STICK WITH THE PLAN
Suggested Reading: Deuteronomy 3
(click scripture link to read online)
This photo looks east across the Jordan Valley to the mountains of Moab in Jordan. An acacia tree is some of the only life that can be seen in this area.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: Deuteronomy 3:22
You must not fear them, for the Lord, your God, fights for you.
In today’s reading, Moses recounts how the Children of Israel were a few short weeks from entering the Promised Land. En route there they won several battles. For Moses personally, the big battle was within himself. He made an impassioned plea to be allowed to enter the land. God answers his prayer with an adamant, “NO.” He tells Moses to never speak of the matter again. God sends Moses to the peak of Mt. Pisgah to view the Promised Land, and He tells him to commission Joshua as the new leader. God tells Moses to use his authority to “command” Joshua. Moses was still God’s leader, and his “commands” were a source of encouragement and strength to Joshua moving forward.
When God says “no,” he has other plans underway. We need to learn that God’s purposes are His #1 priority, not our plans which we may seek to implement. God’s will be done!
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Father God, help me to always be totally obedient to You, never questioning Your authority. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
I identify with the Apostle Peter who, on one of the occasions when Jesus spoke of His impending death, said to Jesus,”Far be it from You, Lord, this shall not happen to You!” (check out Matt. 16:21-26). I’ve learned from this that the word, “no” and “Lord” must never be found in the same sentence. If Jesus is not “Lord,” then I can say, “no.” I have the free will. But if He’s my “Lord,” and He is, I can never say, “no” to Him. From time to time I’ve sought to put my own plans in place. They never succeed. I’m 76 now, and I look back over 7 decades. I’ve learned some hard lessons. This blog is one way to pass on to others the wisdom of those lessons. God willing, I’ve got another 18 months to complete this through the Bible journey. You can start anytime and 24 months later you’ll read the Bible’s last word.Therefore, stick with me and we’ll be equipped for living life God’s way.
I know this statement is very male macho, but I’ve said to Norma-Jean many times, with a smile on my lips and a twinkle in my eye, “Stick with me, baby, and I’ll give you diamonds as big as your eyes” (I’m sure that’s a quote from some script writer). Of course, I gave her a little diamond upon our engagement (a magnifying glass would have come in handy – my excuse was that I was a student). Then in a burst of enthusiasm I bought her a larger one about 30 years later when I spotted a bargain in a foreign country. Unfortunately, when I had it checked at a local Canadian jeweller, it was flawed. It wasn’t a bargain after all. I know she still loves me, and I also know that she’ll stick with me. I’m a blessed man!
Yours for “sticking” with the plan,
David
P.S. Norma-Jean has her mother’s engagement diamond and she is blessed and content.
David, your story and Al’s story yesterday, speak of a wonderful committed relationship with your wives, “sticking to the plan!” Unfortunately, these testimonies are becoming fewer but it is wonderful to see God setting the course in many marriages. My heart and mind are steadfast on this Blog, have a blessed and wonderful day in worship!!
Isn’t anyone disturbed about Deuteronomy 3:6?
I join with you in this concern David. Much I don’t understand about the scriptures. I certainly can’t begin to justify this particular scripture. God however wanted an undefiled people, a nation Holy unto Himself. In order for the Hebrews to attain their nation, this meant that purity was essential, because He was to use the Jewish line to bring Jesus to the world. Perhaps like the Amorites, King Og and the Bashites were an evil and ungodly nation, and God was going to bring a certain justice through His people by allowing them to take control of this land. Somehow I know this answer seems lacking; but I am looking at the situation through 21st century western paradigms. In the end, I can only bow a knee towards our Saviour and realize that my ways are not His ways and His thoughts are higher than my thoughts. Perhaps we’ll come to know all about it more fully in His timing.
The killing of children throughout all periods of history and by any paradigm of reasoning used to justify such, is disdainful. Perhaps this disdain is natural and the ultimate the Will of God? Nevertheless, I too submit to His divine authority and purpose. Thanks for your response, Scott.
Remember that hymn “Trust & Obey” …. seldom would you ever hear it in church today but the words ring so true. God’s laws and ways have consequences if we don’t adhere to them. It’s like sanding wood against the grain, you can try, but the resulds will prove a failure. God’s ways are always best … but unfortunately some of us will spend a figurative (and sometimes a literal) forty years wandering the wilderness before we learn this truth. Another old hymn comes to mind … Fix your eyes upon Jesus. With these wonderful blogs of David’s, daily we are learning to do just that! Amen!
I like your word pictures this morning Scott. My dad was a boat builder/repairman so can visualize the sanding the wrong way, and if he had not stuck to the plan for building a boat, what a leaky, warped object he would have ended up with. God has had a plan for His children right from the start. Unfortunately we did not then, and often still do not now, pay attention. Those wilderness wandering are tough learning grounds!
Thank you David Mainse, for helping us keep our eyes upon Jesus and ‘the plan’ every day!
Hi David,
I just wanted to say thank you again for doing this 100 words blog..
I wouldn’t miss it…It’s my ‘go to’ first thing in the morning. Thanks to you,I’m hooked on reading God’s word every morning, and enjoying your insights and teaching… There’s a hunger there now and a deep knowing that I need to get God’s word into me and start the day with him…Thank you for that…
Good morning David
We have known about your blog as long as you’ve been blogging, with the intention of fallowing it. Due to technical difficulties we were not equipt to do so until recently. It cost 300.00 Dallars to remidy the problem, but well worth it. We’ve been fallowing along now for over a week, trying to not miss out.
For the past few weeks I have missed church .Iknow in my heart it is wrong but due to technical difficulties I have been unable to go.
Last evening when I opened my bible GOD spoke to me loud and clear
My eyes fell upon Leviticus 19: vs 3 wow ! it hit me like a ton of bricks! It says
Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father, and keep my Sabbaths; l am the LORD your GOD!!! Well I think he fixed my technical difficulty. I’m up early and no matter how I feel this morning I’m obaying the LORD, his will, will, be done this morning. Some times it is not easy to fallow GOD! I to know first hand what happens when we don’t. With out going into details lets just say, its become obvious to me that I had better get my but back to church. When I don’t attend church I watch I touch Ministries with Dr Charles Stanley it’s good, but with out the fellow ship it’s likely not quite what GOD had in mind. Thank you David for your testamony. I don’t want to learn the hard way , so it’s off to church I go this morning with a song in my heart and a lifted spirit.
Thank you David and thank you LORD!
M.
Thankyou !
The choice of the scripture verse was so apt and clear. It is wonderful that God still gives strength and courage to His people. Today’s verse is so appropriate for the times I am living in right now. Thank you very much for your blogs. I look forward each day to reading them, studying them, and putting them into my spirit. Have a great day. Bye for now, Christy
Dear David
Like you I am blessed by a marriage of 36 years of the Lords watch on me my husband and my children through many hard aches and today myself as a newly reborn christian stand in the gap for all my family and friends and pray for complete obedience to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Amen .
God bless you and all the bloggers.
David
Words are powerful; the Words of Scripture are Life!
Thank you for your continued faithfulness to God’s call upon your life. This 100 Words format is adding value to your ministry and my understanding of God’s faithfulness to all of His peoples.
Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift:
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God
is the object of our faith; the only faith
that saves is faith in Him.
Amen!!!
Nancy Webb-Waisberg, Edmonton, Alberta