Devotional Thoughts

Deuteronomy 9:6    "Understand therefore, that the LORD thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiffnecked people." In order to properly understand this writing, I want to remind us that the land of Canaan, the Promised Land, does not represent the eternal heaven where God's people will go when we pass from this life. We can know that is true because they had many battles to fight and many enemies to overcome once they entered the land. I can assure you there will be no enemies and no battles in the eternal heaven. But as blood bought, Spirit born children of God, we do have enemies and battles and struggles to endure as we go through this life. The land of Canaan is representative of the Kingdom of Heaven (Kingdom of God) which can be experienced and enjoyed here in this life before we ever reach the eternal heaven.  What consists of the kingdom of heaven? Let's use the definition from the Word of God.  "For t...

Deuteronomy 8:15    "Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint" We often see pictures that depict "before and after" results of weight loss programs or exercise programs.  People who are experts at showcasing their products know exactly how to present the contrasts in such a way to cause consumers to make the purchase. In today's text, God is reminding the people where they have been. He reminds them of the hardships they have endured. You endured serpents and scorpions. There was danger around every turn. You were hungry and thirsty. You went through this cycle for forty years. God is the God of contrast. He showed them where they had been and reminded them where He was taking them.  "For the LORD thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out...

Deuteronomy 8:1-3    "All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers.  (vs 2)  And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.  (vs 3)  And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live." Part of a song by Jeff Easter says, "There's a roof up above me. I've a good place to sleep. There's food on my table, And shoes on my feet."  Many people tend to count blessings based upon the natural realm. We have the things which make for comf...

Deuteronomy 7:23-26  "But the LORD thy God shall deliver them unto thee, and shall destroy them with a mighty destruction, until they be destroyed.  (v 24)  And he shall deliver their kings into thine hand, and thou shalt destroy their name from under heaven: there shall no man be able to stand before thee, until thou have destroyed them.  (v 25)  The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein: for it is an abomination to the LORD thy God.  (v 26)  Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it: but thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a cursed thing." God made promises to Israel concerning His handling of the people of the land into which they were going.  He would deliver them into the hands of Israel. If they felt the people were too difficult f...

  Jesus Teaching By The Sea, James Tissot The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. – Genesis 49:10 Many important prophecies related to the Messiah concern Him descending from Judah, Jesse, and David. As the generations passed, the view of the Redeemer promised by God became clearer and clearer. Following the promise given to Eve that a son would be born to bruise or crush the head of the serpent that had beguiled her, Abraham was promised that in him all the people of the world would be blessed, and he and Sara were promised a son despite their old age. Abraham’s faith was later tested to the extreme when God commanded him to offer up Isaac as a sacrifice, but the Lord stayed Abraham’s hand raised with a knife and provided a ram for the sacrifice. Thus we see in Isaac the first foreshadowing of the sacrifice fulfilled in the Messiah. Isaac’s two son’s Jacob and Esau are both...