A man fell in the ocean and couldn’t swim. When a boat came by, the captain yelled, “Do you need help, sir?” The preacher calmly said “No, God will save me.” A little later, another boat came by and a fisherman asked, “Hey, do you need help?” The man replied again, “No God will save me.” Eventually the man drowned and went to heaven. The man asked God, “Why didn’t you save me?” God replied, “I sent you two boats!”1
The ultimate values in the Hebrew law brought out in Deuteronomy 15 include generosity, kindness, integrity, and initiative. On year seven, payment of a loan was extended for one year as a generous act of concern for neighbors in need. This extended payment of debt on year seven gave borrowers a grace period to catch up and re-evaluate their finances. This kind act characterizes the grace of the gospel in pardoning sins.
Lending rather than giving keeps the integrity of a society in check but initiates an opportunity for wisdom to be transferred because both the lender and borrower have a stake in the practice of balancing the books. For a society to thrive, there must be balance.
As individuals, we initiate that balance by trying to square our faith life with our family life. By offsetting hard work with fun activities and not foreclosing on the opportunity for a future that flourishes with financial freedom. These individual priorities ultimately permeate society at large and are the start to flourishing communities.
This day with You Lord will be amazing. You think so highly of us that You gave Your only Son to free us from sin. We are thankful for Your grace that balances out our debt. We pray that we accept this help and that society as a whole accepts this help too! May our communities may flourish as we take these lessons from Your word, receive the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and share with others. Amen.
All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. – Romans 8:28
One thought brought out in the post “Dedicated to the Purpose” is God’s Plan for Us. He wants what is best for us and is concerned about how we treat our neighbors so the tithe provides a means of support for the good works within a community.
As in the song Every Good Thing by The Afters, the reason for every good thing is that God is with us and has given us the roadmap to every good thing. He’s the reason for family, for friends, for second chances, and for our memories.
If you have a plan, you have a better shot at getting things done. We should be thankful for God’s Plan for Us. With this plan, things fall in place and we get a lot more done than we thought we could. The words of the photo above, are the roadmap to the plan.
This day with God, we are focusing on Deuteronomy 14 as we stay dedicated to the purpose of this journey. We will document lessons learned so they may be used to refer back to during difficulty and encourage others along the way. Today’s passage concerns the purpose for the eating regulations and the tithe.
The eating regulations are given for the purpose of building discipline and teaching humility. While in the wilderness for forty years, the people had to depend on God for their sustenance. He provided manna for their physical needs and the Word for their spiritual needs.
The purpose for the regulations on food was for health reasons in order to avoid disease. To take in food that was healthy and best for their physical well-being. The tithe was also intended to support people in need and be used for the most useful good works within their community.
Unity is the strongest force within the faith community because God gives limitless resources and is always with us. Becoming what the faith community was meant to be requires Christians practicing their faith and reflecting Christ in their life.
This day with You Lord, we have the roadmap and we set out each day with this plan You have for us. We choose the Spirit road. Your highway is not always the easy way but leads to an amazing place. Amen
Over the last few weeks, I’ve been reading and sharing some thoughts from the study of Deuteronomy 8-13. The Bible is all about gaining wisdom because we are learning from the past, praying in the present, and listening for instructions toward the future. Keep up with my spiritual journey over the next few weeks either through following this blog or the Facebook page I’ve set up at this link: This Day With God – A Spiritual Journey. Let’s share thoughts or ideas about applying our faith in current times.
Studying and sharing thoughts from the post “Ultimate Lift”, the people of Israel went through difficult days as they wandered for 40 years in the wilderness. The Lord humbled them to know what was in their heart but He was teaching them that He would provide if they remained obedient.
The post “By Our Side” is about Moses explaining to the people in Deuteronomy 9 that it is God who sets up success for the future. This day with God, let us be assured of gaining the victory. Sometimes we feel that the world is too much. The load is too heavy but Jesus helps to carry the load. Our belief in Christ assures victory because we have righteousness and strength to finish like champs.
Read “Anchored to His Commandments” for some thoughts about Moses giving the people confidence in providence. He gave them a vision for their future and was preparing them for the Promised Land; a land flowing with milk and honey. To maintain that vision and preparation, Moses pointed out the importance of following the Ten Commandments.
Some of the main points brought out in the post “Pain to Gain” is to document the blessings, share about the tough times, and always teach the next generation the benefits of following the way of God.
The study entitled “Climb Higher Towards Spiritual Assets”inspires you toward spiritual assets like faith, hope, and love. These are eternal assets rather than material assets which are temporary.
Be encouraged by the post “A Lift” which discusses the need to be enticed towards worshiping the Lord rather than idols. To be enticed towards gaining a heart of wisdom rather than useless items that provide no benefit.
We live in a busy world with busy schedules and being able to share some thoughts about this journey with others across this world through the Internet is truly a blessing. The below Questions for Reflection will stimulate thought and offer ideas for applying biblical principles at work, at home, and in all we do.
Questions for Reflection
Deuteronomy 14 – What is Israel’s relationship to God? What do you think are the purpose of the dietary regulations (See 8:3)? What is the purpose of the tithe? What is the quality of your worship?
Deuteronomy 15 – What are the ultimate values in the Hebrew law? What is the significance of the seventh-year release? Of what significance, do you think, is the fact that the rich lend rather than give to the poor?
Deuteronomy 16:1-17 – What three annual events require meeting at the central place of worship? What is the basis of Hebrew worship? What is the significance of joy in connection with these events? What are you prepared to do to bring joy into worship?
Deuteronomy 16:18 through 17:20 – Why, do you think, are the provisions here to assure justice so important (See 10:17-18)? Are these principles important for your nation? Why? What do you do when you become aware of idolatry in your life?
Deuteronomy 18-19 – Why do the Levites have a due (See Num. 8:14-19)? How will God reveal himself to the Israelites? What provisions are included here to secure justice?
Deuteronomy 20 – What is the basis of Israel’s trust in God during war? To what extent are God’s commandments practical? What can you do to become more aware of this dimension of life?
Feel free to respond with a short note or a comment about any of the questions above. Also, I welcome any other thoughts or ideas, favorite inspirational videos, photos, or favorite Bible verses. Just add them to the comments.
Resources and Supplementary Helps Used in Posts
Adeney, Carol. This Morning with God: A Daily Study Guide to the Entire Bible. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1978. Print.
As explained in the message from my pastor at this Link, a new and glorious morn is dawning.
A take away for me was the need to prepare our hearts and mind. John the Baptist prepared the people for Jesus and the new plan. This New Year, we can reflect on the past so we can go forward using our experiences to better apply God’s Plan For Us.
This Day With God - A Spiritual Journey 