Read Deuteronomy 5
Highlights:
The Ten Commandments; warnings against disobedience; teaching the children the Law of God; blessings of obedience.
And Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the Statutes and Judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them.
Just as their parents before them had done, the second generation of Israelites soon began to ignore the Word of God.
Under the old Covenant there was always one problem: although the Law that was given at Mt. Sinai was holy, it was written on stone. It could reveal the divine will of God and expose sin, but it could not impart the desire or the strength to obey its Commands.
The new Covenant in Christ was written not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart . . . not of the letter, but of the spirit (2 Cor. 3: 3,6). This is made possible through the new birth whereby we are given the nature of God that dwells within all who receive Christ as Savior and Lord (John 3:3,5; Rom. 8:9-11).
As we read His Word with a desire to please the Lord, it becomes "written in our hearts." Through the indwelling Word that is written in our hearts, our spirit can know His will. But it is only by surrendering to Christ that we receive the desire and strength to fulfill His will. Christ — the living, indwelling Word — becomes our very life. All of us should be able to say: I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me (Gal. 2:20).
Whoever has a love for God will live by His message. By this we can be sure that we are in union with Him. Whoso keepeth His Word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him (1 John 2:5; comp. Jer. 31:33; Phil. 2:13).
When we love the Lord, we are enabled by Him to suffer, sacrifice, or surrender whatever is necessary to please Him. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ (Phil. 3:8).
Whoever loves God will desire to live according to His Word. For this is the love of God, that we keep His Commandments: and His Commandments are not grievous (1 John 5:3).
Thought for Today:
Empowered by His Word we will do His will.
Christ Revealed:
Through the land flowing with milk and honey (Deut. 6:3). This pictures Christ who bountifully provides for our needs. Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you (Matt. 6:33).
Word Studies:
5:1 statutes, permanent laws; judgments, laws, verdicts, sentences; 5:2 Covenant, binding agreement with all qualifications given by God; 6:21 bondmen, slaves; 6:22 sore, terrible; 7:25 graven images, carved wooden idols; abomination, detestable, hated thing; 7:26 cursed thing, thing set apart for destruction.
Prayer Suggestion: Husbands, love your wives as Christ loves the Church (Eph. 5:25).
Optional Reading: Luke 18
Memory Verse for the Week: Ephesians 3:20
