SCRIPTURE
Deuteronomy 7:1-11 (NRSV)
Keeping God's commandments
When the Lord your God brings you into the land that you are about to enter and occupy, and he clears away many nations before you - the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations mightier and more numerous than you - and when the Lord your God gives them over to you and you defeat them, then you must utterly destroy them. Make no covenant with them and show them no mercy. Do not intermarry with them, giving your daughters to their sons or taking their daughters for your sons, for that would turn away your children from following me, to serve other gods. Then the anger of the Lord would be kindled against you, and he would destroy you quickly. But this is how you must deal with them: break down their altars, smash their pillars, hew down their sacred poles, and burn their idols with fire. For you are a people holy to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on earth to be his people, his treasured possession.
It was not because you were more numerous than any other people that the Lord set his heart on you and chose you - for you were the fewest of all peoples. It was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath that he swore to your ancestors, that the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who maintains covenant loyalty with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations, and who repays in their own person those who reject him. He does not delay but repays in their own person those who reject him. Therefore, observe diligently the commandment - the statutes, and the ordinances - that I am commanding you today.
DEVOTION
Every time I read scriptures like this I am reminded why it is that I am so grateful for Jesus! God sent Jesus into the world to die on the cross to make atonement for the very sin that made God so angry in today’s Bible passage.
In short, sIn, is about putting self before God. It is about building idols to the gods of greed, pride, self-interest, lust, and power.
The Bible teaches us that “the wages of sIn are death (Romans 6:23). But, even if we did not read that Bible passage, we instinctively know that it is true. The sinfulness of humanity has led to a death toll too high to count. Between wars, genocide, rape, murder, economic collapse which leaves people homeless, houseless, jobless, depressed, and suicidal, we can’t begin to count the “bodies.”
And the death that accompanies sIn is not just a physical and literal one. There is spiritual death as well. People living in unconfessed and unrepentant sIn are often hallow shells, devoid of character, depressed, anxious, and worried about everything and unable to love or trust anyone for fear of betrayal.
All of this is very bad news!
But, God didn’t allow the bad news to be the final word. God loves us too much for that! So, God sent Jesus into the world to be atonement for our sin. By dying on the cross, Jesus did all that was needed to make reparation for our sin and to gift us with eternal life.
My favorite portion of today’s scripture reads, “Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who maintains covenant loyalty with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations…”
WOW!
God is a faithful God. We can count on God! We can trust God! God will not leave us, nor forsake us. God will not betray us or abandon us. God is good, all the time!
God maintains “covenant loyalty” with those who love God! Simply put, God does not lie. God does what God said God would do. When God makes a promise, you can count on it! And God has promised that if we say with our mouths that we believe that Jesus died on the cross and rose again, and really believe it in our hearts, we are saved (Romans 10:9)!
God’s covenant loyalty means that God can’t--and won’t--break God’s promises. When we put all of our hope in Jesus, we are saved, our sin is forgiven, and we are guaranteed eternity with God in the Heavens.
Finally, today’s scripture says that God pledges loyalty to the one who loves God--for one thousand generations!
DOUBLE WOW!
If you have ever thought to yourself, “What I do doesn’t matter.” Think again, my friends! Your choice makes a difference. Your right relationship with God makes a difference.
When I think about one thousand generations from now in my own family, it gives me great joy to imagine them being healthy, happy, holy, and whole. My heart overflows with happiness as I imagine my great-great-great-etc-grandchildren praying and singing to Jesus and full of the Holy Spirit.
By choosing Jesus today, you can change the trajectory of your entire family lineage for one thousand generations. As you put all of your hope in Jesus, you will teach that hope to your children, who will teach it to their children, who will teach it to their children, forever and ever, Amen!
Today’s passage says that we should keep the commandments of God. What are those commandments? Jesus said, “The sum of the Law is this, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself (Luke 10:27).”
As we love God and neighbor, we will necessarily turn away from the greed, pride, self-interest, lust, and power that defined our existence before Jesus came into our hearts.
We will put the needs of others ahead of ourselves and we will do our level best to make sure that we are a blessing to the people around us!
It is wonderful to live a life of service to God and people. It is such a gift to be able to share the GOOD NEWS that God loves, gave, and saves everywhere we go! It is an honor to be able to partner with God, using our gifts and talents, to glorify God and edify God’s Church.
Hallelujah!
Without Jesus in your life, you’re lacking purpose and clear direction; you’re drowning in your sinful and misguided ways.
With Jesus in your life, you have a very simple goal—to share the love of God with everyone you meet!
Will you put all of your hope in Jesus today? Jesus died on the cross because he determined that you are worth it! Jesus paid your sin-debt, so that you wouldn’t have to. Jesus paved the way for you to inherit eternal life.
Won’t you accept this free gift today?
If so, please pray with me.
Dear God, I know you love me and I love you too. I believe that Jesus died on the cross and that you raised him from the dead! Please forgive all of my sins and fill me with your Holy Spirit. I truly want to experience your covenant loyalty in my life. I want to know that one thousand generations from now, my great-grandchildren will be experiencing the joy of Jesus! I accept Your free gift of salvation today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
SPECIAL NOTE
If you just prayed that prayer for the first time, today, you are saved! I would be so honored if you would let me know about your decision by clicking “Yes” in the poll located at the top/right of today’s devotional! I am so happy for you! Happy Spiritual Re-Birth-Day!
Next steps: In response to what God did for you just now, let me suggest that you consider telling another Christian so that they can celebrate with you! Ask them to help you find a Bible that is easy for you to understand so that you can learn more about your new-found faith! Ask them to help you find a good Bible believing church where you can make new friends who will walk with you on your new journey! You are already saved; now let God mature you by faith! Congratulations!
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Congratulations to the people who have recently put all of their faith in Jesus! We are so excited about your new-found faith in Jesus! You are in our thoughts and prayers!
If you would like to put all of your hope in Jesus today, please visit my blog entitled, “Putting All Your Hope In Jesus” located at
http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com/2009/04/putting-all-your-hope-in-jesus.html
If you have additional questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, "Come to Jesus"
http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com/2009/03/come-to-jesus.html
Pastor Yolanda is now publishing another blog entitled, “A Spoken WORD” in celebration of Holy Hip Hop, Gospel/Christian Rap and Spoken Word. Please check it out @ http://aspokenword.blogspot.com/
You are invited to follow Pastor Yolanda on Twitter www.twitter.com/PastorYolanda
Good News has now added a Prayer Ministry. http://www.kindlejoy.com/groups/goodnews
You are invited to leave comments or questions regarding today’s devotional. These comments are public.
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Thanks for reading and please come again. Pastor Yolanda extends a very special welcome to all of our friends reading outside of the United States of America! We are honored that you are sharing with us today.
From Pastor Yolanda's blog http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com
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