Arise and Abide

Reading Deuteronomy 8:1-20 (NLT) ~ Scripture reading followed by discussion. Repetition increases remembrance. God humbles his people so they can learn to rely on Him.  Jesus quoting this verse during His temptation in the desert. Following the decrees, love God and love people. God shows us our need for Him. The burden of having to do it all on your own in your own strength vs allowing God’s strength and power to lift that burden. The life achieved through God’s strength and power is so much better than the life we built in our own strength and efforts.

Reading Psalms 56:1-13 (NLT) ~ Scripture reading followed by discussion. David reminding himself of God’s promises when feels afraid. Praising the LORD while you remember as it is the appropriate response to the trustworthiness of God’s promises.  Psalms 22:3, Holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. God is on your side. Romans 7:15-20, the things I want to do I do not do. The enemy uses fear and lies to keep us from putting our trust in God. Though the enemy is tempting David to take his eyes off the LORD, David keeps God’s closeness and care in mind, “you collect my tears in your bottle”. God sees everything we go through; God hears our cries. Being light bearers of Christ.

Reading Deuteronomy 6:1-25 (NLT) ~ Scripture reading followed by discussion. Obeying the decrees reaps rewards. “You must” is instructional not demanding, this is how you love God and love people. You must die to your selfishness to obey the Ten Commandments.  The call to remember and making reminders for yourself to remember, prayer boxes, post-it notes, tattoos. Going into a situation that may cause you to forget creates a need for more preparation, more reminders. Counted as righteous by obeying the laws because it takes faith to walk it out.

Reading Deuteronomy 5:16-33 (NLT) ~ Scripture reading followed by discussion.  The second part of the ten commandments covers the love people part of the call to follow Jesus. The people knew they would fail. The acts covered here hurt others and are only for our own benefit. In loving people, you need to surrender your selfish desires and selfish nature. Focus on what God has given you and not what your neighbor has that you lack. Living a full life of gratitude and being blessed vs missing out on what you have because you are looking at what others have. It will go well for you when you consider the needs of others as more important than your own. Wanting what you don’t have vs. not letting go to what you do have. Matthew 19:18 the rich man trying to earn his way into heaven.

Reading Deuteronomy 5:1-15 (NLT) ~ Scripture reading followed by discussion.  The ten commandments are a glimpse into the heart of God. The close, “face to face” relationship God wants with humanity. Listening, learning, obeying, and the attention it takes to do all three. The Master/disciple relationship in these steps. God points to love being the motivation for obedience. John 21:15-17 If you love me, feed my sheep. The entire family is affected by the sins of the parents, but God still lavishes love on those whose hearts are for God.  Your relationship with God will affect all your relationships.  Identify God as your own and keep that relationship close.

Reading Deuteronomy 4:32-40 (NLT) ~ Scripture reading followed by discussion. God speaking through literal fire and through the fires we go through in life. God speaks to the people so He can instruct in a personal way, not like gods made of wood or stone. Fire gets our attention. God wants your attention because God wants you. Ezekiel 34:31, God is our shepherd, standing firm in that truth as your identity. Searching but finding no god and no thing that can fulfill our life and our soul.  

Reading Deuteronomy 4:15-31 (NLT) ~ Scripture reading followed by discussion. Idolatry is recreating something God made and looking to it as god and calling it god. Idol worship as a way to have a god you can control and understand. God does not want us to live in fear but understand that fear is useful to keep us safe. You must surrender your version of right and wrong to a living God, not so with an idol. God being Jealous (Exodus 34:14) and equating idolatry to adultery (Ezekiel 22:23-23:27). Avoiding adultery is largely motivated by love, with fear being a small piece, wanting to avoid the consequences of the destroyed relationship that took time to build.  John 1, the Word becoming flesh, taking the form of a Man to provide an opportunity for a closer relationship with God. Matthew 6:21 & 24. God knows we will fail but makes the way for us back to Him. Matthew 7:7, ask, seek, knock.

Reading Deuteronomy 4:1-14 (NLT) ~ Scripture reading followed by discussion. God gives us righteous truth because humanities selfish nature twists truth to justify doing whatever they want. Listening and obeying the Word of God is life giving.  Jesus’ call is to love one another as Jesus loved us, if we follow Jesus we will be living righteous and fair in all our relationships. The LORD is near to us whenever we call on Him. You must be in a state of humility to be teachable. Having open eyes and open ears to be able to see and understand. Moses warns them to not forget, and the importance of remembering God and all that God has done for us.

Reading Psalms 55:1-23 (NLT) ~ Scripture reading followed by discussion. David trusting the LORD when the situation he’s in and the people around him are against him. Our natural desire to see our enemies fall, and the call of Jesus to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute you.  The LORD sees your heart and the heart of the Enemy which is why vengeance rightfully belongs to God. David turn to and calling on God for rescuing. Trust God in what He has for you and trusting His ultimate justice in the situation. Jesus faced betrayal too. Luke 24:46, “Father I trust my spirit into your hands” trusting God with his life, death, and resurrection. God has always been calling to go and make disciples even though betrayals will come.

Reading Numbers 35:9-34 (NLT) ~ Scripture reading followed by discussion. The heart of God not wanting us to kill each other and wanting to protect those who accidentally kill someone to not cause more loss of life. The ground being cursed because of murder. God’s heart is for maintaining life band being fair and equal, no matter who you are. Matthew 5:21-24, Murder starts before the actual murder, it begins in the heart. Valuing relationship more than our own ideas.