March 14, 2012

SCRIPTURE

Deuteronomy 30:11-14

Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.

OBSERVATION

This is God speaking through Moses to the Israelites as they prepared to enter the land of Canaan.  God was being very specific in Deuteronomy and reiterating his law and commandments so that the Israelites would be fully prepared to follow Him completely in the land that He had given them.  He repeats this theme throughout the book - in fact I had originally had several additional passages picked out to write about:  Deuteronomy 10:12-13, 11:18-21, and 29:29.  They all deal with God stressing to His people the importance of knowing what He expects from them, and actually doing it!  Again and again He tells them that He knows they are a "stiff-necked" people (stubborn) and that He is giving them these laws for their good.  What He is saying is just that knowing His word enables us to follow Him, so...learn it.

APPLICATION
I think of my own resistance to committing verses to memory and wonder why.  The verses that I have memorized I refer to constantly; in counseling myself during inner monologues and in speaking with others - it's so obviously beneficial, but I struggle with the discipline of learning more.  God says here that He has given us this immeasurably precious gift in order to help us, to keep us close to Him.  He has placed it at our fingertips, knowing the human tendency toward laziness and justification of bad behaviors.  We have no excuses.

PRAYER
Holy Father, I thank you for giving us this amazing gift.  A how-to manual for life!  I praise you for your grace and forgiveness for us all.  Please stir in me a deep hunger for Your word - give me the strength of will to overcome all distractions and lack of discipline and grow in me the template of how to live my life for You, by planting your very thoughts in me.  In Your Son's name, Amen.

More information about Deuteronomy:  http://biblica.com/niv/study-bible/deuteronomy/