Today Daily Devotional

What does the Lord . . . ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve [him] . . . with all your heart and . . . soul . . . ?

— Deuteronomy 10:12

Each day brings challenges to walk in obedience to God.

Sometimes we get off track following friends headed in the wrong direction. We can have strong desires for material possessions, popularity, and behaviors that do not please the Lord. We might fear what others think or say and stop following the Lord. These are only a few ways in which we struggle to obey God and stay on the path he has marked out for us. Under some circumstances, we do not resist wrong desires and overwhelming fears; they distract us, consciously and unconsciously.

God calls us, however, to live in ways that honor him and align with his Word. With the Holy Spirit's help, we can live an obedient life as we follow Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Jesus is our example. He remained obedient even as he died on the cross for our sake.

What should we do with distractions that tempt us to disobey God’s Word? We can stay close to the Lord by asking the Holy Spirit to help and strengthen us. We can take captive our sinful thoughts and desires (2 Corinthians 10:5). We can anchor ourselves in the Lord so that we are not easily swayed by our sinful nature. We can delight in the Scriptures and meditate on God’s Word.

Lord, I want to walk in obedience. Give me the grace and power of the Holy Spirit to faithfully follow Jesus with all my heart and with all my soul. Amen.

What does the Lord . . . ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve [him] . . . with all your heart and . . . soul . . . ?

— Deuteronomy 10:12

As a child, I was afraid of God because I did not understand what it means to “fear the Lord.”

My love for God wasn’t supposed to scare me because God perfects love in us to drive out fear (1 John 4:18).

The word fear is used in the Bible mainly to convey that we should revere and honor God because of who he is—his holiness, majesty, purity, and perfection—recognizing that God is good and righteous in all his ways and in all that he does. The fear of the Lord expresses our awareness of God’s presence in our life. It affects every area of our life, our communion with him, our behavior, and our relationships. There are things we are less likely to do because we fear the Lord, not because we are afraid of what God might do, but because we love, respect, and honor him. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Proverbs 9:10).

We understand that God is infinite and we are finite. God is the Creator, and we are part of his creation. God is great and mighty in power, and his understanding is unlimited (Psalm 147:5). His thoughts and ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9). God is gracious and merciful to us, and he is worthy of all respect and honor.

Almighty God, I revere and honor you with all my heart and all my soul, now and always. In Jesus, Amen.

I had stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights, as I did the first time, and the Lord listened to me at this time also. It was not his will to destroy you.

— Deuteronomy 10:10

Moses explains here that when he received the commands of God on tablets of stone, he prayed fervently for the people. This was the second time he had gone up on the mountain to receive God’s law, because the people had sinned while he was away the first time. The people had sinned so badly that God threatened to destroy them, but Moses interceded for them, and God heard Moses’ prayers and sent the people on their way. (See also Deuteronomy 9:7-29.)

When our hearts are troubled and seeking God’s grace on behalf of our churches, families, coworkers, partners, and other hurting or lost souls, we pray. It is powerful to pray and to be prayed for persistently. We pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). It is not unusual for people to intercede for others who are in need, such as homeless, sick, hungry, or displaced individuals. Even more, we can pray for people to repent and be forgiven. We count on God to move mightily in people’s lives and situations because we know God loves them.

James 5:16 assures us that the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. God listens to us, and Jesus, the Savior, faithfully intercedes for us (Romans 8:34). Amazing!

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit thank you for calling me to intercede for people and situations in our broken world. Help me to pray faithfully, as Jesus himself does. In his name, Amen.

When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you.

— Deuteronomy 8:10

Abundance with God means that grace is extended in unexpected and unforeseen ways from the One who can do far beyond what we can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). God gives us tangible blessings: deliverance, family, food, health, finances, work assignments and callings, and much more. And all of this is by God’s favor, not based on our own merits. God’s goodness is worked out in our lives; therefore we lift our voices in praise from a heart of gratitude, privately or publicly and individually or collectively.

God warns, though, “Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God. . . .” Sadly, that happened often in Israel, and at times God had to punish the people and call them to repentance. When they did, God forgave them and showered them abundantly again.

We have even more abundance in Jesus Christ, our Savior, because he came to give us life “to the full” (John 10:10). The abundant life is more than material things. It is life that is filled to overflowing with the fruit of the Spirit: “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). We reflect Jesus as his witnesses in this world.

The world needs to see his reflection in us face-to-face, in online meetings, on social media, and wherever we go.

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, help us to receive, remember, and praise you for your abundance. May our lives reflect your grace shared in abundance through Jesus daily. Amen.

He . . . [fed] you with manna . . . to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

— Deuteronomy 8:3

When I was a little girl, my family often visited the small Polish community of Hamtramck, near Detroit, on Saturdays. We kept our windows down on a nice sunny day while looking for a good parking space. The wonderful aroma of freshly baked bread filled the air. Bread is delicious, filling, and nutritious, but not enough to sustain our body, mind, soul, and spirit.

While the Israelites were in the wilderness for forty years, they were hungry for physical food. God fed them manna from heaven daily to teach them that people do not live “on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” Manna was unlike anything the people had eaten before.

Many years later, when Jesus was tempted in the wilderness for forty days, he was hungry also. The devil tempted him to tell a stone to become bread. But Jesus answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone’” (Luke 4:4).

How can we put a good plan in place for renewal and restoration in life? We can satisfy our hunger by reading the Bible daily, worshiping the Lord with his people each week, and also meeting for a weekly study to grow in knowledge and understanding. We might also find that we need more of the Word at different times of the day.

Ask God’s Spirit to guide you, and grow!

Lord, guide us to read and meditate on your Word, growing in the grace, knowledge, and love of Jesus. Amen.

Know . . . that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.

— Deuteronomy 7:9

Our God is love, and he loves us. God cares, protects, and provides for us. God described himself to Moses as “the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin” (Exodus 34:6-7). God’s love is sure, extravagant, dynamic, radical, and eternal. Nothing is better than knowing we are loved by God.

It is lovely to start each day knowing we are loved by God and to think of his love throughout the day, no matter what comes our way. Love anchors us. Experiencing God’s love has an extraordinary effect on how we relate to others. Love gives us a testimony to share with others.

The way we treat one another comes from God’s love in us. The Spirit of God guides us to be patient and kind, not boastful, not dishonoring others, not self-seeking, not easily angered, not keeping a list of wrongs. Love “rejoices with the truth . . . always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13).

God loves us even as he loves his own Son. Love is forever. Where are you experiencing God’s great love in your life?

Gracious God, thank you for your covenant of love and for sending Jesus to pay the penalty for our sins as a sacrifice of love. I desire to love and live for you. Amen.

It was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your ancestors that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery. . . .

— Deuteronomy 7:8

In the past I have received beautiful bouquets of colorful flowers from family members, friends, and colleagues with an attached note: “Just because,” signed with the person’s name. No matter how I might be feeling, those expressions of love always make me smile.

God chose the Israelites “just because.” God faithfully kept his promises to their ancestors, bringing Israel out of slavery in Egypt and into the promised land. God smiled and set his love on them.

God’s love is not dependent on how much we love him. Although sometimes we might think so, no person can earn God's love or try to convince God to love them. Though we should love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, God's love is not based on who we are, our performance, societal status, or anything else. We are enough just the way we are. And God is all that we need. He will provide for all our needs (Philippians 4:19).

It is “just because” God “so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). And we can receive his love “just because.”

Lord and Savior, thank you for your love “just because.” Help me to remember that I cannot earn your love but am nevertheless loved by you in Christ. And that is abundantly more than enough. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

— Deuteronomy 6:12

On a weekday morning, Sara drove to the grocery store a few miles from her home. She was feeling good and listening to a Christian music station on the radio. She began to sing when one of her favorite songs came on: “When I Think about the Lord.” Suddenly tears began rolling down her cheeks, and she pulled the car over to the roadside. Sara was rejoicing with tears of joy as she remembered what God had done in her life.

Sara was a growing follower of Jesus, but at that time she had begun going out again with old friends who were still living in the fast lane. She had not been careful in remembering what God had done for her. God had brought her out of a lifestyle she did not want to return to. The song on the radio that day reminded Sara that God had turned her life around. He had freed Sara from her old life of sin.

Sara’s new life was essential to her and her family. She was filled with the Spirit, and God had a plan for her life. She wanted to stay focused and continue taking online courses to earn a bachelor’s degree and serve God with her life.

A favorite song, Bible passage, or spiritual encounter can help us get back on track when we remember our deliverance from bondage to freedom in the Lord our God, who saves us through his Son, Jesus Christ.

Sovereign God, thank you for setting me free in Jesus. Help me to share the hope of life in you with people who are trapped in sin and need the freedom you offer. In Jesus, Amen.

These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.

— Deuteronomy 6:6

Unlike the commandments written by God on two stone tablets that Moses delivered to the people, God’s Word is written on our hearts today. It accomplishes what it is intended to do (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 8:10). And because the Word of God is in our minds and written on our hearts, we are able to obey it through the work and power of the Holy Spirit in us.

When I was a child, my parents got lots of Eveready® batteries for our new toys at Christmastime. I remember a TV commercial about Eveready® batteries that was funny and entertaining. The battery was described as putting more life into your life all day and all night.

When God's Word is on our hearts, it puts more life into our lives. God’s Word is alive, active, and sharp, and it penetrates deeply. It judges the attitude of the heart. It exposes what is in the heart (Hebrews 4:12-13). The Word of God makes us come alive. It guides, comforts, nourishes, convicts, and teaches us how to live in a broken world.

Jesus Christ, the Word in the beginning who later lived among us (John 1:1-5, 14), came into the world to bring the light of abundant, eternal life for all people. When we hold fast to the Word of life, our light shines for the world to see his light in us. God’s Word puts life into our lives.

Thank you, Lord, for the power of your Word. Help me to have an ever-ready heart to respond to your Word and be filled with your life. Amen.

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

— Deuteronomy 4:35

I live close to Lake Michigan on the South Haven, Michigan, side. It is my favorite go-to place; sometimes I am drawn to Lake Michigan to experience God's greatness. As I stand on the shore, I sing, “How Great Is Our God,” “How Great Thou Art,” “In Christ Alone,” and “He Is Lord.” These songs are like stories that remind me who God is.

As I listen to the sounds of big waves crashing on rocks, seagulls squawking, and wind roaring, I proclaim that the God of wonders is holy. He is the Lord of heaven above and earth below. Gazing at the vastness of the sky and the lake, both perfectly blue, I am awestruck and speechless. It seems as if God's finger has blended the line where the lake meets the sky; it appears seamless.

God is present and actively working in our lives. He wants us to know that he is the Lord our God—in the past, present, and future. We praise God for letting us know him through his words, nature, works, and especially through his Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.

Where or when are you drawn into the awesomeness of God and reminded that the Lord is God and there is no other?

O God of wonders, I am in awe of you. I praise you that you are God and there is no other. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.