Saturday, July 31, 2021

Deuteronomy 4 Devotional Thoughts by Stephen Taylor

Deuteronomy 4:2

Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the LORD your God that I give you.

 

We see here a command very early on to guard against legalism and liberalism. God’s commands are perfect, so don’t mess with them! God knew from the beginning that we as people take things to extremes, and it can quickly get out of hand. God’s Law and His Word are perfect. He doesn’t need us in there muddying the waters!

 

It amazes me how we can barely follow the most basic of His commandments, so why would we want to tack more onto it? Or we cry out for justice but neglect to follow the laws and commands ourselves. Thankfully, God sent Jesus not to abolish the Law but to fulfill it! Without the Lord, we would be doomed to wander back and forth, from one extreme to the next. But God! God came in the flesh to show us what the perfect balance looks like and the need for Him to accomplish it!

 

We as humans can’t rightly discern the path to freedom on our own, but through the Holy Spirit, we can! He leads us down that narrow path and helps us not to fall off to one side or the other. But we have to follow! We can’t run ahead or fall behind but must stay in step with the Spirit! How can we lead if we don’t know where we’re going? Only Jesus knows the way. That’s why He came and said, “Follow Me!” He will show us, He will guide us, He will grow us, He will teach us and train us, and He does this through the Holy Spirit whom He asked His Father to send us! I encourage you today to ask the Holy Spirit to lead you into all Truth and to illuminate your heart and the motives that lie within! Hallelujah, thank You, Lord!

 

Matthew 16:24 - Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”

 

John 16:13 – “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.”

 

God bless! I love you all! Glory, Honor, and Praise now and forever to God Almighty, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit! 

 

 

Deuteronomy 4:24

For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. 

 

I have been thinking about fire the past few days, about how it changes or consumes things I might throw into it. So, if I say I am on fire for the Lord, but things aren’t changing, am I really on fire?? If I’m all talk and no walk, what’s really happening?? When I throw a piece of wood on the fire, it is never the same again. It has been changed forever, and the writer of Hebrews says our God is a consuming fire!! So, if I have a personal relationship with Him, then I should also be changed forever!!

 

Secondly, fire will go out without more fuel being put on it!! The spiritual fire feeds off of prayer, Bible reading, Godly love, fellowship, and fasting. So, I have to make sure I am putting those spiritual logs on the fire so that it does not burn out!!

 


It’s easy to get sidetracked with daily life and forget or be too tired, but that’s when I have to fight for it more and be willing to sacrifice a little time to keep those embers burning!! If I’m not on fire for God, then I’m in danger of burning with worldly passions: greed, anger, lust, selfishness, pride, etc. These are fires as well, and they will quickly consume your life if you don’t put those fires out quickly!!

 

It doesn’t matter the size of the flame, but it does matter who or what you’re on fire for!!! Be encouraged and let’s strike a match today!!!!!!!

 

I love you all, God bless, and glory to God, our consuming fire!!!!

 

 

Deuteronomy 4:29

But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.

 

This verse jumped off the page at me today, and I instantly prayed it. The verses leading up to this one talk about how the Israelites will turn from God and toward idols and how death, destruction, and oppression will fall on them because of that idolatry. But God’s heart isn’t to leave them in that mess, but rather to give them a key to their freedom! He promises that if they (in their state of idolatry) will turn from their idols toward Him and seek Him with everything they are, then they WILL find Him! What a promise from God! It’s not a maybe, or a probably, or you should, but He says, “You will find Me when you seek Me with all your heart and soul.” Let that encourage you today.

 

Not only does God tells us how to do it, but He says we can start right where we’re at. There isn’t a magical ceremony or ritual but simply turn to Him. Choose Jesus over everything, and you will find Him in everything, Or better yet, He will find you!

 

I love how our God doesn’t leave the important things up for chance or interpretation. It’s clear cut, and I’m so very thankful for that because I can overthink things. Do you want more peace, hope, and love in your life? Then choose to make Jesus the King of your life. Do you want to experience God and find Him all around you? Then make spending time with Him a priority, not something you just fit into your day.

 

God is merciful and is wishing that none shall perish, but we have to choose to surrender and accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, and once we do, we gotta live like it! The problem isn’t that God is hiding. It’s that we’re not looking !!!

 

Be vigilant, Be humble, Be a servant, persevere, and run your race!!! Let Jesus take you from broken to beautiful!!!

 

I love you all. God bless, and Glory to God Jesus and the Holy Spirit in the highest!

 

 

 

 

 

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