GOD IS “COMMANDER”
Today’s Reading: Deuteronomy 5-6
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).
The High Priest in the Holy Place of the replica of the Tabernacle which was erected behind the Crossroads Centre for the Summer of 1997 and again in 2012. Many thousands have understood the powerful symbolism as a result.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: Deuteronomy 6:24
And the Lord commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as it is this day.
Let us keep in mind the reason for God’s laws, “FOR OUR GOOD ALWAYS.” There are 15 repetitions of words that “COMMAND” us to obey. That’s not too popular in today’s “I-did-it-my-way” culture. The challenge for Moses, and for us, is in the first verse of today’s reading: “Learn them and be careful to observe them.” As I’ve mentioned before, when God desires to emphasize something, He inspires the writer to repetition. For example, in Deuteronomy the word “hear” is repeated 30 times, the word, “learn” 7 times, the word “keep” 30 times, and here’s one I like…”do” 100 times.
Chapters 5 & 6 summarize the Ten Commandments given first back in Exodus 20. Jesus was asked, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus quoted Moses from Deuteronomy 6:5 as His answer, and then added an additional quote from God’s laws of social order, “And the second is like it; you shall love your neighbour as yourself” from Leviticus 19:18. Again, the reason for God’s laws? “FOR OUR GOOD ALWAYS.”
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, I thank You that You have written Your laws on my heart and not just on tablets of stone. I ask for insight into keeping Your commandments in the light of the teachings of Jesus and the Apostles. In the Name of the One “Who kept all the law,” the Name of Jesus, Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
In yesterday’s blog I shared a picture of my great-granddaughter in the arms of our Canadian Prime Minister. When her brother heard about her picture in my blog, his body language told me I had to pay some attention to him too! I’ve always done my best to not show favouritism. Therefore, I plan to put pictures of my other great-grandchildren in upcoming blogs.
Frankly, I feel that I don’t deserve the joy which fills my heart. I’ll watch again the movie “A Christmas Carol.” I identify with Scrooge who knows he is not deserving of such happiness. But Scrooge exclaims, “I can’t help it” as he dances for joy. I may do the same after this is posted on the world-wide web. Modern technology…to think God built all this into the building blocks of the universe, and just now mankind has discovered more of His physical laws. As are the moral and spiritual laws, God intends them all to be “FOR OUR GOOD ALWAYS!” God forgive us for twisting these natural laws for our own purposes that are not for “our good always.”
Yours for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in Heaven,
David
P.S. As I mentioned above, over the next few days, I will post photos of my great-grandchildren (I can’t help it…it’s the Christmas season!). I’ll start with my daughter Elaine & Bruce’s grandkids below…
Todd & Sheryl Neilson’s children: Myles (9), River (2), Autumn (6), and Noelle (11).
Chris and Diane Stacey’s children: Frankie Norma-Jean (3) and Memphis (7).
Justin and Elena Gilmour’s daughter: Chelsea (21 months).
You are blessed to have so many great- grandchildren ( and they are too!)
Greetings
Have been thinking about yesterday’s devotional and how we share our testimonies within our home décor. Example we see the saying
LIVE every moment
LAUGH everyday
LOVE beyond words
with the following how would you end the following
TAKE HEED
OBSERVE
POSSESS
For Our Good Always
God has blessed you so much, David and Norma-Jean, that your whole family, even your grandchildren, follows the Lord! God has honored your obedience to him and your love for others. I was thinking on that and then this verse stood out in today’s reading:
“…for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, BUT SHOWING LOVE TO A THOUSAND GENERATIONS of those who love me and keep my commandments.”
You have done well. It is a beautiful thing to see the results of your faithfulness!
what about those people who love the Lord … but children who have strayed..are they being punished?..Feeling very sad!!!!..because that would be me!!!!
Anna , you keep on being faithful and the Lord will give you the desires of your heart. He loves you and your children. He is a patient God.
Holy Spirit, fall fresh upon Anna. Call to Jesus, Anna, and speak with Him. He loves you, so!
Every day your blog is a great blessing to me. The Lord has used you so throughout your life . May He bless you and your family of workers for Him . Much love, Carol
Such beautiful great-grandchildren! Thought provoking blog today. I do wonder what the sign on the hand mentioned is. I know the other requirements but I don’t think I’ve ever heard of what that would be. Happy to see the sun out here to day in Hamilton, Ontario.
what am I missing? I can’t find the words regarding a sign on the hand? Can someone enlighten me please?
It’s part of the scripture reading for today, Sah, that we all read/listen to, before we do the blog–Deuteronomy 5 and 6. Deut 6:6-9 says: 6 And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 8 YOU SHALL BIND THEM AS A SIGN ON YOUR HAND, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
I realized that rght after I commented, I had a phone call and left, it reminds me how my dad would seal a deal with someone, sometimes he would spit on his hand and shake the other person’s hand; sometimes he would take a stick and run it through the dirt and then on his hand and shake the other person’s hand…it’s funny how one can remember these things long after….I also remember taking a stick and putting it in the black ashes after a fire and drawing on our hands and on each others face…….
Thank you David Mainse for this Blog and for posting those beautiful photos. Those kids are just SO cute.
Today , I am remembering my dear sister in law Irene Lewis, who went to be with her LORD in December 2012. We sometimes shared our faith via e-mails and today I am sharing part of such mail with all of you sisters and brothers in the LORD. Be blessed and enjoy: ” Hi Eraine….I wrote these words not too long after Roy (Irene’s husband) died……I like to sing them to the tune of ‘Finlandia’. The last two lines of each verse are repeated, or one can do that just for the last verse. The two ‘Amen’s’ at the end are sung one octave apart. ”
Morning Prayer
Good morning Lord ! With joyfulness I greet Thee!
I thank thee for this day that Thou hast made.
I thank Thee , too, for ever watching o’er me
Throughout the night and through the day ahead.
I thank Thee, Lord , for all Thy gifts and blessings
bestowed on me in my unworthy state!
I now look back and see Thy love and caring
through years gone by , unto this very date.
And most of all, I thank Thee for the Saviour
Who died for me, to take away my sin!
Forgive me, Lord ,my sins, mistakes and failures –
Please open wide the door and let me in !
Amen, Amen
Irene Lewis October 2008
Amen to your sister Irene, Eraine.
I contact every prayer site I know of to pray for me during these winter days! I deal with depression! I have a hard time dealing with it at this time of year, shorter days, dark nearly all day long, I make sure my bills are paid, place is cleaned up, and I try and get out to the pool and swim, I eat fruit, lay off sweets, and yesterday I had a BIG Dose of Grace from God, so I know He cares about EVERY ASPECT OF OUR LIVES!
I thank Him for good bowel movements! That’s how much HE CARES FOR US! never take our bodily functions for granted!
a person wrote a letter with a pencil stuck in his nose! When he finished he never again took his fingers for granted!
In the meantime I so enjoy this blog and all the positive comments and also praying for everyone on this blog!
The pictures of the great-grandchildren are very sweet and PRAISE THE LORD FOR TECHNOLOGY TODAY, you click and then send……thank you Lord,
yes the Gospel can go everywhere nowadays and it does not cost much to do, therefore we come to the Lord and pray the Holy Spirit will call, gather and enlighten people everywhere to receive Jesus Christ into their hearts!
COME LORD JESUS, BE OUR GUEST, AND MAY ALL PEOPLE EVERYWHERE BE BLESSED!
Such sweet great grandchildren David and Norma Jean. You are blessed!
What a wonderful and beautiful grandchildren you have. You are so blessed and them too to have grandparents like you. Have a Merry Christmas to you and all the family and have more blessings, good health and more great memories in the New Year.
Beautiful photos; thank you David and Norma-Jean for the blessing of your family. Wishing all saints a blessed evening, now, in the Lord.
The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17 NIV
Be Thou My Vision with Lyrics – Ancient Irish HYMN – Visual Worship
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTJUIYTtLv4
Thank you for sharing pictures of your grandchildren, they are beautiful!
God Bless!!