The resources God has given us to live a thriving life are His Word, Spirit, and People.
Read God’s Word:
Deuteronomy 4-7
Act 2: God’s Covenant People
Scene 3: The Sinai Covenant and law: God embraces and instructs his people
Background Information: Deuteronomy 4-7
The people who lived in the land of Canaan worshipped the creation, not the Creator. Israel was to worship the God who made everything, never anything that he has made. If Israel becomes like those who dwell in the land and turns from God to idols, then they will be destroyed and scattered. But hope always remains, because whenever they turn back to God he will restore them, always keeping his end of the covenant. The second sermon or speech of Moses begins in 4:44. Moses speaks of the law, decrees, statutes, and ordinances; each has its own precise meaning. The details are not important. What is important is that we understand that these are civil, moral, and ceremonial laws for Israel as a nation in that time and place. These laws were to set them apart from the cultures that existed in the land so that Israel could be a light to the nations and reveal the one true God to all peoples. All the laws given to Israel do not apply to the church, but the principles remain. Read 1 Corinthians 9:9 to see Paul’s use of a law applied in principle. As for the Ten Commandments, all of them are repeated in the New Testament except for keeping the Sabbath, and this command is applied to our “Sabbath rest” in Christ (Hebrews 4). The beating heart of Deuteronomy is 6:4-6. It is called the “Shema,” the Hebrew word for “Listen.” “Listen” means more than merely to hear, it means to respond. “The Lord is one,” means that there is no plurality of gods, only the one true God. To love him means more than emotion. It means to obey, to choose to continually make him Lord from the heart out to every aspect of your life. Jesus will use this passage to summarize the entire law of God. He will add to it, “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” Love God, love people, with all your heart. This sums up the will of God for us.
Pray:
Praise God for…
Thank God for…
Confess your sins to God
Ask God to give believing teachers and administrators wisdom and courage as they serve in our schools. Pray that they would have opportunities to speak truth and would be a faithful gospel presence in the schools. Ask God to encourage them to press on in their service to children.
Ask God for… (what else concerns you?)
Reflect:
Write down one passage of scripture that stood out to you today.
Write down why this passage stood out to you.
Engage Community:
Text or call someone now and tell them…
– What you are praying for.
– What stood out from God’s word today.