Deuteronomy 4-6

The Israelites are getting ready to cross the Jordan to the Promise Land in Deuteronomy 4-6.  God has been "getting them ready" for this moment for a long time.  It's finally here.  And Moses, being the good leader that he is, gathers the entire community and reminds them of all the powerful and amazing things that God has done for them.  We hear the whole story, again, start to finish.  Moses takes special care to repeat the Ten Commandments from Exodus 20.  His overall message is clear.  Following God's way leads to blessings in our lives.

This part of Deuteronomy contains some of my favorite passages from the Old Testament.  I am reminded that God is good and amazing.  He is faithful.  He is powerful.  He is in control.  He has a plan for me, and He is with me.  When I speak to Him, He hears me.  When He speaks to me, I need to listen.  God wants to bless me and my children and their children.

Look at the story God tells through the Israelites.  

God is telling a story through you and me too.

35 You were shown these things so that you might know that the Lord is God; besides him there is no other. 

Deuteronomy 4:35

What things in your life has God shown you so that you know who He is and how much He loves you?

Jesus tells us in the New Testament that loving God is our number one calling in living our lives.  It's not just about following rules.  Loving God means remembering His story, taking part in it, and sharing it with others from beginning to eternity.

4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.[f] 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. 

Deuteronomy 6:4-9

In Christ, we each have a beautiful, God-given legacy of love to pass on.

A prayer for today-

Dear God,

Thank You for Your Spirit that dwells in me.  Thank You for all the ways You show me Your hands at work in my life. 

Help me, Lord, to share Your story of love and redemption with others in all that I do.  May others come to to know You through me.

I love You, Lord, with all my heart and with all my soul and with all my strength.

In the name of Your Son, Jesus, I pray,

Amen

In Christ,

*This post is part of A Mind-Maker-Upper's Everyday Reading Project.  Click here to read more