Category: It Is Today

Deuteronomy 4:8, 37-38 NIV
⁸ And what other nation is so great as to have such righteous decrees and laws as this body of laws I am setting before you today? 

³⁹ Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other. 

“Has any God redeemed like Jesus? ‘Has any god come and lived among his people like Jesus Christ? Experienced and felt the frustration and pain of this world like Jesus? Shown love and tenderness like Jesus? Died to rescue people like Jesus? Conquered death like Jesus? Come and dwelt within people like Jesus by his Spirit? He has done these things so you might know there is No Other. So now hear him as he says, “If you love me you will obey what I command” (John 14:15). There is NO OTHER savior like him – listen to his voice and obey him.’” Matt Fuller, Teaching Deuteronomy: From Text to Message, Teach the Bible,  67-82.

“The impact is already in God’s people. We’re not validated when we make an impact. We make an impact because we are validated by God. That becomes a witness to the world” [P. Mark’s message at Ecclesia NYC]

Prayer: Lord, we praise you for the testimony of your love. There is no one like you. May we love you with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s worship to the song “The God We Love (Nicene Creed)” by City Alight (click here)

-LB

 

 

 

Deuteronomy 4:7, 37-38 NIV
⁷ What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the LORD our God is near us whenever we pray to him? 

 ³⁷ Because he loved your ancestors and chose their descendants after them, he brought you out of Egypt by his Presence and his great strength, ³⁸ to drive out before you nations greater and stronger than you and to bring you into their land to give it to you for your inheritance, as it is today.

“Because God is with us and is there for us whenever we call on him, they realize that though we may not have a lot of what the world thinks is necessary for a fulfilled life, we have peace and joy in our hearts. The happiest people in the world are not those who have no problems, but those who are not afraid of problems. We are not afraid of problems because we know that we can handle them with God’s help and that God will turn every problem into something good. Ajith Fernando, Preaching the Word: Deuteronomy-Loving Obedience to a Loving God, 115-116,121-123.

Step into the very presence of God today!

Prayer: Lord, we turn to you today, so that we can be part of your saving work in our own lives and the lives of those around us in our churches. Thank you that your name has power! In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s worship to the song “I Speak Jesus” by Charity Gayle (click here)

-LB

Let’s read aloud together the following passage:

Deuteronomy 4:6, 15-16b, 36 NIV
⁶ Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.”

¹⁵ You saw no form of any kind the day the LORD spoke to you at Horeb out of the fire. Therefore watch yourselves very carefully, ¹⁶ so that you do not become corrupt and make for yourselves an idol, an image of any shape…

 ³⁶ From heaven he made you hear his voice to discipline you. On earth he showed you his great fire, and you heard his words from out of the fire. 

When we believed in Jesus, we entered into covenantal loyalty with God. In Carol’s message on Sunday, she mentioned how the opposite of loyalty is idolatry (i.e., creating idols). When we trust in these things we’ve created, we put more authority in our lives on them than on God’s word. Because God revealed himself through his voice and not an image, we must resist every temptation to create substitutes for him.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for speaking clearly. Forgive me for the times I’ve chased after idols instead of treasuring you alone. Fill me with your Holy Spirit, so that I can obey and point others to living for God. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s worship to the song “At the Cross” by Hillsong Worship (click here)

-LB

Deuteronomy 4:5, 9 NIV
⁵ See, I have taught you decrees and laws as the LORD my God commanded me, so that you may follow them in the land you are entering to take possession of it.
 
⁹ Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them. 

Matt Fuller puts it this way, “Never take the word of God for granted. Never assume that everyone knows what he says. Unless we keep listening to his voice in the scriptures, we will make an idol of him in our minds and lives. We have never had enough Bible teaching. We must keep returning to his word. It is when we listen that we ‘will not forget’ (vv. 9, 15, 23). It’s when we fail that God’s word provides hope (vv. 25–31). This passage makes clear that if you want a real encounter with the living God, you listen to his word. You cannot separate this real encounter with him from his word.” (Matt Fuller, Teaching Deuteronomy: From Text to Message, Teach the Bible,  67-82.)

God is present by his voice. So keep listening; he is speaking to you today!

Prayer: Lord, stir in my heart a hunger for you. I know you are moving and working even when I don’t see it. Help me to hear your voice more than all the other voices around me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s worship to the song “Waymaker” by Leeland (click here)

-LB

Let’s read aloud together the following passage:

 Isaiah 40:28b, 30-31 NIV
28b The LORD is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
    and his understanding no one can fathom.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the LORD
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint

Deuteronomy 4:1-2 NLT
“And now, Israel, listen carefully to these decrees and regulations that I am about to teach you. Obey them so that you may live, so you may enter and occupy the land that the LORD, the God of your ancestors, is giving you. ² Do not add to or subtract from these commands I am giving you. Just obey the commands of the LORD your God that I am giving you. 

God’s commands are given to us so that we may live and flourish. When we obey them and put our trust in the Lord, we will have life.

Prayer: Lord, you are the everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the Earth! Thank you for your love and kindness that forms and shapes our heart, renews our mind, and teaches how to live so that we can be your Church. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s worship to the song “Known By You” by Gateway Worship (click here).

-LB