Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Did Not God Save You?

Deuteronomy 4:32 - For ask now concerning the days that are past, which were before you, since the day that God created man on the earth, and ask from one end of heaven to the other, whether any great thing like this has happened, or anything like it has been heard.

I saved this blog for today! Reading in Deuteronomy 4 was like hearing about the very act of salvation. On April 18, 1999 I experienced a new birth. I had exited the old life, the land to which I was very accustomed (but not so comfortable with, as I look back) and began my journey to my promised land, like Israel did when God took them out of their captivity in Egypt.

When that happens your life changes. Your eyes are opened to the truth, you hear God's voice in His Word. He reveals Himself and His statutes. Now we are to obey His statutes over the world's. Deuteronomy 4 discusses this.

We are clearly shown that idolatry is wrong. Israel was led out of captivity by one Person alone...God. They did not get out by their own devices or strengths. They did not wander 40 years in a desert without His protection, provision and guidance. (Oh, they wandered 40 years for a two week journey, but that was because of their own disobedience and lack of trust. He wanted them to trust Him.)

In Deuteronomy 4 the people were asked:
Did any people ever hear the voice of God?
Did God ever try to take a nation out of any other nation using trials, signs, wonders, war and His mighty hand? 
It happened...to Israel. Yet to each person who receives Christ and enters into God's covenant through Him it happens also.

We are never to forget what He has done for us. We are to continue to worship Him and put away all the other things that hinder our walk with Him. He is jealous for the people He has saved. He wants our complete devotion and warns us of idolatry...then to any image carved in the likeness of any thing, man, woman or animal. Today, anything, carved or not, that would put Him lower in our worship. Do we awake without a thought of God? Do we thank Him for the day? Do we worship Him or something else? Do we seek His voice throughout the day or is He not considered? 

When we are in the midst of a difficult situation, do we look to Him first for all our needs, especially wisdom or protection, strength or guidance? Or do we seek advice from another source? He IS our Source.

He drove Israel out from among their captors. This world is a very large captor. He wants any who choose Him to be removed from today's corrupt world. He wants us as His special people. He wants to share the greatest inheritance with us, heaven and eternal life. He doesn't give it to just anyone, but to those who recognize the greatness of HIS worth. To remember who it was that took us out of our captivity. 

As God relayed through Moses in chapter 5, The LORD did not make this covenant with our fathers, but with us, those who are here today, all of us who are alive. (Deuteronomy 5:3) That can mean you, today. He may not have reached anyone in our families prior to us, but today is another day. He keeps on calling.

Take possession of the land He offers. Listen to His voice. Heed His commands. Live in freedom. He seeks all who will listen and take heed. But it must be your decision. He has given us free will. Do we choose life or death, freedom or captivity? When we make the choice it IS glorious. He takes the time to nudge and touch hearts. Can you take the time to respond? 

To you it was shown, that you might know that the LORD Himself is God; there is none other besides Him. Therefore know this day, and consider it in your heart, that the LORD Himself is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other. (Deuteronomy 4:35,39) 

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