "hunger". I believe that hunger is those things within us that we strive for, dream of, hunger for that we just can't seem to attain. It's a deep-seated desire that is unfulfilled, not something superficial. I believe He "causes us to hunger" to test us to see if we will seek Him with all our heart and soul. THEN He will work things that bring about the fulfillment of that hunger by revealing even more of Himself through the process!)
“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Is. 55:9)
It all boils down to trust, my friends!
Hmmm, wonder what else is to be revealed as I continue on in Deut?! Can't wait to learn & share with you, dear BB's!
Be blessed by what He's shared with you here today through me. Thank you, Father, for using me to reach your followers and any lost souls! ~ Merana
Please be sure to visit Spiritual Sundays for love, laughter, strength & encouragement!
Amen! Thank you for sharing those scriptures with us... "It all boils down to trust, my friends!" Oh, Merana--- you are so right!
ReplyDeleteGreat post! A lot to think about. Thank you for visiting and following blog. I look forward to reading yours, too!
ReplyDeleteooo not seeing the whole picture without including the completion of the law fulfilled in Christ - who came to reveal God to us. sooo if we want to know God, get to know Jesus, who didn't come to condemn but to save. and with cords of LOVE... it's God's goodness that leads us to repentance', not heavy handed heavy burdens too great for us to bear as Jesus told the religious leaders of His day & ours. there is no hand slapping. there are arms of everlasting love holding us [also in dt] a heart of unending mercy and compassion~ for as God says thru Isaiah, from the womb He has carried us and until our hair is white with age He will still be carrying us - in those arms of everlasting love. that's the God Christ came to reveal. specifically because the people were/are not seeing Him as He is without the reality of Christ...
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful blog you have created! I was so blessed by todays post. AND after reading this I've decided to bite the bullet and request a new Bible for my birthday in April. I have decided to once again read from beginning to end, and last night as I'm in Genesis I'm having a terrible time following because my pages are literally pulled apart. It's about 15 years old, I got it as a gift from my sis when I was baptized then. I have it marked up big time and I never wanted to part with it but... I'm thinking it's time. Thanks for allowing God to use you through this blog :)
ReplyDeleteThank-you for sharing these scriptures, I need to read these.
ReplyDeleteGod Bless,
Ginger
Merana - thanks for a encouraging post. My "word" for this year is obey. Not partial obedience, but fully obey. I believe a big part of obedience is trust. When God directs us in a unknown path, obedience isn't always easy, but we must trust Him, knowing His was are best.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Joan
Thank you for sharing these scriptures and your commentary on these scriptures in Deuteronomy. We can learn so much from these Old Testament scriptures.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Charlotte
Like you, it took me a long season before I appreciated the depth and witness of Deuteronomy. In particular, I love the words of chapter 30! May God bless you and the reading of his Word as only he can. The Bible is a beautiful tapestry of grace and wonder and mystery.
ReplyDeleteLife indeed!
peace~elaine
Hi Merana,
ReplyDeleteI agree, It all boils down to trust. Each of us stands at the intersection of My Life and God's Will.
Lord I choose to trust You with my life.
Thanks Merana.
Blessings and peace.
MTJ
Yes, Merana - it's all about trust.
ReplyDeleteI also fell in love with Deuteronomy when I read it. I'm reading through the Bible again - this year I'm going "cover to cover" - and I just started Numbers. And I'm finding God saying many things to me - but I can't wait until I hit Deuteronomy!!
Blessings to you - as you discover and share what God reveals!
And thanks for sharing it with us!
GOD BLESS!