December 25

December 25, 2014

MERRY CHRISTMAS to all!!

For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Isaiah 9:6

It is in Jesus Christ, that love came down and walked among His people, lived a perfect life amidst a sinful people, light in a dark world, the perfect sacrifice for sinners, a Risen Savior.

What and who is Jesus to you?
What are you celebrating today?

We are sharing His love with family today, after we read Luke 2.

May His love fall bountifully upon you today, my friends!!

Linda

Blessings If...

O. T. #426  "Blessings If..."
December 24, 2014
Deuteronomy 28
And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if  thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.  Deuteronomy 28:2 (My emphasis)

LET IT GLOW

Do we prefer blessings over cursings from God? Of course we do. Israel was given the choice, the requirements for blessings through obedience, and results of cursings if they disobeyed Him.

Chapter 28 gives  us a long list of blessings for those who trust and obey. In the terms of the treaty the Lord brought to Israel, the Hebrew  people were promised that everything they did would be blessed and multiplied. they never need to borrow from anyone-if they kept God's laws (verse 1-14).
Because Israel obeyed the voice of God, these blessings would come upon them and overtake them:

• Israel obeys God; (verse 1-2)
• in the city and in the country; (verse 3)
• the fruit of their body, the produce of their ground, increase of their herds, cattle, and flocks; (verse 4)
• their basket and kneading bowl; (verse 5)
• when they come in and go out; (verse 6)
• their enemies who rise against them will be defeated before their face; coming out one way before them and fleeing seven ways; (verse 7)
• their storehouses would be blessed, as well as all they set their hand to do, and their land which God gave them would be blessed; (verse 8)
• they will be established as a holy people to God, if Israel keeps the commandments of the LORD and walk in His ways; (verse 9)
• their nation would be a worldwide witness of God's grace; (verse 10)
• rain in its season; (verse 12)

What else could they possibly need or want? Yet, we know how it turned out as we read further into Scriptures. Why, oh why, do people turn from loving God when they know what will result?

LET IT GROW

Back in chapter 27 and into 28,we read a long list of curses on those who disbelieve and disobey God's Word from Mount Ebal.
Cursed is the one who:

• makes a carved or molded image, work of a craftsman and sets it up in secret; (verse 15)
• treats his father and mother with contempt; (verse 16)
• moves his neighbor's landmark; (verse 17)
• makes the blind to wander off the road; (verse 18)
• perverts the justice due the stranger, the fatherless, and widow; (verse 19)
• lies with his father's wife, any kind of animal, his sister, the daughter of his father or mother, with his mother-in-law; (verses 20-23)
• attacks his neighbor secretly; (verse 24)
• takes a bribe to slay an innocent person; (verse 25)
• does not confirm all the words of this law by observing them;(verse 26)
• a worldwide witness of God's chastening; (verses 45-46)
• extraordinary plagues; (verse 59)
• scattered among the peoples, with no rest, nor a resting place for the sole of their feet, as well as a trembling heart, failing eyes, and anguish of soul; (verse 65)
• fear will terrify their heart because of the sight which they see with their eyes; (verse 67)
• Israel would return to Egypt never to be seen again, being sold as slaves, but no one will buy you. (verse 68)

[Resource: The Jeremiah Study Bible by Dr. David Jeremiah]

Moses foretold of Israel's being conquered and carried into slavery, first by Assyria (722 B.C.), second by Babylon (586 B.C.), third by Rome (AD 70). Israel did scatter, but returned to its statehood in May 1948.

After all the curses listed, the people said, "Amen!"
Perhaps these need to be read in the public square for all to hear in our generations.

Promises such as these are not repeated in the New Testament. God has vowed to bless His children, but under the New covenant, blessings are more spiritual than physical (Eph. 1:3). So NT believers are told that while they may experience a life of sacrifice and persecution, they will have the grace to be content with food and clothing alone (1Timothy 6:8) and the grace to give away to others what they have been given (2 Cor. 8:9-14). Yet in addition to the grace to give, God will grace His beloved with the ability to enjoy the good and perfect gifts (1 Timothy 6:17). (David Jeremiah)

We can love out the level of godliness which our Father expects. Also, we can experience the spiritual blessings of salvation, peace, victory, comfort, and strength for daily needs, even in times of trouble.

LET IT GO

Obey God and His Word, and receive blessings poured out from heaven.

Disobey God and receive those curses and a broken fellowship with our God.

It's our choice.

Curse or Blessing

O. T. #425  "Curse or Blessing"
December 223, 2014
Deuteronomy 27
Curseth be he that...   (Deuteronomy 27:15-26)

LET IT GLOW

Which do we desire-a curse or a blessing? God tells Israel how they can have one or the other.
Personally, I desire the blessings of God upon my life and family. The grace of God gives us blessings, since the Law is a curse that shows us we are sinners.

Here we have a reminder of the blessings and curses. Moses and the elders give commandments to Israel. Verse 9 continues this with the priests and Levites. Israel is commanded to keep the Law.

What were they commanded to do?
Liberty Bible Commentary tells us:

• When they passed over the Jordan River, Israel was to set up large stones on Mount Ebal, which was the mount of cursings. (Since the Law carried a curse, it is to be expected that the Law was to be written on the mount of cursings.)(verse 2)
• Moses didn't tell the people how many large stones to set up, but he prescribes that they were to be plastered with a coating of lime or gypsum. This is similar to the custom in Egypt where they covered their walls and buildings with lime, then pained them with figures and hieroglyphics. The temporary coating of lime indicated that the writing of the laws on these large stones was not for posterity, but was to be done as a public announcement. they were told to write the laws very plainly.
• Moses was commanded to write all the words of this law. It could be interpreted to mean "write the entire book of Deuteronomy."  Others believe it means they were to write the 613  different commandments contained in the Pentateuch. Others believed they were to select the most significant laws and write them as a symbol for the whole Law. (verse 3)
• After they had written on the stones, God commanded them to build an altar unto the LORD, and construct it with stones. These were to be a different kind of stones, since stones used for sacrifice were to be unhewn stones (Ex. 20:22-25).
• The picture of the Law and the sacrifice together shows the relationship between law and grace. The Law brought a curse upon man because it revealed his sinfulness. (My emphasis) (Gal. 3:13), but the altar was a symbol of the forgiveness grounded in the mercy of God. By connecting the sacrificial ceremony with the Law, Israel was given a practical demonstration of how it could settle the tension between perfection and redemption. 

Do we follow the directions the Lord gives us? Or do we do things our own way?

LET IT GROW

In verse 11-14, we read what happened next.

•  Moses divided the 12 tribes of Israel into two groups, with 6 stationed on the side of Mont Gerazim, facing the valley, and the other 6 stationed on the side of Mount Ebal. The Levites were to stand in the midst of the valley (about 1600 feet across).
• The Levites read the curses in unison, with all the people responding with amen, which means sure; so be it; truth; faithfulness. The entire nation of Israel was involved in one loud praise service to God. The Levites represented more than just the priest; they included the teachers and guardians of the Law, as well as those who carried the ark of the covenant (Joshua 8:30). 
• The 6 tribes who read the blessings were from the two wives of Jacob, Rachel and Leah. Those sons had a higher position in the inheritance.

Let us proclaim that we are all sinful people in need of a Savior. Then let us proclaim the blessings of our God.

LET IT GO

Turn from my sinful ways and follow the Word of God.

Share with others that we are all sinners in need of a Savior, Jesus Christ.

Tell others of His blessings that I have experienced in my life.

Praise the Savior, Messiah, King Jesus.

You are Special

O.T. #424  "You are Special"
December 22, 2014
Deuteronomy 26-Part 3
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.  1 Peter 2:9


LET IT GLOW

Who doesn't like to feel special? We all do, don't we? It is usually the little things that people do for us that make us feel special. It doesn't take anything dramatic or big. I received a few phone calls from people checking on me during this time of my waiting for surgery. I appreciated them.
What makes you feel special? Does your spouse have to take you out for dinner, buy a gift, or just a sweet kiss or words of encouragement make you feel special?
Do we make others feel special? Do we take the time to show and tell them that they are special to us?
Thank you folks for studying God's Word with me on this blog. You have become a special people to me. I hope I can encourage you to keep your faith in Jesus. Always remember, you are special to God. After all, He became a man in order to provide us with salvation.

The MacArthur Bible Commentary thoroughly explains:
 

The last four verses of the chapter concluded Moses's explanation of the law's stipulations by calling for the total commitment by Israel to the Lord and His commands. These verses can be viewed as the formal ratification of the Sinaitic covenant between the Lord and the second generation of Israel. In terms of this agreement, acknowledging that the Lord is their God, and promising wholehearted obedience plus a desire to listen to God's voice, the Israelites were assured that they were His people and the chosen over all other nations to receive His blessings and the calling to witness to His glory to all the world. (Ex. 19:5,6).

And the LORD hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people, as he hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments: And to make thee high above all nations which he hath made, in praise, and in name, and in honor; and that thou mayest be an holy people unto the Lord thy God, as he hath spoken.  (verses 18-19)

What is God telling Israel?

• He has declared them to be His peculiar people. Peculiar means  a peculiar treasure, one that is shut up, enclosed as wealth or jewels are; proper; good; special. Israel was to be a special people to God.
• He promised this long ago to their father Abraham, and continued throughout the generations to this second generation of Israel. God had obligated Himself to be Israel's God.(Ex. 19:5)
•  He would set them high above all nations, that they should keep His commandments, in praise, name, and honor.
• So they would be a holy people to the Lord their God.

The word avouched is used in verse 17 as an act on Israel's part. Avouched has several meanings, of which is applicable to Israel-to say, answer, speak, tell.
Then in verse 18, avouched is an act on God's part, meaning call, certify, challenge, charge, declare, demand.

Do we desire to be a peculiar, special people to God?

LET IT GROW

Israel was to avouch God as their God. They were to promise their wholehearted obedience.
What were they expected to do, according to verse 16 and 17:

• to keep God's statues and judgments;
• to keep and do them with all their heart and with all their soul;
• avouch God as their God;
• to walk in His ways;
• to keep His statutes and commandments and His judgments;
• to hearken to His voice.

When Israel did those things, they would receive God's blessings and witness His glory to all the world. they would be God's praise, honor, and glory. New Testament Christians are reminded that we are a peculiar people and we are to show forth the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9). Therefore, the sanctification of Israel is similar to the sanctification of Christians in the New Testament.  (Falwell)

Do you want to be a peculiar people to God? I certainly do.

LET IT GO

Love God with all my heart and soul.

Avouch God as my God to others. Share His salvation and love.

Study God's Word so I can walk in His ways, not my ways.

Obey His voice.

Miracles

O. T. #423  "Miracles"
December 19, 2014
Deuteronomy 26-Part 2
And the Lord brought us forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with great terribleness, and with signs, and with wonders. Deut. 26:8

LET IT GLOW

Are you needing a miracle this year? Do you live in a troubling time, with a disease, with financial lows, with family problems? I know who can help us. Jesus performed many miracles while He walked upon the earth. He looked for the person's faith in Him. Do you have faith in Jesus to give you a miracle this Christmas season? He was the miracle, is our miracle, and will be our miracle. Are we looking for one, with anticipation? If He so chooses, He is able to perform a miracle for us. Only God can perform miracles.

Webster's Dictionary defines miracle as a wonder; marvel; an extraordinary event manifesting divine intervention in human affairs.

If man can duplicate a miracle, then it is not a miracle, since only God can perform a miracle. (Roger Robins)

Verses 5-11, we read about Israel's patriarch Jacob.

The MacArthur Bible Commentary gives us these details:

 He was the "wandering Syrian." Jacob was each Israelite's father or ancestor. When Jacob fled from his home in Beersheba, he passed through Syria (Aram) to Mesopotamia (Aram-naharaim, genesis 24:10) to live with Laban, his uncle. Returning from there, Jacob was overtaken by Laban after he came through Syria at the Jabbok River, where he not only faced the wrath of Laban, but also that of Esau his brother. Later, the famine in Canaan necessitated his migration to Egypt. when the Israelites became populous and powerful, they were oppressed by the Egyptians, but it was God who enabled them to enter and conquer the land from which the firstfruits were presented before the altar. 

Jacob only had 70 family members that went with him to live in Egypt. Over the course of time, 400 years, as slaves, Israel's population grew to around 2 million.

When an Israelite appeared before God and called himself an Aramaen, it was a confession of his worthlessness and a testimony that he depended upon the grace of God. (Falwell)

Yes, our righteousness is as filthy rags. That is why our soul needs to be clothed in the righteous robe of Jesus' blood when we enter the throne room of a Holy God. We enter prayerfully, surrendered and worthlessness, seeking the grace and mercy of God.

LET IT GROW

God heard the Israelites' cries, looked upon their affliction, labor, and oppression. How did the Lord bring Israel out of Egypt? Verse 8 tells us, in reference to 4:34, God delivered them with:

• a mighty hand, (mighty means strong, hard, violent, loud, stiff; hand refers to an open hand, which indicates power, means, direction);
• an outstretched arm, (outstretched means to stretch or spread out, to bend, to stretch forth)
• great terribleness, (terribleness refers to a fearful thing or deed; dread; terror)
• signs, (signs were in the sense of appearing; a signal, as a flag, beacon, monument; evidence; mark)
• wonders. (wonders referred to a sense of conspicuousness; a miracle) 

God delivered Israel from the most powerful army in the world at that time. He did it with His strong, open hand, an outstretched arm, which was  to be feared, and evidence of His power, performing a miracle. How awesome our God is!
Israel knew it was their God who delivered them from slavery, setting them free to worship Him and serve Him; to be a new nation that belonged to God. Not only did Israel experience God's power, but the Pharaoh and Egyptians did also. (Exodus 14)

God was going to give Israel a land which flowed with milk and honey, foretold in Exodus 3:17. The land would provide green pastures for the sheep, cattle, and goats, which gave them milk and honey was the sweetness on the biscuit, an added blessing to sweeten their food. Perhaps the honey sweetened their disposition, too.

Reading about the power of God humbles me. Why do I limit Him? His is the same yesterday, today, and forever. god's mighty hand has not weakened. His outstretched arm is long enough to reach my situation. Do I look for evidences of His love and provision as God works in my life? Am I expecting a miracle this year? Am I looking for one?

Do you need a miracle, dear one? I know  who to contact for one-Jesus Christ. He came to earth in a miraculous way (conceived by the Holy Spirit and a virgin girl). Jesus performed many miracles while walking on earth. He lived a sinless life, died on the cross to purchase our salvation. Then, He miraculously rose from the dead, and intercedes for us to the Father. Isn't that a miracle!

LET IT GO

Let go of doubts, fears, troubles, and trust Jesus with them.

Believe a miracle is headed my way.

Watch in anticipation.

Thank God for the milk and honey He provides.

Thankful for My Life

O. T. #422  "Thankful for My Life"
December 18, 2014
Deuteronomy 26
And it shall be, when thou art come in unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, and possesses it, and dwellest therein:  (Deuteronomy 26:1)

LET IT GLOW

It's time for me to share what all my Lord God has done for me in the last month. I started having pain in my lower belly, which was sporadic, but intense. I was not able to get into see my family doctor, but saw two different nurse practitioners.They gave me medications, which did not eliminate the pain. Finally, my doctor prescribes Predisone, a steroid. When it helped, but not completely, he gave me double the dosage. I was only able to sleep 3 hours a night and it kept my heart pounding fast constantly, my blood pressure was up, my brain was wired. How was I to rest with all that going on? I didn't for two weeks. All that time, I assumed the problem was a flare up of my Crohn's disease. He got a colonoscopy scheduled right away with my gastroenterologist. That test turned out clear, no inflammation. Well, I still was having pain.

I went home after the test, drank juices and water, and rested. Finally, I insisted that my husband take me to the hospital for an IV, for I knew I was dehydrated and could not replenish my fluids on my own. He did so, and as they pumped those needed fluids into me, they discovered my potassium and sodium were almost depleted. This was due my clean out for the test and I threw up also. I didn't realize how seriously ill I had become until the doctor explained that sodium is needed to keep my heart beating.

So they talked my doctor and he told them to send me over to his hospital, so he could treat me there.  That's what they did, so I had my first ambulance ride. (The EMT was a neighbor of ours, which we didn't know before this time.) I spent the night in the hospital, gaining strength back.
When my doctor came to visit that next morning, I asked him to check me for a hernia and he confirmed that was what was causing my pain. I am so excited and looking forward to having hernia surgery soon. I am grateful that I did not need to have part of my colon cut out. (As of right now, I am waiting for the surgeon's conference and schedule. I would so much like to have it before December ends, since we have met the deductible of our insurance.)

I thank my God for sustaining me through this trying time. He is in control and I yield to His timing. Not only do I celebrate my 13 years of my extended life (almost died after surgery), but I am celebrating my third breath of life, God's sustaining me.
Thank you, friends, for your prayers and patience during this time.
Shall we see what this chapter holds?

We are finishing up the stipulations for life in the New Land of the Israelites. They were included in chapters 12-16. We read of the instructions concerning:

• the life of worship (12:1-16:17)
• leadership (16:18-18:22)
• societal order (19:1-23:14)
• miscellaneous laws (23:15-25:19)
• the firstfruits and tithes in the land (26:1-15)
• affirmation of obedience (26:16-19). (MacArthur)

Moses commanded the people to keep two rituals when they had conquered the Promised Land and began enjoying its produce. these two rituals were the initial firstfruits offering and the first third year special tithe. These special offering were given in order to celebrate Israel's transition from a nomadic existence to a settled agrarian community, made possible by the Lord's blessing. (MacArthur)


Moses commands the people to bring the first fruits of the ground and present them in the Lord at the place of worship as a symbol that they had finally conquered the land. The first fruits were offered yearly on the day after Passover (Lev. 23:10-11).  (Falwell)

The Festival of Firstfruits was a reminder to the people of all God had provided for them. When they arrived in the Promised Land, the people were to recite a confession of faith that would retell the story of their small beginnings in Egypt, their growth into a might nation, and their journey to claim and conquer the land given them by God. (Life Application Study Bible)

Are we praising God for His blessings and gifts that He has bestowed upon us-salvation, family, friends, provisions?
It is a time of praise and rejoicing because of God's goodness and mercy extended to former generations and evidence of divine sustaining grace at that time.

LET IT GROW

The tithe was collected every third year of Israel's existence in the land of Canaan. Apparently, this tithe was not taken to the central sanctuary, but distributed locally to Levites, immigrants,widows, and orphans. (MacArthur)

Israel existed because of God's grace and indebted to Him for the gift of their land.
What about you? How has the Lord blessed you this year? Will you take time to share with us?

LET IT GO

Be thankful for all the gifts God has given.

Share the gift of salvation with others.

Be faithful in my tithing.

Stripes

O. T. #420  "Stripes"
December 16, 2014
Deuteronomy 25-Part 2
Forty stripes he may give him, and not exceed lest, if he should exceed, and beat him above these with many stripes, then thy brother should seem vile unto thee.  (Deut. 25:3)

LET IT GLOW

Liberty Bible Commentary explains the first four verses in this chapter:

Moses recognizes the authority of corporal punishment. The judges of the different towns could pronounce a man "guilty" (Ex. 22:8). For those not counted worthy of death, the punishment was beating. The phrase wicked man be worthy means "son of stripes" and identifies a man liable to be punished. He was to be beaten forty times with the whip; the number forty symbolizing judgment. However, the Law indicated that the guilty could not receive more than forty stripes; so the Jews gave a man forty lashes less one. Paul was beaten by the Jews five times after this manner (2 Cor.11:24).

They accused Jesus of being blasphemous when He said that He was the Son of God. He was whipped with 39 lashes, since it was a crime not punishable by death. Then at His trial, the crowd freed the criminal Barabbas, sending Jesus to the cross in his place.
Luke 22:63-64 tells us they smote Jesus (means strike) and struck Him on the face.

And I get upset whenever someone lashes me with their tongue, only a few times. That is no comparison with what Jesus went through.

LET IT GROW

What does it take to cause us to turn from following
Paul went through so much as he took a stand for being a follower of Jesus Christ. Yet he fought the good fight and kept the faith to the end-his death. There was laid up for him treasures in heaven.
And so it is with us, dear one. Keep the faith. Stand strong on God's Word. Trust in Him, not our own understanding, acknowledge Him and He will direct our paths. (Prov. 3:5-6)

LET IT GO

Turn the other cheek.

Suffer for Jesus by well doing.