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Christian Devotional – April 2, 2014
Read Deuteronomy chapter 18 VERSE: Deuteronomy 18:2–They shall have no inheritance among their fellow Israelites; the Lord is their inheritance, as he promised them. TRUTH: I wonder if the Levites ever felt that they were left out? After all, they had nothing tangible to show for their inheritance in the promised land. They received no land and no territory of their own. Their inheritance was to be the Lord, Himself. Would we rejoice in knowing that we would receive nothing more or less than the intimate knowledge of the Creator of the universe? That privilege is truly the most valuable thing that we could ever be given. We have that…
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Christian Devotional – April 1, 2014
Read Deuteronomy chapter 17 VERSE: Deuteronomy 17:19–It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the Lord his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees. TRUTH: The king of the Israelite people was to be an expert in God’s law. He was to write his own copy of that law and have it with him everywhere he went. As a person who regularly enforced God’s law, he had to know it and understand it and live it out in his own life. How can we hope to keep…
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Book Review – Forever Loved by Darlene Shortridge
Synopsis from Amazon: “I do believe God can forgive him. I really do. I’m just not sure I can.” Ryan’s revelation shocks Rachel to the core. Are the foundations of a three-cord marriage strong enough to handle even the worst deception? Even when two are willing to give up? Rachel suspects Ryan’s betrayal, but when she finds out the truth, her life is torn upside down and inside out. Ryan hides his past, fearful that when it catches up to him, it will destroy him and everything he has worked to build. When the past finally meets the present, both Ryan and Rachel are lost in a world of confusion,…
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Christian Devotional – March 31, 2014
Read Deuteronomy chapter 16 VERSE: Deuteronomy 16:17–Each of you must bring a gift in proportion to the way the Lord your God has blessed you. TRUTH: When the people came together for the worship times and celebration times, they were to bring a gift to the Lord. It was to be a gift that was in proportion to how God has blessed them. Do we come to worship with a gift to the Lord? Is that gift proportional to the blessings we have received? What do we need to bring to sacrifice before the Lord today? RESPONSE: Father, As I go about worshipping You today, I will be sure to…
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Christian Devotional – March 30, 2014
Read Deuteronomy chapter 15 VERSE: Deuteronomy 15:10–Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. TRUTH: When people in need come to us for help with material or financial burdens, how do we respond? Do we seek to give generously to them whether we think they will pay us back on not? Do we only give the bare minimum to ease our conscience or would we be accused of giving generously? God desires that we give to others in this way and He even promises…
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Christian Devotional – March 29, 2014
Read Deuteronomy chapter 14 VERSE: Deuteronomy 14:22 Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year. TRUTH: The people were to bring a tithe, or ten percent, of the produce of the fields back to God. This was a way to demonstrate obedience and faith in the Lord. The people had to have faith that God would provide enough to meet their needs. Do we have faith that God will meet our needs? If so, we will give back to God with no hesitation. RESPONSE: Father, take what is Yours. You give me everything I have and I can trust in You that You…
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Christian Devotional – March 28, 2014
Read Deuteronomy chapter 13 VERSE: Deuteronomy 13:4–It is the Lord your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him. TRUTH: The last several verses and chapters have talked about the importance of obeying God and following Him, but this verse adds one more idea: hold fast to him. We are to cling to God, desperately, intently, whole-heartedly. We cannot hope to follow Him unless we are clinging to Him like a drowning man to a life-preserver. Do we hold fast to God through every circumstance that comes our way? RESPONSE: Father, life throws me ups and downs…
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Christian Devotional – March 27, 2014
Read Deuteronomy chapter 12 VERSE: Deuteronomy 12:4–You must not worship the Lord your God in this way. TRUTH: The other religious people had others ways to worship their gods. They would perform sacrifices and rituals to their gods, but they would include things that were despicable and sinful in their worship practices. God wants it understood that what we do matters as much as why we do it. If we are doing the wrong thing, no amount of saying that it is “for God” will make it right. We must do the things of God in His way as that is what brings Him glory. RESPONSE: Father, I will follow…
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Christian Devotional – March 26, 2014
Read Deuteronomy chapter 11 VERSE: Deuteronomy 11:7–But it was your own eyes that saw all these great things the Lord has done. TRUTH: Moses reminded the people, they should continue to believe that God can take care of them because they have been witnesses to the glory of God. They have no excuse; they’ve seen God move and work. In the New Testament, Jesus says that people who haven’t seen and yet believe are blessed, but what does that say about those who have seen? God has done amazing things in our lives. Will we believe what we haven’t seen yet and be blessed? Will we believe and remember what…
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Christian Devotional – March 25, 2014
Read Deuteronomy chapter 10 VERSE: Deuteronomy 10:13–and to observe the Lord’s command and decrees that I am giving to you today for your own good TRUTH: Why does God command us to obey and follow Him? It is for His glory, but it is also for our good. He knows what is best for us. He has our best in mind, because it also brings Him the most glory. We have to realize that God gives us commands for our own good. Do we follow Him, knowing that He has our best in mind? RESPONSE: Father, You know what is best for me. I will trust You and follow You…