PASS IT ON...

Today the GOOD NEWS blog is seven months old! Thank you for your continued support of this ministry! To GOD be the glory, great things GOD has done!


SCRIPTURE

Deuteronomy 4:15-20 (NRSV)
Do not be led astray

Since you saw no form when the Lord spoke to you at Horeb out of the fire, take care and watch yourselves closely, so that you do not act corruptly by making an idol for yourselves, in the form of any figure - the likeness of male or female, the likeness of any animal that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the air, the likeness of anything that creeps on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the water under the earth. And when you look up to the heavens and see the sun, the moon, and the stars, all the host of heaven, do not be led astray and bow down to them and serve them, things that the Lord your God has allotted to all the peoples everywhere under heaven. But the Lord has taken you and brought you out of the iron-smelter, out of Egypt, to become a people of his very own possession, as you are now.

DEVOTION

Friends, today’s scripture is a word of warning for all of us! It reminds us to “take care and watch yourselves closely, so that you do not act corruptly by making an idol for yourselves.”

In my mind, an idol is anyone whom we exalt higher than God and it is anything that we esteem “worthier” than our relationship with God.

By this definition, an idol can be anything. It could be a husband, wife, child, beloved dog or cat, favorite mountain, tree, or field. It could also be your house, car, 401(k), time share, job, motor home or cabin.

Anyone—or anything—that takes first place in our hearts is our idol, plain and simple!

God wants to be first place in our hearts. That is why Deuteronomy 5:6-10 says, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and fourth generation of those who reject me, but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments.”

Wow! God really, really wants us to remember that our salvation has been wrought at God’s hands! God wants first place in our lives and God has declared, “I am a jealous God!”

In other words, God does not share the affection of our hearts well. God knows that God has been good to us, granting unconditional love and amazing grace, abundant mercies and overflowing provision! God knows how good God has been and God desires us to know it as well!

I don’t know about you, but I want God to show “steadfast love to the thousandth generation” of my family! God has promised this kind of intimate relationship with me--and with my family--if I will but love and keep God’s commandments.

It’s so simple! All we must do is remember that God loves us so much that God gave Jesus to die on the cross to save us from our sin and gift us with eternal life. We must declare that Jesus did not stay dead but was resurrected, just as He promised!

As we remember this good news message, our hearts will swell with love for God! As we declare this good news message, our children--and their children--will come running asking, “What must we do to be saved!”

Now, ain’ta that good news?!

Will you share your love for God with your children today?

Dear God, today I commit to pass on the greatness of your ways to my children. I want them to know--and believe--that Jesus saves and He saves to the utmost! Please help me to share my faith in words, and in deeds, so that every generation to come will bless Your Holy Name! I pray this in Jesus' Name, Amen.





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PUT ALL OF YOUR HOPE IN JESUS--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

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From Pastor Yolanda's blog http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com