Deuteronomy 32: 35, 41
Vengeance is Mine, and retribution, in due time their foot will slip; for the day of their calamity is near, and the impending things are hastening upon them.
When I sharpen my flashing sword, and My hand lays hold on justice, I will render vengeance on My adversaries, and repay those who hate Me.
God says that vengeance belongs to Him. Whenever we want to "get even" or "get back" at our adversaries, we are taking what belongs to God.
We can't handle it, it's way too powerful and dangerous to our psyches. It would make us bitter, negative people who can't receive any of God's goodness into our lives.
God is the only One Who can safely administer that kind of justice. And He will. He will even all the odds, pay back every debt, settle every dispute. We can trust Him to take care of all of it.
Our part is to love those people back to God, so that they will realize what harm they've done, repent, and turn their lives around. And if they don't, we are to love them anyway, and persevere in praying for them.
I was one who did much harm to people's relationships and marriages. I deserved great retribution. But God had pity on me, drew me to Himself, and let me know that my debt was paid in full.
That's when I became a Christian, a "little Christ." Jesus took my place, in taking upon Himself the death I deserve, and then God wiped my debt out of His Book, washed me in the Blood, and made me completely clean and pure; and gave me His own Holy Spirit to live in my spirit to seal me as His own. Now nothing can separate me from His love (see Romans 8:35-39), His Seal will hold me firmly in His grasp, to never again be "lost."
God will save every person who realizes they need Him, and turn around to seek Him (John 3:16-17). No matter how far they have strayed, how wicked their deeds have been, how many lives they have destroyed; if they come to know that they deserve God's wrath and repent, then God will let them know that He put all His wrath they deserve on Jesus on the Cross. That's why He was born.
But we must put from our thinking any ideas that we want to punish someone who has hurt and harmed us. God has forgiven us, and He wants us to forgive others, too. It's not easy, but with His help, we can. It may take time, and we may need to forgive them repeatedly, but we must persevere; and when you can think of that person and what they did without any more pain, then you will be free of that millstone around your neck!
We don't forgive for their benefit, but for our own. To hold on to it only hurts us further, without touching them. That's why we need to keep on forgiving every time we remember it.
I hope those families that I harmed all those years ago were able to let that negativity go. There's nothing I can do now except to pray for them. They're in God's hands. I trust Him to do what is Right for all of us, so I don't need to worry.
If you find yourself holding on to some grudge against someone who genuinely harmed you, then decide to free yourself and let it go.
You won't be sorry--you'll be free!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Sunday, January 28, 2018
Saturday, January 27, 2018
Be Strong And Courageous
Deuteronomy 31: 7-8, 12
Then Moses called to Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel: "Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the Land which the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall give it to them as an inheritance.
And the Lord is the One Who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.
Moses was not going to be their leader any more. In order for the people to not be scattered like sheep without a shepherd, he commissioned Joshua in front of all the people so that they would know that they could follow him, and that God had given him authority like He had Moses to lead them, to conquer this Land.
And he also made it clear that God would be the One Who would subdue these peoples that were bigger and stronger and more numerous than Israel. So that they would all look to Joshua and trust God as they entered this Promised Land. And to encourage Joshua to pick up this mantle of authority confidently.
...Be careful to observe...
And they all, Joshua included, were to pay attention and be careful in their thinking processes so that they wouldn't be seduced by all the attractive ways of these peoples who already live here. That's why they were to destroy not just the people who would convince them, but also all the altars, all the idols, all the totems, all the things that were used in the worship of these false gods, these demons.
We must all pay attention to ourselves to be "in the moment" and recognize how we're thinking to make sure that we are not drifting away from the Lord's ways. We are all vulnerable when we're not being careful. We are also seduced by all the attractive ways of the World around us.
Our enemy has convinced by deception so many around us, that we (in America, at least) are eating what are not even food, but chemicals and plastics and Franken-foods. No wonder we are suffering with all these auto-immune diseases. And he has convinced so many to think in a scarcity mode, to think that for one to have more, he has to take it from one who has less. When God has put everything here in abundance, so that every person can have all we need, and make wealth by providing good things to others, enriching them, too.
Whenever God gives, it's always in abundance, far more than just basic necessities. When Jesus made the water into wine, it was a week's worth of beverage for the whole party. When He multiplied the 5 loaves and 2 fishes for the 5000, they had twelve huge baskets full left over. God is generous, giving to us out of His great riches (Philippians 4:19).
We never need to feel that we're in need. We never need to feel that we are deprived or denied. God has already given us everything in abundance in this Earth. We only need to know His ways and order our thinking along His lines, and decide to do life His way. In purity, and in honesty, and in generosity. In considering other before ourselves, and giving God the credit.
That's how He designed it to work.
God didn't want the Israelites to be seduced away from their "Husband," and He doesn't want us to be seduced away from our "Bridegroom." He loves us, and wants us to enjoy the life He provides.
So let us ask Him, seek Him, knock on the door of His ways, as He tells us to do (Luke 11:9-10). Let us continually be aware of His presence with us and in us, to cooperate with how He made this World; and we will enjoy the benefits as we give Him the glory. A win-win.
Even so,come, Lord Jesus!
Then Moses called to Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel: "Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the Land which the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall give it to them as an inheritance.
And the Lord is the One Who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.
Moses was not going to be their leader any more. In order for the people to not be scattered like sheep without a shepherd, he commissioned Joshua in front of all the people so that they would know that they could follow him, and that God had given him authority like He had Moses to lead them, to conquer this Land.
And he also made it clear that God would be the One Who would subdue these peoples that were bigger and stronger and more numerous than Israel. So that they would all look to Joshua and trust God as they entered this Promised Land. And to encourage Joshua to pick up this mantle of authority confidently.
...Be careful to observe...
And they all, Joshua included, were to pay attention and be careful in their thinking processes so that they wouldn't be seduced by all the attractive ways of these peoples who already live here. That's why they were to destroy not just the people who would convince them, but also all the altars, all the idols, all the totems, all the things that were used in the worship of these false gods, these demons.
We must all pay attention to ourselves to be "in the moment" and recognize how we're thinking to make sure that we are not drifting away from the Lord's ways. We are all vulnerable when we're not being careful. We are also seduced by all the attractive ways of the World around us.
Our enemy has convinced by deception so many around us, that we (in America, at least) are eating what are not even food, but chemicals and plastics and Franken-foods. No wonder we are suffering with all these auto-immune diseases. And he has convinced so many to think in a scarcity mode, to think that for one to have more, he has to take it from one who has less. When God has put everything here in abundance, so that every person can have all we need, and make wealth by providing good things to others, enriching them, too.
Whenever God gives, it's always in abundance, far more than just basic necessities. When Jesus made the water into wine, it was a week's worth of beverage for the whole party. When He multiplied the 5 loaves and 2 fishes for the 5000, they had twelve huge baskets full left over. God is generous, giving to us out of His great riches (Philippians 4:19).
We never need to feel that we're in need. We never need to feel that we are deprived or denied. God has already given us everything in abundance in this Earth. We only need to know His ways and order our thinking along His lines, and decide to do life His way. In purity, and in honesty, and in generosity. In considering other before ourselves, and giving God the credit.
That's how He designed it to work.
God didn't want the Israelites to be seduced away from their "Husband," and He doesn't want us to be seduced away from our "Bridegroom." He loves us, and wants us to enjoy the life He provides.
So let us ask Him, seek Him, knock on the door of His ways, as He tells us to do (Luke 11:9-10). Let us continually be aware of His presence with us and in us, to cooperate with how He made this World; and we will enjoy the benefits as we give Him the glory. A win-win.
Even so,come, Lord Jesus!
Friday, January 26, 2018
In Your Heart
Deuteronomy 29: 29
The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us, that we may observe all the words of this Law.
All that we don't know yet, God knows. The things we've been able to know, through God's revealing them to us or through scientific study of this Earth and the Universe it's in, belong to us, to use for our benefit.
God has given us life that lives through our physical bodies; when this life leaves our bodies, we're dead. That spiritual part of us is what uses our brains to think and have emotions and a will to decide. None of these things are physical. Dead bodies don't think, emote, or choose. They don't do anything.
So where should we go to learn what we need to know to prosper? I want to prosper in every way--emotionally, physically, relationally, intelligently, and especially spiritually. And even a little financially.
30: 14
But the Word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may observe it.
We don't have to travel, or enroll in some University, or get on the internet around the world to know what we need to do to live our lives--our own consciences, if they are trained properly, can lead us, but are they trustworthy? What if they are deceiving us? Our own hearts lie to us (Jeremiah 17:9).
But God can never lie or be mistaken. We can fully trust what He says. And His Word is given to us to guide our hearts and train our consciences. His ways for us are simple, but not easy. When we're thinking properly, they make sense.
God wants to bless us. He wants us to live our lives in harmony and prosperity. He's told us how to think (Philippians 4:5-8) so we can reason along with Him; He's given us His Love so that we can love Him back and love one another (I Corinthians 13); and this Love underlies all the rules, commandments, and precepts, so we can understand the principles and how to apply the knowledge we have. He's given us freely everything we need to know to do, and the strength and ability to do it. And He's given us all the foods we need naturally in this Earth, so we can nourish our bodies into good health, prospering physically.
So all we need is already there in our hearts. Now we need to "pay attention" and "be careful" to actually observe these ways, and live them in our daily lives. By practicing these things, we can form new habits, to do what is right instead of our old ways of messing up. Whenever we're not paying attention, we can easily slide back into old, unproductive ways. We have to put forth the effort and persevere in doing what we know is right.
John wrote, For all that is in the World, the lust of the flesh [sensuality], the lust of the eyes [materialism, accumulating things], and the pride of life [reputation, popularity], is not of the Father, but is of the World (I John 2:16). Any or all three of these things can be idols to us, drawing us away from the pure joys of His ways.
Whatever we consider first in our thinking and our choices is our god. If I consider my own pleasure before any other consideration, then I am my own god. If I think first of what people will think of me, then pride is my god. If I want more money and things, then I will never have enough money and things, and materialism is my god. None of these will ever satisfy me, they are all just tools, not ends in themselves. I am to use the tools I have, in seeking to do what I perceive to be right.
I need to pay attention to what God has taught me so far, and be "in the moment" to not slide into any error or mistake that "misses the mark" (sin). And I hope you too, dear reader, will seek His wisdom to know what is right for you to do, so you can prosper in every way, also.
And because God has planned it to work out that way, then He will receive all the credit when it does work out. And we will get the benefits, and He will get the glory.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us, that we may observe all the words of this Law.
All that we don't know yet, God knows. The things we've been able to know, through God's revealing them to us or through scientific study of this Earth and the Universe it's in, belong to us, to use for our benefit.
God has given us life that lives through our physical bodies; when this life leaves our bodies, we're dead. That spiritual part of us is what uses our brains to think and have emotions and a will to decide. None of these things are physical. Dead bodies don't think, emote, or choose. They don't do anything.
So where should we go to learn what we need to know to prosper? I want to prosper in every way--emotionally, physically, relationally, intelligently, and especially spiritually. And even a little financially.
30: 14
But the Word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may observe it.
We don't have to travel, or enroll in some University, or get on the internet around the world to know what we need to do to live our lives--our own consciences, if they are trained properly, can lead us, but are they trustworthy? What if they are deceiving us? Our own hearts lie to us (Jeremiah 17:9).
But God can never lie or be mistaken. We can fully trust what He says. And His Word is given to us to guide our hearts and train our consciences. His ways for us are simple, but not easy. When we're thinking properly, they make sense.
God wants to bless us. He wants us to live our lives in harmony and prosperity. He's told us how to think (Philippians 4:5-8) so we can reason along with Him; He's given us His Love so that we can love Him back and love one another (I Corinthians 13); and this Love underlies all the rules, commandments, and precepts, so we can understand the principles and how to apply the knowledge we have. He's given us freely everything we need to know to do, and the strength and ability to do it. And He's given us all the foods we need naturally in this Earth, so we can nourish our bodies into good health, prospering physically.
So all we need is already there in our hearts. Now we need to "pay attention" and "be careful" to actually observe these ways, and live them in our daily lives. By practicing these things, we can form new habits, to do what is right instead of our old ways of messing up. Whenever we're not paying attention, we can easily slide back into old, unproductive ways. We have to put forth the effort and persevere in doing what we know is right.
John wrote, For all that is in the World, the lust of the flesh [sensuality], the lust of the eyes [materialism, accumulating things], and the pride of life [reputation, popularity], is not of the Father, but is of the World (I John 2:16). Any or all three of these things can be idols to us, drawing us away from the pure joys of His ways.
Whatever we consider first in our thinking and our choices is our god. If I consider my own pleasure before any other consideration, then I am my own god. If I think first of what people will think of me, then pride is my god. If I want more money and things, then I will never have enough money and things, and materialism is my god. None of these will ever satisfy me, they are all just tools, not ends in themselves. I am to use the tools I have, in seeking to do what I perceive to be right.
I need to pay attention to what God has taught me so far, and be "in the moment" to not slide into any error or mistake that "misses the mark" (sin). And I hope you too, dear reader, will seek His wisdom to know what is right for you to do, so you can prosper in every way, also.
And because God has planned it to work out that way, then He will receive all the credit when it does work out. And we will get the benefits, and He will get the glory.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Thursday, January 25, 2018
God's Reputation And Promises
Deuteronomy 9: 7-29
In Verses 7-24 Moses recounts all the things the people did to anger the Lord while they were in the desert.
And Verses 25-29 tell us that God got angry enough to destroy them, and offered Moses the opportunity to found another Nation! But Moses interceded for them, to remember the Patriarchs and to consider His own reputation.
V. 28
Otherwise, the land from which Thou dost bring us may say, "Because the Lord was not able to bring them into the land which He had promised them and because He hated them He has brought them out to slay them in the wilderness."
God will always safeguard His own reputation, and He will always keep His promises.
Moses knew God, so he knew He would listen to this prayer, and answer.
If I know God and understand His ways, then I'll know what God wants for me, and that He can give me what He wants me to have (an if-then proposition); He will always answer those prayers.
I don't bargain with God, I don't threaten Him, I don't do any of the manipulative manuvers people try in order to get what they want. I only want what He wants for me, because I know it would be much better for me than anything I would think of.
Even if it means I will be going through hard times or grief or some other disaster in the mean time, because I trust Him through anything He would allow me to face. He will strengthen me, and carry me through it all. And the Joy of the Lord will be my strength.
I know that God will direct all the affairs of this World to complete all His purposes for this Earth, and He has given me a small role, a bit part, in this great Theatre.
And He will be praised for all He has done.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
In Verses 7-24 Moses recounts all the things the people did to anger the Lord while they were in the desert.
And Verses 25-29 tell us that God got angry enough to destroy them, and offered Moses the opportunity to found another Nation! But Moses interceded for them, to remember the Patriarchs and to consider His own reputation.
V. 28
Otherwise, the land from which Thou dost bring us may say, "Because the Lord was not able to bring them into the land which He had promised them and because He hated them He has brought them out to slay them in the wilderness."
God will always safeguard His own reputation, and He will always keep His promises.
Moses knew God, so he knew He would listen to this prayer, and answer.
If I know God and understand His ways, then I'll know what God wants for me, and that He can give me what He wants me to have (an if-then proposition); He will always answer those prayers.
I don't bargain with God, I don't threaten Him, I don't do any of the manipulative manuvers people try in order to get what they want. I only want what He wants for me, because I know it would be much better for me than anything I would think of.
Even if it means I will be going through hard times or grief or some other disaster in the mean time, because I trust Him through anything He would allow me to face. He will strengthen me, and carry me through it all. And the Joy of the Lord will be my strength.
I know that God will direct all the affairs of this World to complete all His purposes for this Earth, and He has given me a small role, a bit part, in this great Theatre.
And He will be praised for all He has done.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Wednesday, January 24, 2018
Manna And Clothing
Deuteronomy 8: 3-5
He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.
Jesus quoted this verse in response to Satan's tempting. This manna was not anything this Earth produces. God sent it miraculously to the Hebrews in the Desert (Matthew 4:4). Psalm 78:23-25 tells us that this was "the grain of Heaven; men ate the bread of Angels."
Moses also ate this manna. He tells the people that God sent it to teach them that life comes not from what we eat, but from what comes from the mouth of God, His Word, which is Spirit.
Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years.
I'll bet that the people didn't even notice this detail: they wore the same clothes every year, and their sandals didn't wear out for forty years! Same old, same old, never needed replacing.
Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the Lord your God disciplines you.
Feeding them, not letting their clothes wear out; this is discipline? We think of discipline as more or less punishment, but this sounds more like the academic definition, which is, Teaching.
Observe the commands of the Lord your God, walking in His ways and revering Him.
The conclusion here is for them to learn to apply God's commands in their lives and thinking processes, and to consider only God to be deserving of reverence, adoration, and worship. He alone is God. He alone is our Source. He loves us with a love that is deeper, wider, longer, higher than any other imaginable love. That's why He is the only one who merits our honor and obedience.
And when we obey His ways, we will receive the effects--the benefits of what He's built into this World system. And he gets all the glory.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.
Jesus quoted this verse in response to Satan's tempting. This manna was not anything this Earth produces. God sent it miraculously to the Hebrews in the Desert (Matthew 4:4). Psalm 78:23-25 tells us that this was "the grain of Heaven; men ate the bread of Angels."
Moses also ate this manna. He tells the people that God sent it to teach them that life comes not from what we eat, but from what comes from the mouth of God, His Word, which is Spirit.
Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years.
I'll bet that the people didn't even notice this detail: they wore the same clothes every year, and their sandals didn't wear out for forty years! Same old, same old, never needed replacing.
Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the Lord your God disciplines you.
Feeding them, not letting their clothes wear out; this is discipline? We think of discipline as more or less punishment, but this sounds more like the academic definition, which is, Teaching.
Observe the commands of the Lord your God, walking in His ways and revering Him.
The conclusion here is for them to learn to apply God's commands in their lives and thinking processes, and to consider only God to be deserving of reverence, adoration, and worship. He alone is God. He alone is our Source. He loves us with a love that is deeper, wider, longer, higher than any other imaginable love. That's why He is the only one who merits our honor and obedience.
And when we obey His ways, we will receive the effects--the benefits of what He's built into this World system. And he gets all the glory.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Tuesday, January 23, 2018
Not Because
Deuteronomy 9: 4-6
After the Lord has driven them out before you, do not say to yourself, "The Lord has brought me here to take possession of this land because of my righteousness." No, it is on account of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord is going to drive them out before you.
It is not because of your righteousness or your integrity that you are going to take possession of their land; but on account of the wickedness of these nations the Lord your God will drive them out before you, to accomplish what He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Understand, then, that it is not because of your righteousness that the Lord your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stiff-necked people.
God is making very clear to these Hebrews that God is not doing this for them because they deserve it, because they don't; they are a "stiff-necked people." But they are not wicked like the people who live there.
God wanted them to eradicate those societies that practiced all kinds of disgusting and dangerous rites in worshipping their idols. He didn't want them to learn to do any of these horrible practices.
Because He loves His people, He wants them to live their lives to be healthy in every way, and prosperous in every way. That's why He gave them His Law.
We have the record of what happened when they followed the Lord and when they didn't.
We also are "stiff-necked" in our thinking and our lifestyles, we don't deserve God's blessings, either. But God decided to love us, anyway, so He gave us His Word to learn about Him and His ways. And He gave us His own Son to be that Sacrifice that fulfills and completes all the sacrifices listed in the Old Covenant. So we don't slay animals on a stone altar any more.
But we are still vulnerable to the thinking processes of those pagan peoples. We just express them in a different way today. Instead of taking a knife and bleeding out an animal, we send women to a "doctor" to take the life of an innocent child even before they can be born. These are no less sacrifices to demon-idols.
And we also say to ourselves, "By the strength of my hand and the intelligence of my mind I have gotten these things." When we go by His ways, but don't acknowledge Him, we will still reap the results, gaining wealth; but Jesus said, What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? (Mark 8:36-37).
To get the Whole Picture, we need to seek God and learn His ways in order to order our thinking processes related to our bodies, our relationships, our businesses, every part of our lives: Physically, emotionally, psychologically, relationally.
But first we need to come to God, seek Him, realize we don't deserve any of His blessings, and let Jesus be your Savior, taking your place in death. Then learn His ways, and He will then be able to bless you, in every way. His mercy is not giving us the wrath we deserve, by putting it on Jesus instead. And His grace is giving us all the good that we don't deserve, because we are His children.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
After the Lord has driven them out before you, do not say to yourself, "The Lord has brought me here to take possession of this land because of my righteousness." No, it is on account of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord is going to drive them out before you.
It is not because of your righteousness or your integrity that you are going to take possession of their land; but on account of the wickedness of these nations the Lord your God will drive them out before you, to accomplish what He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Understand, then, that it is not because of your righteousness that the Lord your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stiff-necked people.
God is making very clear to these Hebrews that God is not doing this for them because they deserve it, because they don't; they are a "stiff-necked people." But they are not wicked like the people who live there.
God wanted them to eradicate those societies that practiced all kinds of disgusting and dangerous rites in worshipping their idols. He didn't want them to learn to do any of these horrible practices.
Because He loves His people, He wants them to live their lives to be healthy in every way, and prosperous in every way. That's why He gave them His Law.
We have the record of what happened when they followed the Lord and when they didn't.
We also are "stiff-necked" in our thinking and our lifestyles, we don't deserve God's blessings, either. But God decided to love us, anyway, so He gave us His Word to learn about Him and His ways. And He gave us His own Son to be that Sacrifice that fulfills and completes all the sacrifices listed in the Old Covenant. So we don't slay animals on a stone altar any more.
But we are still vulnerable to the thinking processes of those pagan peoples. We just express them in a different way today. Instead of taking a knife and bleeding out an animal, we send women to a "doctor" to take the life of an innocent child even before they can be born. These are no less sacrifices to demon-idols.
And we also say to ourselves, "By the strength of my hand and the intelligence of my mind I have gotten these things." When we go by His ways, but don't acknowledge Him, we will still reap the results, gaining wealth; but Jesus said, What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? (Mark 8:36-37).
To get the Whole Picture, we need to seek God and learn His ways in order to order our thinking processes related to our bodies, our relationships, our businesses, every part of our lives: Physically, emotionally, psychologically, relationally.
But first we need to come to God, seek Him, realize we don't deserve any of His blessings, and let Jesus be your Savior, taking your place in death. Then learn His ways, and He will then be able to bless you, in every way. His mercy is not giving us the wrath we deserve, by putting it on Jesus instead. And His grace is giving us all the good that we don't deserve, because we are His children.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Monday, January 22, 2018
The Ability To Produce Wealth
Deuteronomy 8: 10-18
When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land He has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe His commands....Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large, and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, Who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. ...
You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me."
But remember the Lord your God, for it is He Who gives you the ability to produce wealth....
When we accumulate wealth and abundance in our lives, we also become vulnerable to thinking that we are "self-made" men. That's when we need to pay attention to what we're thinking, and realize that God really is the One Who gives us our health and our families, and everything we enjoy; we could do nothing for ourselves if He had not given us the ability.
God is the One Who got the idea to even have a Universe with an Earth in it. He's the One Who planned out how everything would operate, and how it would all work out. He's the One Who is sovereign over everything He made, and our "free will" is only operable within the perameters He sets on us, so there is nothing evil men can do to disrupt or nullify His Plan of the Ages that is working toward its conclusion.
We can profit and get the benefits of cooperating with God in how He designed us. Or we can harm ourselves by refusing to acknowledge Him and go our merry way into destruction. Our choice.
Either way, God will have all the glory, because only He is God, and He has accomplished all His will.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land He has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe His commands....Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large, and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, Who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. ...
You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me."
But remember the Lord your God, for it is He Who gives you the ability to produce wealth....
When we accumulate wealth and abundance in our lives, we also become vulnerable to thinking that we are "self-made" men. That's when we need to pay attention to what we're thinking, and realize that God really is the One Who gives us our health and our families, and everything we enjoy; we could do nothing for ourselves if He had not given us the ability.
God is the One Who got the idea to even have a Universe with an Earth in it. He's the One Who planned out how everything would operate, and how it would all work out. He's the One Who is sovereign over everything He made, and our "free will" is only operable within the perameters He sets on us, so there is nothing evil men can do to disrupt or nullify His Plan of the Ages that is working toward its conclusion.
We can profit and get the benefits of cooperating with God in how He designed us. Or we can harm ourselves by refusing to acknowledge Him and go our merry way into destruction. Our choice.
Either way, God will have all the glory, because only He is God, and He has accomplished all His will.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
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