DON’T DELAY!
Today’s Reading: Deuteronomy 23-24
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion on the right-hand side).
A mill stone found in Capernaum. Today’s reading points out the absolute essential nature of the top and bottom stones in the preparation of food for survival.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: Deuteronomy 23:21
When you make a vow to the Lord your God, you shall not delay to pay it; for the Lord your God will surely require it of you, and it would be sin to you.
Family life, societal life, personal and corporate health practices, financial matters, justice issues, and care for the poor are all covered in our reading. We might do well to follow some of these instructions today. For example, as the photograph illustrates, there are upper and lower millstones needed to grind wheat, corn, etc. The creditor is not to deprive the miller of his means of income (Deuteronomy 24:6). What if we followed the instructions here for a honeymoon lasting a full year (Deuteronomy 24:5)? This practice is recommended to bring happiness to a new wife. Interest-free loans and not entering someone’s home to repossess borrowed items are all good ideas. And our key verse is so important. An unpaid pledge is serious business. It is a betrayal of our word. The old saying is, “Our word is our bond.” Then there is the last verse of our reading and the word “remember.”
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, please bring to my remembrance those experiences from the past that I need to think about. May I have grace to learn from my mistakes and from my successes also. May I also learn from the experiences of the Children of Israel. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
I well remember the occasion when Norma-Jean and I made a pledge to the building fund of Bethel Church in Hamilton, Ontario. I had been Pastor there several years before, and when I went full time as an itinerant Evangelist, Norma-Jean and the children continued to participate in the life of that congregation. It was time, by vote of the people and the leadership of the Pastor, to build a new church building. Our pledge was a significant amount. Our date for paying up, Dec. 31, 1976, came and went and I had not paid the pledge. At the same time, our house was for sale, as we knew we must move to Toronto in order to facilitate the move from the weekly Crossroads and Circle Square telecasts to daily live television. But it was not selling. Finally, in desperation, my wife and I went to the bank, borrowed the money, and made an appointment to visit the Pastor to present our cheque, almost two months late. As far as we can calculate, unknown to us, at the very time I laid the cheque on the Pastor’s desk, Ray Edwards, our realtor, closed the deal to sell our house. I don’t believe the timing was accidental. I learned that God takes pledges very seriously.
Yours for financial integrity,
David
P.S. A year end is here again, and while Norma-Jean and I don’t have any unpaid pledges, we want to give sacrificially to help Crossroads Christian Communications with a year end gift. Here’s my question to all my blog partners. Will you join Norma-Jean and me in giving a much-needed extra year end gift to Crossroads? Your cheque must be dated and your envelope post marked before midnight December 31st or you can give online by clicking HERE…or call toll free 1-800-265-3100 with credit card in hand. God bless you with His loving care. David and Norma-Jean.
I am always amazed by the many, many, requirements that must be remembered & obeyed by the Jewish people. How did they keep it all straight ? No smart phones or tablets to record on! I’m thinking of all the many instructions throughout the Bible. Most of these particular instructions from today’s reading, are good to keep in mind for our time too. God is so good. The Holy Spirit is our Guide now thanks to Jesus.
So true Doreen. I have trouble remembering my husband’s birthday.
Many blessings on you and yours this new year about to come upon us. May all saints be richly blessed this new year.
Praise God through whom all blessings flow. Thank you to David in heaven for the Crossroads Ministry and to the Mainse family for carrying on his legacy. I will call in to the year end giving. Wishing all saints a blessed day in the Lord.
Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. Psalm 55:22 ESV
Cast your burdens unto Jesus – Divine Hymns – Lyrics Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PYlLIq9lgs
Hoping everyone had a great Christmas celebration and all the best God will grant us in the new year about to come upon us.
We should view adversity as opportunity by Dr. Jim Denison
When we respond to adversity by turning away from God, we discover that we sought his blessings more than his presence. But when we trust him in hard times, we discover that our faith is deeper than our circumstances.
A skeptical culture watches Christians suffer to see if we believe what we say. Hard times can be powerful times for the gospel.
One prediction for 2019 I can make with certainty is that, as Jesus noted, “in the world you will have tribulation” (John 16:33). But every time adversity finds us, we can view it as an opportunity to evaluate ourselves spiritually, impact others with our faith, and refocus our lives.
And we can know that God will use us in spite of–and often because of—our challenges and failures.
Yes. May God strengthen all His children today, and help us all to be obedient and joyful witnesses in this watching world. As Jesus’s cousin said, may there be less of us and more of Jesus. This world so needs You, Lord God. Please help us do all we can to bring more into Your Kingdom. In Jesus’s great name, amen
Amen Beverlee, thanks to God for the Mainse ministry which has blessed us for many years and still blessing us. Thank you for the quote Lynda from Dr. Jim Denison. I also heard that trials if one comes through victoriously can also increase one’s anointing. Is a big snowstorm here today but no wind as yet but suppose to turn to rain tonight. God bless you saints!
When I think of how spoiled we…we have all kinds of supposedly helpful equipment
and utensils and items to use, but are still busier than ever; I wonder why!
How a blessed day!
Too funny Irene. Seems like the more helpful our utensils are the more time we have to use more utensils and equipment.
Hope u had a happy Christmas day! Blessings.
Thank you Lynda!