GOD IS “COMMANDER”
Suggested Reading: Deuteronomy 5 & 6
(click scripture link to read online)
The High Priest in the Holy Place of the Tabernacle.
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 great commandment in the Law?” Jesus quoted Moses from Deut. 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 placed 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 the same attention to him. Myles turned 5 this month. His birthday falls on December 12th. He felt very special as we called him the “12, 12, 12” boy. I’ve always done my best to not show favouritism. Therefore, I plan to put pictures of the other great-grandchildren in tomorrow’s blog, including Jadice Patterson, who is expected to make her debut on January 1st.
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. Here are pictures of Myles Livingston Neilson, turned 5 last Wednesday, and all three Neilsons. Little Autumn Lillian Neilson is 2, and Noelle Stacey Neilson is 7. Myles took the “Baby Jesus” doll out of the manger at the Crossroads Center and is holding it in his arms. Tomorrow, I have the privilege of being in Canada’s Space Centre in Montreal at 4 a.m. (I will also be working on my blog). I’ll be there to cheer on Chris Hadfield, a Canadian who is Commander for the next six months of the International Space Station. I’m hosting a new TV documentary series called “Canada, Heart and Soul,” one of which features Chris Hadfield. We’re videotaping this special in Montreal. Chris’s Mom and Dad attended the same church for years with the grandparents and the Mom of the children pictured below, Bruce, Elaine Stacey and Sheryl Neilson.
Lord grant us the grace to keep your law in our heart always and to do those things only which are in keeping with your good will for us and within your perfect order. Amen.
Two Canadian icons, David Mainse and Chris Hadfield. My wife suprised me with tickets to see Chris at a benefit concert where he played the guitar and sang. I had an opportunity to talk flying with him and about his test flying the F18. He would fly to high altitudes, put the jet out of control and after spinning several thousand feet out of control, he would then regain control from unusual aircraft attitudes. Looking forward to seeing your show. Great pictures of your grandchildren. My wife was 56 56 56 this year … born in 56, May 6 and turned 56. Have a great day to you and all other bloggers!
I think they were “inverted spins” if I recall right.
The words of the Commandments were something we had to learn as children and they stay with you, even as we age and tire, we can bring them to mind. My prayer is that my husband and I will impart them to our grandchildren and show them how we live by them.
Thank you David for each blog and still praying for God’s healing for you.
May the true spirit of this season be with all who join David each day as we hear God speaking to us through HIS HOLY WORD. Catherine
Pastor David and Norman-Jean,
It was 47 yrs. ago today you married my husband and I, in a little church in Sudbury, O.N. I was 16 and my husband 19. I will never forget after you married us, you lined up your children and asked each one to say “hello Mr. and Mrs.Blackwood”. It don’t seem that long ago,and here you are now showing beautiful pictures of your great-grandchildren.
May God’s Blessing be upon you and your family
God is so good and I love Him So
Love
Ron and Thelma
God is so good and I love Him so
Congratulations! You are both an inspiration!
Thankyou
What peace and joy there is in doing it God’s way and not ‘my way.’ It took me a number of years of wilderness wandering to figure that out! Definitely always for our good! Thank you David for such wonderful teachings every day. Thanks too, for sharing family stories and pictures.
Thank you for any other wonderful article. Where else
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