Thoughts on Deuteronomy 7

Your quarterly fast is done, and you’re on your way to a great year ahead. You’ve felt in your heart, because you know yourself and your past, “after today, I know there will be battles, ambushes, inner turmoil.”

God is telling you, “Make no compromise, remove (obliterate) anything that will make you stumble or will be a snare to you.” You find yourself asking as the Israelites did, “these nations are greater than I am, how can I dispossess them?” (v.17)

“You shall not be afraid of them, but remember what the Lord did.”(v.18)

“The Lord your God is in your midst, a great and awesome God.”(v.21)

“The Lord your God will” (v.22)

“The Lord your God will” (v.23)

“He will” (v.24)

Victory is inevitable when the battle is the Lord’s. In His way, in His time. Stay close to know your marching orders.

Thoughts on Proverbs 3:13-20

Gains from wisdom are better than monetary gains. Why? Because with wisdom, riches come as a by product, and along with it is a long life, honor, pleasantness and peace. These are things money cannot buy, and are usually very elusive when you pursue only money.

It is important to remember that this wisdom is God’s wisdom, not wisdom “in your own eyes” as mentioned in verse 7.

We have to find wisdom. Wisdom just doesn’t come to us automatically. We have to put effort to find it. The great news is that God gives wisdom to those who fear him – to those who walk with integrity (‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭2:6-7‬ ‭ESV‬‬).

How great is God’s wisdom? It’s the same wisdom that holds the whole universe together. It’s the wisdom that made the earth, our bodies, and all of it’s complexities. 

We Christians pray “Bless us Lord”, but we need to realize that that prayer requires action on our part. That action could be repentance, faith, perseverance, reconciliation, etc.

Thoughts on Hosea 2

It is disastrous to wrongfully attribute life, basic necessities, protection, and other blessings as coming from anyone other than God.

Like when my son almost thanked “Santa” for the gifts I bought him for Christmas. Nope, sorry for being a kill-joy, but I worked hard to get him those gifts, I’m not going to let someone else get the credit.

That was an oversimplification. It’s not just about attribution or thanks. In the case of Gomer (then metaphorically, in the case of Israel as a nation) she gladly gave all of herself to someone else. Someone absolutely undeserving.

It is not as if God withheld blessings on Israel. On the contrary, God has given so much – it is usually when people have so much that they begin to go astray.

I understand now.

If blessings and comforts are turning me away from God, then all God really needs to do is to take them away so thay my eyes will be (re)opened.

It is then we realize, “oo nga pala.” The heavens and the earth, and everything in it belongs to the God. He is Creator, Redeemer, and Giver of all good gifts. He is the good good Father.

Then just like in Deuteronomy 6, God’s redemption story unfolds. Just as the prodigal son, God joyfully welcomes anyone who ‘comes to his senses’ and returns to God.

Thoughts on Deuteronomy 6

For Day 1 & 2 of our Quarterly “Fast” (or, more appropriately, “Life Assessment and Planning with the Big Boss”), God reminds me of the big picture and practical actions we can apply for our household. (My household.. I sometimes forget that I am no longer just a member, but actually leading my own household..)

These actions will help in reminding us to fear the Lord. To not forget His greatness, and the great things he has done and will do.

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““Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭6:4-5‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The simplest commands (to understand) are often the hardest to do.

Love God with all your heart, all your soul, all your might. What does that look like? It could mean that with everything we say (from out of the mouth, the heart speaks), everything we think, and everything we do, it all revolves around the goal of pleasing God. Simply – if you love someone, you would want that person to be happy. Make God happy.

***

Some practical actions:

• “These words shall be on your heart” : Read and Meditate on God’s word regularly. And, our new target for this year, Memorize scripture.
• “Teach and talk about it to your children, when you sit, walk, lie down, rise” : Make a habit to talk spiritual things during meal times (sit), travel times (walk), before sleeping and weekend mornings.
• “Bind them on your hands, write them around house” : Set up reminders on our phones (hands), and around the house.

***

The important thing is this, and this will be repeated again and again in Deuteronomy:

“then take care lest you forget the Lord, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭6:12‬ ‭ESV‬‬

***

This is what I am looking forward to:

““When your son asks you in time to come, ‘What is the meaning of the testimonies and the statutes and the rules that the Lord our God has commanded you?’”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭6:20‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/deu.6.20.esv

Then we can share to them – God’s great story of Redemption.

***

Generally speaking, people are drawn to the idea of self redemption – “there is good in you” a la Star Wars (Original Trilogy). But the Christian believes that “there is good only in God”.

We know and understand that we are unable to redeem ourselves. There’s just no way. This seems like a defeatist point of view. Though perceived as weakness, this is actually our greatest strength.

Thoughts on Proverbs 3:1-12

45 Days since my last Quiet Time journal.. what better time to restart than the start of the new year.

Is Christianity a Sprint or a Marathon? In light of eternity, our joys and struggles are just a breath, a dot in the expanse of forever. But how significant that dot is! How we live in that dot determines our place in eternity.

But in the day to day grind, Christianity feels like – and probably should be lived as if on – a marathon. Long, tiring, and needs to have good discipline and strong motivation.

Disclosure, I’ve only experienced running a marathon once, and it was a half-marathon, not even “running to win” but just be able to get to the finish line.

It’s easy to follow the wisdom in Proverbs 3 for one day. Maybe two or three. But daily for one week? For one month? I couldn’t do it.

Do we just give up? No.

We are on this race whether we like it or not (all the way to eternity). We have grace to continue this race even when we stray or stumble. We have power to finish this race not through our own strength but through the Holy Spirit.

May God bless us as we get back on track this year.