MARCH 19 READINGS… Deuteronomy 26:1-29:1.
Today’s readings are very serious and at times quite disturbing…intentionally so. We began our readings with Moses reminding the people to always bring the first fruits to the Lord. First fruits mean the first of the harvest, and the best of the harvest. This was required as an acknowledgment that all that they had was because of the blessings of the Lord. The people needed to be continually reminded of this truth. Leftovers was not acceptable…just anything one had left lying around was not acceptable…what was not usable to the person was not acceptable to God. God required the first and the best…for God always gives the first and the best. We too are called to give our first and best to the Lord. It is neither a biblical offering or a sacrifice when we give God only what we have leftover. We give not because God needs anything from us…but in giving we acknowledge that God has provided everything to us. We exist…we produce…we prosper…we have what we have…by the grace of God. A giving heart is the acknowledgement of the grace of God, who pours blessings into our lives.
Moses shares again the covenant that the Lord has made with Israel…it is a conditional covenant. Which means their are “ifs” involved. Depending upon what the people do…they will either receive blessings from the Lord, or curses from the Lord…and as you have read some of these curses are horrific. I believe our country (founded on biblical principles) is now under the curse of the Lord…and it is just beginning, we have not seen anything yet. I picked a couple verses from our reading for us to consider as to what is ahead for our nation that has rejected God, and now celebrates and participates in every abominable and detestable thing imaginable. HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD…”If you do not serve the LORD your God with joy and enthusiasm for the abundant benefits you have received, you will serve your enemies whom the LORD will send against you…They will attack your cities until all the fortified walls in your land—the walls you trusted to protect you—are knocked down…The siege and terrible distress of the enemy’s attack will be so severe that you will eat the flesh of your own sons and daughters…” Don’t be deceived by the progressive religious deadheads of our time…God is not mocked…every decision has consequences…we need to choose today either blessings or cursing…our decision will determine which. I close with this reminder, oh people of God hear the Word of the Lord…”If My people, who are called by My Name will humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land”-2 Chronicles 7:14. Oh how we need the Lord to heal our land…it’s far past time for us to return to Him!
Please share any thoughts you have from today’s reading, or from my devotional. May the Lord touch all our hearts, bring us to a place of repentance…and may we return to being one nation under God…and if not a nation, may we be one church under God!
TOMORROW’S READINGS…Deuteronomy 29:2-31:29
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