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Sandwiched Obedience
Rod ShimabukuroThe LORD your God will make you abundantly prosperous in all the work of your hand, in the fruit of your womb and in the fruit of your cattle and in the fruit of your ground. For the LORD will again take delight in prospering you, as he took delight in your fathers, Deuteronomy 30:9
Sandwiched between the great promise of verse 9, that so many ill-taught Christians “claim” to believe and receive, are truths that transform. The messenger of God’s commandments was Moses. The Lord spoke to and through Moses, the Israelites spiritual leader and father, to deliver specific, serious and stern commands. I don’t think the children of Israel looked at the commands of God, like our western Christian culture does... as “promises.” There are promises of God... but I believe that the tone of the Old Covenant from God’s heart was “Commanding.”
Verse 8: And you shall again obey the voice of the LORD and keep all his commandments that I command you today.
Verse 10: when you obey the voice of the LORD your God, to keep his commandments and his statutes that are written in this Book of the Law, when you turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
Further context in Deuteronomy 29:9 reveals...“Therefore keep the words of this covenant and do them, that you may prosper in all that you do.”
To live differently means...
1. Be a growing, good steward and student of God’s Word.
2. Grow as a Bible teacher, helping disciples to learn how to read and apply the Word of God in their lives.
3. Teach people the How To’s“ of expository (not topical, me centered) Bible reading, meditation.
For my personal heart and life...
1. Contiue asking the Lord for help and grace to obey His commands.
2. Be careful not to look for Promises of God.
3. Be more eager to readily understand and obey His commands.
4. Bottom line...Obey Rod! It won’t always be the promises I live for. It will be about me being obedient to what He commands me to live by.
O GOD!!!!!! Spirit of God - You are mighty and mighty gracious to lead me, teach me, guide me into Truth! Thank you for working graciously and sovereignly in my heart. For revealing truths for me to obey - for speaking loudly into my heart to obey Your commands! God... i really Love You!!!
