Tag Archives: Deuteronomy 11-12:32

March 29, 2015 Bible Study — Why Are You Interfering With Me?

For today, One Year Bible Online links here.

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Proverbs 12:4

    In a way there are two sides to this. On the one hand, it is up to a woman whether or not she will be a wife of noble character. Women, it is up to you to to make the effort to develop noble character. No one else can do it for you.
    On the other hand, men, your wife is likely to live up to (or down to) your expectations. If you treat her as if you believe her to be a disgrace, she will likely be a disgrace. If you treat her as if you consider her to be a woman of noble character, she will likely be a woman of noble character.
    Women and men, it is up to you how you want to live your life. Women, you can be a woman of noble character if your husband (or the men/people in your life) believe you are a disgrace. It is harder, but you can do it. Men, if you believe, and act accordingly (that is the important part), that your wife (and the other women in your life) are women of noble character, they will likely live up to your expectations.

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Psalm 70:1-5

    I love the sentiment of this psalm. I cannot think what to write about it except to say I desire to reflect the humility the psalmist expresses when he says:

But as for me, I am poor and needy

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Luke 8:22-39

    Once again we have a story of a demon possessed man who approaches Jesus and asks Him, “Why are You interfering with me?” Jesus had not approached the man. It was the man who approached Jesus. Jesus did not interfere with the demon possessed man until the man came to Him. This is an important lesson, when the man got in Jesus’ face and demanded to be left alone, Jesus did not back down. Rather He recognized that this act was a cry for help.
    There is another piece to this story. The people of the region were familiar with this man. They had tried on several occasions to bind him under guard to keep him from harming himself and others. At least, I assume that was why they had done it. Whatever their reasons, it had failed. The man had broken free and run wild. Yet now, they saw him fully clothed, cleaned up, and completely sane.
    Their response, fear. Rather than see the transformation of this man as a sign of hope and seek for similar changes for themselves, they asked Jesus to leave. Jesus did as they asked. When the man who had been freed from demons asked to go with Him, Jesus told Him to stay. Proving that you do not always have to leave your home town to do missions work.

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Deuteronomy 11-12:32

    Moses told the Israelites to commit themselves wholeheartedly to God’s word. The instructions he gave them that day apply to us today. We should talk about God’s word(s) when we are at home and when we are on the road, when we get up in the morning and when we go to bed at night. The words of God should be in our thoughts all day, every day. They should guide our actions in everything we do. And we should talk about them with those we spend time with.
    God promises that if we, as a people, obey His commands the environment around us will be pleasant and healthy around us. We are not instructed to be environmentalists, but if our actions are destroying the environment around us we are not being faithful to God. We are called to be good stewards of the resources with which God has blessed us. If our actions are consistent with the commands God has given us then the land around us will be blessed and thrive. We will turn deserts into prosperous land and that in a way that will continue from generation to generation.

March 29, 2014 Bible Study — Please God, Rescue Me

For today, One Year Bible Online links here.

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Proverbs 12:4

    I will echo the sentiments of this passage and recommend that any single man think closely about it when choosing a wife. I am grateful to God that He gave me the former rather than the latter.

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Psalm 70:1-5

    This psalm is definitely my prayer today. I pray that God come quickly to my rescue for I face great troubles. I know that those who search for God will be filled with joy. He is my helper and my savior. I pray that He relieves my trouble before I am overcome with despair.

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Luke 8:22-39

    I noticed something about the story of the demon-possessed man in the region of the Gerasenes (or Gadarenes) that I never saw before. When Jesus got out of the boat the demon-possessed man came to meet Him. Jesus did not go seeking him out. Having initiated the interaction with Jesus, the demon-possessed man proceeded to ask Jesus why He was interfering with him. Isn’t this something we see a lot in this world? Non-believers confront us about our beliefs and then accuse us of wanting to interfere in their lives? However, notice that when this happened to Jesus, He did not back off of His beliefs. He confronted the demons head on. In the same way, when unbelievers confront us about our beliefs we should stand firm on what we believe and not back down.

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Deuteronomy 11-12:32

    The message of this passage is to those who have seen God’s mighty acts and experienced His discipline. If we love Him with all of our heart and obey His instructions, God will bless us throughout our lives. Let us not be deceived and turn away from God. There is a challenge for me in this passage. I will strive to commit myself to the words of God. I will talk about them when I am at home and when I am on the road, when I am going to bed and when I am getting up. I will strive to speak the words which God has given me at all times. We have been given the choice between a blessing and a curse. If we follow God’s instructions we will be blessed, but if we rebel against God we will be cursed.

March 29, 2013 Bible Study — Jesus Calms the Storm

     I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them. I hope that the Spirit is moving in others through these posts as the Spirit has definitely been convicting me.

Snowing on the driveway
Snowing on the driveway

Deuteronomy 11-12:32

     Moses reminds the Israelites that they have seen the power of God as He led them from Egypt through the wilderness. He tells them that they are about to enter a rich and bountiful land. They need to be careful to follow all of the commands that God is giving them. They must not turn away and worship or serve other Gods. Moses tells them that they have a choice between a blessing and a curse. If they obey God’s commands, they will be blessed. But if they reject God’s commands and turn away and worship other gods they will be cursed. I believe that this promise from Moses applies to any people anywhere in the world, not just the Israelites. Those who obey God’s commands will be blessed, those who reject them and turn away after other gods will be cursed.
     When they entered into the new land they were to destroy all of the places where the nations who lived there before them worshiped their gods. In that new land, God would designate a place for His worship. That was the only place where the Israelites were to offer sacrifices to God. They were not to start worshiping God in any of the ways that the peoples of that land worshiped their gods. Moses pointed out to the children of Israel that God found the worship practices of the people they were about to conquer detestable.

Trees against a snow sky
Trees against a snow sky

Luke 8:22-39

     One day Jesus told His disciples to go to the other side of the lake. They got in a boat and started across. Jesus went to sleep. While they were crossing a storm came up and started to swamp the boat. The disciples frantically woke Jesus, certain they were going to drown. Jesus got up and rebuked the storm. Immediately the lake became calm. Jesus then asked His disciples where their faith was. They were amazed that He was able to calm the storm. Do we have faith that Jesus can calm the storms of our lives?
     When Jesus stepped ashore on the other side of the lake, a demon possessed man was there. Jesus commanded the demons to come out of the man. The demons begged permission from Jesus to go into a herd of pigs that were nearby. Jesus granted them that permission. The herd of pigs promptly rushed into the lake and drowned. The pig herds ran off and reported what had happened to everyone in the region. When the people from the region came to Jesus they saw the formerly demon possessed man dressed and in his right mind for the first time in years. Those who had seen what had happened told them how the man was cured. The people were terrified and asked Jesus to leave. Jesus honored their request and got in the boat to cross the lake again. The former demon possessed man begged to go with Jesus. However, Jesus told him to return to his home and tell what God had done for him. Not all of us are called to go to distant mission fields, many of us are called to return to our homes and tell those around us what God has done for us. Do we follow this man’s example and proclaim what Jesus has done for us?

Heading out to pick up fire wood
Heading out to pick up fire wood

Psalm 70:1-5

     I will echo the psalmist’s humble cry, “I am poor and needy; please hurry to my aid, O God.” God is my help and my deliverer, without His aid I will fail. However, I will say, along with all who wait for God’s saving ways, “The Lord is great.”

Pomegranate bonsai puts out new leaves
Pomegranate bonsai puts out new leaves

Proverbs 12:4

     I thank God once more this morning for providing me with a wife who is more than worthy. She is definitely the crown of my life.