Facing False gods 03.11.08

Hello My Friend/Guest,

It is Tuesday March 11, 2008 and today we are continuing our studies on the book of Deuteronomy. Please read Deuteronomy 29 - 31 in your Bible or Click Here to read. In today's study we will read and learn about the new generation's covenant; warnings against disobedience; Joshua, Moses' successor; and Moses' last speech. Today's message focuses on the importance of chosing God over the false gods of the world. (e.g. fame, fortune, possesions)

God chose the small Israelite nation as the people through whom He would reveal Himself to the world as the One True Self-Existent God. "These are the words of the covenant, which the LORD commanded Moses to make with the children of Israel in the land of Moab, beside the covenant which he made with them in Horeb...Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them, that ye may prosper in all that ye do...That thou shouldest enter into covenant with the LORD thy God, and into his oath, which the LORD thy God maketh with thee this day: That he may establish thee to day for a people unto himself, and that he may be unto thee a God, as he hath said unto thee, and as he hath sworn unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob." (Deuteronomy 29:1,9,12-13).

Moses continued to warn the people of the consequences of disregarding their Covenant responsibilities, "Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the LORD our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood; And it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst: The LORD will not spare him, but then the anger of the LORD and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the LORD shall blot out his name from under heaven." (29:18-20). God's chosen people confirmed their covenant relationship with God. It implied much more than rules and regulations. The Covenant covered a person's total being and was a permanent arrangement.

When the Israelites entered the promised land of Canaan, they were surrounded by influences that would test their loyalty to the One True God. They were faced with people who seemed to have advantages, such as chariots for war, and an attractive religious system with images they could see and touch. Today and forever, Israel's God was the One and only True God and our God, there is no other. Israel's Messiah is our Savior, Jesus of Nazareth. Christians are the people of God and are by far given a more precious covenant than the one made with Abraham, our love for God is tested just as the Israelites by the many false gods that we face each day.

As the nations of the world have become our near neighbors, some are deceived and assume that their false gods are also the One True God who is just called by another name and that their faith is but one of many ways to worship God. But all worshipers who do not accept Jesus as Savior and Lord of their lives worship a false god that cannot provide eternal life.

Moses had finished his ministry as the lawgiver and leader of Israel. The aged guide to the promised land is speaking his last speech to Israel and commanded that the children of Isreal love the Lord. "See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it...That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them." (30:15-16,20).

Moses final words were, "Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." (31:6). These words are just as true today as they were back then, God is always with us and in all that we do. We may have a new covenant with Jesus, but we are still commanded to live for God and put our complete trust in Him to lead us our promise land. Israel failed to reconize this and to this day still struggle, God does not want to see us suffer, He wants to give us the best life we can possibly have on this earth, but He also wants us to reconize Him and thank Him for the blessings that He gives us and to have some morals to our lives. Your life is more precious to Him than Gold, otherwise the streets in heaven would not be paved with it.

In today's study Jesus Christ is revealed as life,"See, I have set before thee this day life" (Deuteronomy 30:15). Jesus is the Resurrection, and the Life, "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:" (John 11:25).

Today's Psalm: 139:16-18
"Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee."

Today's Prayer: From Psalm 86:1-7
Dear Lord,
Bow down thine ear, O LORD, hear me: for I am poor and needy. Preserve my soul; for I am holy: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee. Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily. Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee. Give ear, O LORD, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications. In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.

Have a great and wonderful day/night.
God bless,
Christina

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