April 7- Not A Love Song, But A Rock Song

April 7, 2011

Scripture Readings:
Deuteronomy 31;1-32:27; Luke 12:8-34;
Psalm 78:32-55; Proverbs 12:21-23

I'm not gonna write you a love song

'Cause you ask for it

'Cause you need one, you see

I'm not gonna write you a love song

'Cause you tell me it's make or breaking this

If you're on you way

I'm not gonna write you to stay

All you have is leaving

I'm gon' need a better reason

To write you a love song, today, today

~Sara Bareilles

Deuteronomy 31:1-32:27

There is nothing like a beautiful love song to put your heart in the right place.  Do you have certain songs that, when you hear them, take you to a past time and place?  Songs can evoke strong memories and strong emotions. Songs speak to us on many levels. They reach our intellectual minds.  They touch our emotions.  Vibrations from music even affect our physiology.  Today, God commands Moses to write down a song for the Israelites to adopt as a national anthem.  The thing is this song is no love song.

As we begin our reading today Moses is 120 years old.  That is three segments of forty years each.  Do you think that is a coincidence after reading the Bible and studying God's symbolic use of numbers?  Moses has completed God's purpose for him on earth.  We see that Moses is not going to be the person to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land.  Some of Moses' final acts are to take God's Laws that he has transcribed once more, and place them in the possession of  the priests beside the Ark of the Covenant.  Moses then witnesses God's commissioning of Joshua as the next leader of Israel.  God tells Moses that after he dies, the Israelites will rebel against God. 

Finally, God tells Moses to write down a song that He has composed.  This ain't no love song, people.  This is a song designed to be a witness against Israel.  Here is what God says about the song in Deut. 31:19-20,

"Now write down the words of this song, and teach it to the people of Israel.  Teach them to sing it, so it may serve as a witness against them. For I will bring them into the land I swore to give their ancestors- a land flowing with milk and honey.  There they will become prosperous; they will eat all the food they want and become well nourished. Then they will begin to worship other gods; they will despise me and break my covenant."

So now we know the motivation behind God writing this song.  As we study the song in chapter 32 of Deuteronomy, we see that this is a Rock song, rather than a love song.  God is called a "Rock" throughout this anthem. It is the story of God's mighty work, Israel's birth, God's blessing on His people, their rebellion after abundance, and God's judgment on their unfaithful disbelief and rebellion.  Remember that Israel is a picture of all of mankind. Wow. God does not sugar-coat the truth.  He lays out the story.  Can I get an "Amen" from the crowd? 

Why do you think God chose to write this song?  I think the theme of this song is that God is good and we are not.  If the case is that you and I are sinners, just like the Israelites are sinners, then we are compelled to go to God for salvation to prevent His judgment upon us.  That is the point, my friends, of this whole book.  God wrote a nice rock song so that we could remember this truth.  Can you sing this song in truth today?  Are you willing to sing a song that witnesses to your sin and His justified judgment of that sin?

Luke 12:8-34

Jesus is on a roll.  He is on a wisdom roll.  We get some deep, deep good teaching from the greatest teacher that ever lived.  His message begins by Jesus telling the disciples that they MUST NOT be ashamed of Jesus' teachings and God's truths while they are ministering on earth.  Their attitudes will be judged in heaven.  There is a sin that dooms a person to hell.  In verse 10, Jesus clarifies that if you speak against God's Holy Spirit, you can not be forgiven for that.  Remember, God's Spirit is the Word of Truth.  The Holy Spirit testifies that Jesus is the Savior.  Therefore, if you don't believe God's Holy Spirit, you will not believe Jesus is the Messiah.  If you don't receive salvation through Jesus the Messiah, you will be damned to hell because your sins will not be covered and sin cannot be in God's Holy presence.

The next great teaching today is that your use of money and your possessions tell the real story of your heart.  If you are hanging on to material possessions and they are your God, meaning they provide you with comfort, security, and belief in your own ability to sustain yourself, you have made a spiritual mistake.  Jesus says that we cannot get true peace and happiness from material possessions because they do not last.  Jesus confirms that God is who really provides everyone with true happiness in heaven (vs. 32).  That is what we should be working for, a happiness that will last forever, not treasures that rust, break, and decay.

Do you live as if the things you own here on earth define your happiness?  Do they define your happiness?  How can you turn your focus to eternal things?  Storing up treasure in an eternal place is smarter.

Psalm 78:32-55

This is a recounting of Israel's sins against God.  Lest we judge, please know that we are all guilty of disloyalty to God in some way.

Proverbs 12:21-23

"The Lord hates those who don't keep their word, but he delights in those who do."

What did you see today?

Blessings,

Jubilee Gal
Kathy Fullerton
© 2011

April 6- Happy Days Are Here Again!

April 6, 2011

Scripture Readings:
Deuteronomy 29:1-30:20; Luke 11:37-12:7;
Psalm 78:1-31; Proverbs 12:19-20

Happy days are here again

The sky above is clear again

So let's sing a song of cheer again

Happy days are here again.

Deuteronomy 29:1-30:20

The song Happy Days Are Here Again was written in 1929 by Milton Ager.  It became a popular song reflecting the national approval of the repeal of Prohibition in the United States.  Eventually, Franklin D. Roosevelt adopted it as his campaign theme song in the 1930's.  It has now become the unofficial song of the Democratic Party.  The lyrics reflect optimism and joy.  It would be an appropriate theme song for the message that Moses gives to the nation of Israel in today's reading.

Moses gives God's unconditional covenant about the Promised Land in this section of Scripture.  Chapter 29:12-15 states,

"You are standing here today to enter into a covenant with the Lord your God. The Lord is making this covenant with you today, and he has sealed it with an oath. He wants to confirm you today as his people and to confirm he is your God, just as he promised you, and swore to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  But you are not the only ones with whom the Lord you God is making this covenant with its obligations. The Lord your God is making this covenant with you who stand in his presence today and also with all future generations of Israel." (NLT)

As we will see, this covenant includes returning the Israelites to the land, but more importantly, returning the Israelites to God, permanently.  This is an unconditional promise of future blessing.

There are seven great promises as part of this covenant:

• The nation of Israel will be dispersed throughout the world and taken out of the land- vs. 1
• There will be a future repentance by the nation of Israel. -vs. 2
• Their Messiah will return. -vs. 3
• Israel will return to the land. -vs. 4-5
• God will circumcise their hearts and there will be a national conversion to Christ. -vs.6
• Israel's enemies will be judged. vs. 7-8
• Israel will receive her full blessing and live in obedience and fellowship with God. vs. 9-10

This covenant will be confirmed to Israel in their own hearts and minds in the future.  The covenant will be fulfilled as promised and God's story will be complete.  God draws His own to Himself and seals their salvation.  The chapter ends with God's people being in a relationship with Him that reflects love and obedience.  This has been the theme of the book of Deuteronomy.

Have you heard God's call in your life?  Has He drawn you to Himself?  Do you enjoy a relationship of love and obedience with God?

Luke 11:37-12:7

Jesus sits down for a nice meal with the Pharisees, but things get ugly quickly. The Pharisees get miffed because Jesus doesn't do the ceremonial washings prior to the meal.  Remember, these washing were not in the Mosaic Law.  They were customs that had been developed by the religious leaders.  Once the Pharisees started acting like this, Jesus lets them have it.  All I can say is, watch out, when Jesus gets mad.

He starts cursing the Pharisees for lacking justice and not loving God.  He curses them for loving the places of importance, but being dead on the inside.  Jesus curses the religious leaders for killing Israel's prophets. He calls them murderers.  Jesus curses the leaders for hiding the keys of knowledge of God from the people and preventing the people from entering the Kingdom of heaven. Let's just say that the dinner ends badly and the leaders are furious.

Another crowd gathers and Jesus takes the opportunity to warn the crowd about the yeast (sin) of the Pharisees.  Jesus hates religious hypocrisy.  He warns the people that things said in the dark will be revealed in the light.  Jesus reminds them not to fear man, only fear God. This is because only God has the ability to permanently destroy a person's soul in hell.

Do you know that Jesus sees the injustices we all endure?  He knows who is fake and who is real.  Do you find comfort in that?

Psalm 78:1-31

Here is a recounting of God's mighty deeds.  Because of our Bible study, we are familiar with these stories.

Proverbs 12:19-20

"Truth stands the test of time."  This is what Jesus was saying today.

What did you notice today?

Blessings,

Jubilee Gal

Kathy Fullerton
© 2011



April 5- Predicting the Future

April 5, 2011

Scripture Readings:
Deuteronomy 28:1-68; Luke 11:14-36;
Psalm 77:1-20; Proverbs 12:18

Deuteronomy 28:1-68

In Greek mythology the Fates were three sister goddesses, robed in white, who had the power to decide a person's destiny.  They could assign a person good or evil in their lives and also determine how long a person lived.  Clotho, the spinner, would spin the threads of life. Lachesis, the measurer, chose a person's lot in life and measured how long that person's life would be.  Atropos, she who cannot be turned, is the one who at death would cut the threads of a person's life.  The Greeks held that these women controlled the future of each person on earth.

Today Moses uses the power of the real God in Heaven to accurately predict the future of the nation of Israel. Israel's fate rested on two covenants.  One was conditional, the other was unconditional.  Occupation of the land of Israel was conditioned on their obedience to God.  Possession of the land was an unconditional covenant made by God with Abraham. Moses terms these predictions of the future on the "ifs" of Israel's behavior.  Obedience to God's laws would result in six blessings.  Disobedience to God's laws would result in twelve curses.  Where are the other six blessings you may ask?  They are given by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount.

As you might guess, the nation of Israel was unable to keep the Law.  They turned from God and worshiped idols.  The curses listed today reflect three dispossessions of the Israelites out of the Promised Land because of their disobedience.  It also reflects three regatherings of the Israelites back into the land because of God's grace.  Here is a summary of the prewritten history of the nation of Israel as told by Moses:

• The first dispossession was predicted to Abraham when he was told in Genesis 15:13 & 16 that his descendants would go down to Egypt and be enslaved for 430 years.  They would be regathered and enter the Promised Land.  Moses is actually talking to the people who will be part of that first regathering.
• The second dispossession prophecy is found in Deut. 28:32-37.  This describes Zedekiah, a future Israelite king, having his eyes put out and his sons killed before him, prior to Israel's captivity in Babylon.  The books of Ezra and Nehemiah detail the regathering of Israel to the Promised Land for the second time.
• The third dispossession of the land occurred when the Israelites were conquered by Rome.  This is predicted in Deut. 28:48-53.  Rome was known as an iron kingdom. The Romans carried a standard into battle that had the image of an eagle upon it.  When Jerusalem was sacked by Rome in 70 A.D. jewish mothers were actually forced to give up their babies and some people ate the flesh of the babies for food because of the great starvation that was occurring.  The Jews have been scattered across the world ever since.  This prophecy has been literally fulfilled.  The third regathering of the Jews is not complete.  The nation of Israel is still spread throughout the earth.  As you read Deut. 28:65-67, the persecution that the Jews have endured throughout history can be seen.

What is the lesson to us?  God moves in history. The prophecies in the Bible are true. God's purposes are great.  His Story will be told and nothing can stop His will. The Jewish people have not had an easy role in this story, but yet, they have a glorious role. The provided the Scriptures which explain the glory of the Creator and they brought the world the Messiah. The story is not over.  Those of us who know the Lord should share the good news of the gospel with the dispossessed people of God.  Our goal should be to help people find the Promised Land of faith in Jesus Christ and enter it.

Luke 11:14-36

Today we reread the story of people accusing Jesus of doing his miracles by the power of Satan.  Jesus refutes this theory by saying that a house divided cannot stand.  If Satan is casting out demons, then Satan's work is being destroyed by Satan himself.  That doesn't make any sense.  While Jesus is discussing this, a lady screams out that his mother is blessed.  Jesus, perhaps aware that people are always looking for someone to elevate spiritually even to the point of goddess worship, responds that people are blessed who hear his teachings and obey them.

Jesus indicated that his resurrection (the sign of Jonah) will be a judgment against the Jews desire to see miracles, rather than believe his message on faith. He further points out that two Gentiles (the Queen of Sheba and the people of Nineveh) believed in the coming Messiah. This is an affront to the Jews, who despise the Gentiles and consider them all pagan. Jesus indicates that if you believe his words, your whole life will radiate as if you have a floodlight shining on you. This means that your integrity allows your life to be examined and found righteous.

Would people describe you as someone who shines or someone who can withstand close examination?  Do you know that God's truth in your life, if followed in obedience, will make you shine among people?

Psalm 77:1-20

This psalm is a cry for help.  Have you spent sleepless night crying to God? 

Proverbs 12:18

"Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing."  So true.

What did you see today?

Blessings,

Jubilee Gal
Kathy Fullerton
© 2011

April 4- Developing Character

April 4, 2011

Scripture Readings:
Deuteronomy 26:1-27:26; Luke 10:38-11:13
Psalm 76:1-12; Proverbs 12:15-17

Deuteronomy 26:1-27:26

As a young mother I often contemplated how to build good character in my children.  I read books and prayed to God for guidance.  After seeking good counsel from many sources, I hit upon the idea of developing good character through teaching godly habits through daily routines.  As the children grew, I implemented daily bible readings at breakfast, set chores around the house, established daily book/reading time on the couch, mandatory playtime in the yard, and quiet time alone in their rooms. I also established habits of behavior like being quick to apologize, saying "I forgive you," if someone apologized to you, obeying without scowling, doing work quietly...  I found that predictability led to stability in character.  May I say that developing these types of habits takes hard work.

Today Moses helps to establish the character of the nation of Israel through enacting rituals designed to help Israel remember the God who is giving them the Promised Land as an eternal inheritance.  Moses encourages the children of Israel to recognize, remember, respond, and reflect.

Recognize

In recognition for all of the blessings they had received from God, the Israelites were to bring the first produce of every harvest in a basket to the designated place where God was to be honored.  The Israelite was to say to the priest, "With this gift I acknowledge that the Lord your God has brought me into the land he swore to give our ancestors."  Recognizing that God has given you everything you possess is an important part of developing good character.

Remember

I absolutely love this next part!  The Israelite was to state that he or she remembers that Jacob was a wandering Aramean.  What does this signify?  This is a statement about position before God.  It is a remembering that although God has chosen the Israelites to bless uniquely on the earth, they were merely Syrian people with a sin nature like everyone else on earth.  Their blessings were not a result of their behavior or righteous natures.  Their blessings were a gift from a Holy God. 

As a continuation of this remembrance, they were to recount God's mighty hand in delivering the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and establishing them in the Promised Land.  The Israelite was to make a memorized statement about these events.  Remembering who you are before a Holy God and remembering what God has done in your life develops good character.

Respond

Next, the Israelites were to respond to God's gracious blessings by offering a special tithe every third year.  This tithe was designed to help foreigners, orphans, and widows.  Our response to God's blessings should always be to share a portion of our blessings with those in need.  This develops good character.

Reflect

Mt. Gerizim and Mt. Ebal

Finally, Moses established that when they had entered the land and conquered the inhabitants, the Israelites were to set up large uncut stones that have been plastered and inscribed with God's Laws.  These stones would be a sign post to the nation and all surrounding people groups of the nature and holiness of The One True God.

As an additional form of reflection, the tribes were to divide up between two mountain tops.  One group was to stand on Mt. Gerizim and the other was to stand on Mt. Ebal.  The Levites would shout out a list of curses upon anyone who broke the Ten Commandments.  The people were to respond with "Amen."  This responsive reading served to remind the nation that their occupancy in the land was conditional upon obedience to the Law.  Although the land was an eternal possession, occupancy was conditional.

Reflecting on God's laws and acknowledging His holiness and judgment develops good character.

How do you recognize who you are before a Holy God?  Do you  periodically remember the works of God's mighty hand in your life?  How have you responded to His grace by showing grace to others?  Name ways to concretely reflect on God's goodness and might.

Luke 10:38-11:13

Jesus gives us methods of developing good character in today's reading.  In the home of Mary and Martha Jesus teaches Martha to stop worrying about all the details and finding fault with her sister.  We learn that it is better to be like Mary, who is sitting at the Lord's feet and listening to His teaching.  Do you run around worrying about this, that and the other, rather than contemplating what Christ would say and do in situation?  Do you contemplate eternal things or only temporal things each day?

The disciples ask Jesus to teach them about prayer.  They see that John the Baptist taught his disciples to pray.  They want some insights, too.  They have probably noticed that Jesus goes off to be by himself to pray, a lot.  My guess is they want some of what he's drinking!  Jesus gives them the keys to a good prayer life:

• Honor God (recognize)
• Ask for His Kingdom to come on earth (remember)
• Ask for your daily provisions to be provided by Him (request)
• Forgive my sins, as I forgive others (respond)
• Don't let me yield to the temptation of sin (reflect)

It appears that a good prayer life will develop good character in you and me!  Jesus encourages his disciples to be persistent in their prayers.  God wants you to bug Him about things!!  God is looking to give out good gifts to those who love Him.

Do you pray regularly?

Psalm 76:1-12

This psalm is a statement of God's majesty.  What a good way to recognize His ways.

Proverbs 12:15-17

Here are some opposites: A Fool:  thinks he/she need no advice, is quick tempered, and tells lies.
A Wise person: listens to others, stays calm when insulted, and tells the truth.

What did you see today?

Blessings,

Jubilee Gal
Kathy Fullerton
© 2011

April 3- What if...

April 3, 2011

Scripture Readings:
Deuteronomy 23:1-25:19; Luke 10:13-37
Psalm 75:1-10; Proverbs 12:12-14

Love God.  Help People.

Deuteronomy 23:1-25:14

Remember when we were in school and the day was particularly boring, but everything got interrupted by a fire drill?  It was particularly good if the weather was pretty.  We would stand out in the sunshine on the playground waiting for the principal to announce that we could all go back to class.  If it was a tornado drill, we knelt down in the hallways with our arms over our heads. Fire drills and tornado drills were designed to tell us how to protect ourselves in the case of an emergency.  What if...

Today, Moses gives a list of "what ifs" to the Israelites.  Many of the ones today are really physical pictures of a spiritual reality.  This should not surprise you if you have been following along this year.  By the way, congratulations on making it to April!! April is the month of tornadoes where I live.  Hope we don't have any!  Keep on reading. You can do this! 

Okay.  Back to regular programming.  You may have noticed that our reading started off with what to do if a man's testicles had been crushed and his penis had been cut off.  Ouch and oh, no! Moses' answer was that he was not to be allowed in the assembly.  When I told my husband about this, he replied, "That's probably okay with him."  LOL.  But, what is the point?  The next few topics deal with who and who cannot be invited into God's holy assembly.  The spiritual picture is that the Kingdom of God in heaven is God's holy assembly.  Only people who have been made whole and perfect through faith in Christ will enter heaven.  This is the physical picture of a spiritual reality. Here are some other rules and their spiritual applications:

• A child born out of wedlock (illegitimate child) and their descendants for ten generations could not enter the assembly.  This is a picture of needing to be born again into God's family in order to enter heaven.  No illegitimate spiritual children will be in the assembly of saints in heaven.
• No Ammonite or Moabite can enter.   This is a picture of no false believer will enter heaven.
• No man or woman was to be a temple prostitute.  This was an admonition against homosexuality and sex outside of marriage.  The picture is that our relationship to God is like a marriage.  Anyone who has worshiped false gods and thus been immoral in their relationship with the true God will not enter the assembly.
• The laws about cleanliness, fairness, and slavery show that those in God's assembly will have their sins washed white as snow by Christ's blood.  They will no longer be slaves to sin.
• Divorce represents being separated from the intimate relationship that God intends to have with those He loves.  Although allowed on earth because of the hardness of our hearts, this is not God's first intent.  The picture of His faithful love for us is broken in a divorce. Please note:  God's grace covers believers who have been the unfortunate victims of divorce.

Although these rules were a picture, the Israelites were to live under these laws.  No law actually hurt an innocent person.  They were designed to protect the community, keep it healthy, and keep it viable so that they could fulfill their mission of bringing the Messiah into the world.

Do you gladly follow godly principles in your life?  Do you realize that your life is a living picture?

Luke 10:13-37

Jesus opens today by warning the cities who are rejecting Him that they will be judged.  Remember how we discussed that cities are held accountable for their beliefs?  Here is another proof of that.  Jesus also tells the disciples that they are very fortunate to be part of seeing the Messiah on earth in the flesh.  He tells them that many ancient prophets and kings longed to see this day.  Jesus is confirming that faith in the coming Messiah gave salvation in the Old Testament, faith in the living Messiah gave salvation to the people of Jesus' day, and faith in the resurrected Messiah is salvation for us today.

Jesus then gives a "what if" story.  This is in response to a question about who is one's neighbor.  The story of the good Samaritan shows that belief in God results in certain behaviors  -What if a stranger needs your help? What if that stranger is from a despised community?  If you love God, you help the person in need. That person is your neighbor. Theme:  Love God. Help People.

Do you try to find people to help?  Do you realize you are honoring God when you help others? This may be as simple as being a faithful parent to your children.

Psalm 75:1-10

This psalm declared that God alone judges the wicked.  How true this is.

Proverbs 12:12-14

This is a comparison of the godly and the wicked.  Their behaviors and attitudes will be very different.  God watches and judges.

What did you see today?

Blessings,

Jubilee Gal
Kathy Fullerton
© 2011

April 2- Taking Responsibility

April 2, 2011

Scripture Readings:
Deuteronomy 21:1-22:30; Luke 9:51-10:12
Psalm 74:1-23; Proverbs 12:11

A weakened sense of responsibility does not weaken the fact of responsibility.
 ~William J. Bennett

Deuteronomy 21:1-22:30

Addiction is a huge problem in this country and throughout the world.  There are always celebrities taking time off of their busy schedules to check into rehab.  Hardly a family in America doesn't have someone somewhere in their family tree without addiction issues.  It is part of the human condition on this fallen planet.  Programs designed to deal with addiction like Alcoholics Anonymous teach their participants the importance of taking responsibility for their own actions.  This is one of the keys to living a healthy life.

Today Moses finishes the section of his writings concerning national regulations for the nation of Israel.  We will be reviewing those things for which Israel was to take responsibility.  Here are some of what is covered:

• If a person is murdered, the nearest city is responsible for the crime.  The elders and the priests of that city were to seek God's forgiveness. -Vs. 1-9
• Responsibilities towards wives gotten through warfare and inheritances in cases where a man had  two wives. Vs. 10-17
• Rules for dealing with a rebellious son. A rebellious son, who was shown to be a glutton and a drunkard, in addition to not listening to his parents was to be stoned by the men of the city.  This is a prodigal son. Please note: Jesus deals with the prodigal son by teaching grace being extended to them by their father.  This would have been a revolutionary concept to the Jews. Vs. 18-21
• Rules for death by hanging of a criminal. - This would apply to a criminal who had already been stoned to death and then hung on a tree as a means of further humiliation.  This is reserved for only the worst criminals. -Vs. 22-23
• Responsibility to return lost items to neighbors. -Vs. 22:1-4
• Responsibility to not cross dress. -Vs. 5
• Responsibility to care for a bird that has fallen out of its nest. Vs. 6
• Responsibility to put a guard rail around your flat top roof (building codes) . -Vs. 7
• Responsibility to not mix crop seed, animals for plowing, materials for weaving cloth. -Vs. 9-10
• Responsibility to be a responsible husband. Vs. 13-15
• Responsibility for a woman to be sexually faithful in marriage.  Vs. 20-21

While some of these responsibilities may seem odd to our modern sensibilities, much of what God is proposing is basic moral behavior that prevents chaos.  Not mixing crop seeds, fabrics, and plowing animals are just common sense.  If you wash a fabric that has both linen and wool in it, it will shrink at differing rates, which will make the garment unwearable.  Having a plow pulled by an ass and an ox at the same time will cause uneven plowing and more difficulty.  The wisdom of these laws is self-evident. After the Nephilim incident in this story, we see that God is intent on not mixing "kinds."

Do you take responsibility for your actions?  Do you see that God ordains and holds responsible our cities, states, and national governments as institutions designed to protect the citizenry? 

At the early founding of America our lawmakers were very familiar with the Bible.  The Scriptures of the Holy Bible were part of the national curriculum in this country well past the Civil War era.  As we study, we see the benefit of knowing the Mosaic Laws, many of which were the basis for our own legal system in the United States.

Luke 9:51-10:12

Today Jesus taking responsibility for the job that God the Father has given him.  As our reading begins, Jesus' time to return to heaven is drawing near.  He resolutely sets out for Jerusalem.  This is with full knowledge that he will suffer and die in the end.  Jesus sends word to a Samaritan village that he is on the way to their town.  The people refuse to deal with him.  James and John propose bringing a fiery judgment from heaven down on this town. Gee, do ya think that the healing powers that the Lord gave to these men to do good works has gone to their heads?  Or perhaps they are still thinking about the glorified Christ they saw at the Transfiguration. Surely, God's Son can smite these unbelievers. Oh, the ever-present problem of sin!  Jesus rebukes them. He is here to forgive sin at this time.

Jesus deals with the responsibility that his followers will have.  They are to accept their mission without turning back.  They are to follow him at all cost. Jesus picks 72 more disciples to spread the good news of his arrival as Messiah.  These people, including both men and women, are to rely on the hospitality of the towns they enter. Please note that Jesus is revolutionary in picking women to help in the ministry of spreading the Good News of the gospel of Christ. They are given authority and position. As they go forth, the disciples are to bless a town if the town reflects faith in God.  If the town rejects the message of Jesus Christ, it is to be cursed.  The towns are held responsible for the faith of their citizenry.  This follows the pattern that we just read about in Deuteronomy today.

Do these passages give you concern for God holding our nation responsible for its beliefs?  It should.  God judges individuals, regions, people groups and nations.  This is a Biblical principle.

Psalm 74:1-23

This is a psalm about destruction and creation.  The psalmist cries out for God to remember His covenant and His promises.  You and I should ask God to remember these each day.

Proverbs 12:11

Hard work is important.  Only fools are lazy.

What did you notice today?

Blessings,

Jubilee Gal
Kathy Fullerton
© 2011

April 1- So You Want To Know The Future, Huh?

April 1, 2011

Scripture Readings:
Deuteronomy 18:1-20:20; Luke 9:28-50
Psalm 73:1-28; Proverbs 12:10

The best thing about the future is that it comes only one day at a time.

~Abraham Lincoln

Deuteronomy 18:1-20:20

It has never been easier to know the future.  A few minutes of internet research can produce the contact information for hundreds of phone psychics, fortune tellers, palm readers, tarot card readers, crystal interpreters, and astrology experts.  These people claim to be able to help you find out what will happen in your love life, educational endeavors, and professional pursuits.  Some tout the ability to reconnect you with loved ones who have passed on.  You can get this for as low as $.19 per minute.  What a deal! 

Today in our reading Moses lays out the objections God has against this type of false prophecy.  The Israelites were forbidden to consult mediums, psychics, and sorcerers.  They were not to participate in witchcraft, casting spells, and calling forth spirits from the dead.  God describes His emotions about this type of activity as horror and disgust. As a matter of fact, He states that He is displacing the Canaanites out of the land because of practices like this.  The fallen angels have sold humanity a bill of goods. Why does God hate this behavior so much?

The book of Deuteronomy provides an explanation.  Here is a direct quote from Deuteronomy 18:15-19,

"The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your fellow Israelites, and you must listen to that prophet. For this is what you yourselves requested of the Lord your God when you were assembled at Mt. Sinai.  You begged that you might never again have to listen to the voice of the Lord you God or see this blazing fire for fear you would die. So the Lord said to me 'Fine, I will do as they have requested.  I will raise up a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites.  I will tell that prophet what to say, and he will tell the people everything I command him.  I will personally deal with anyone who will not listen to the messages the prophet proclaims on my behalf."  (NLT)

Can you guess who this prophet?  That's right. The reason the Israelites and you and I are not to consult mediums or participate in these other forms of future telling is that God's plan has always been to provide the Final Prophet- Jesus Christ.  God spoke to Moses through the fire to give the world God's Law.  God finally spoke through His Son, Jesus Christ, to give the world the message of forgiveness, grace, and salvation.  Jesus also prophesied about the end times, heaven, and hell.  Do you remember God telling Peter at the Transformation that Jesus was His Son and Peter was to listen to him! According to this Scripture in Deuteronomy, this is all that we need to know.  God wants us to rely on Him, in faith, for all the areas of our life. To consult others is to blaspheme God.

As we keep reading in the Old Testament we will be introduced to many godly prophets.  Daniel, Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, and Jeremiah are just some of the men that God used to predict the future.  God is against foretelling of events not designated by Him.  His ways are above our ways and I am content to trust God in this area.  If you are a person who has a hard time obeying this area of God's will, you may want to spend time focusing on developing a stronger prayer life.  Prayer replaces the need to know God's will immediately.  Jesus was a good example of relying on prayer to rest in faith until God's will becomes clear. Jesus practiced this throughout his earthly ministry. One excellent example is Jesus' prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane.

God gives Moses a strict standard for determining whether or not a prophet is from the Lord.  That standard is that the prophet must be 100 % accurate. The Israelites were not to fear or listen to anyone who had predicted something that did not come to pass. There are passages in the Old Testament that recommend killing false prophets if their prophecies are designed to draw the Israelites away from God into idol worship.  (Deut. 13:5).  It is God who decides what is sin.  Sin leads to death. God set up these rules to preserve the Israelites as the people who would bring the Messiah into the world.  Idolatry and false prophesies were not to be tolerated.

Are you tempted to find out your future through horoscopes or palm readers?  Have you ever gone to a psychic or tarot card reader?  Jesus encourages people not to worry about tomorrow, because today has enough worries of its own.  This advice leads us away from false prophets.

Luke 9:28-50

Well, how about this.  Today we are reading about the Transfiguration of Christ on the mountain.  Jesus appears dazzling and white, right there in front of Peter, James, and John.  Jesus is with two of the greatest prophets who ever lived, Moses and Elijah.  It should be noted that Moses was God's prophet for the Law, Elijah was the prophet of Christ's coming, and Jesus is the Final Prophet.  As Peter attempts to worship by building some shrines, God the Father stops Peter and declares that Jesus is God's Beloved Son, His Chosen One, and Peter should LISTEN TO HIM.  When God's voice dies down, Jesus is there alone with the three apostles.  Jesus is the Final Prophet that we are all to listen to.  God restates what He said to Moses in Deuteronomy many centuries before, a final prophet has come.

Later in the story Jesus prophesies about his own betrayal.  The disciples do not know what he is talking about.

Do you trust the words of Christ?  Do you believe his prophecies about the end times, heaven, and hell.  How about his truth about salvation and obedience?  Is Jesus your Final Prophet?

Psalm 73:1-28

This psalm is about looking at the wicked wealthy and envying their ease of life.  The psalmist wonders if God is seeing their behavior.  By verse 21-28, the psalmist gains perspective.  This is worth reading and meditating on.  This is a healthy way to work through issues and attitudes.

Proverbs 12:10

"The godly are concerned with the welfare of animals, but even the kindness of the wicked is cruel."

What did you see today?

Blessings,

Jubilee Gal
Kathy Fullerton
© 2011