Even a casual visit to a bookstore will impress a viewer with the many “how-to” or self-improvement books that are available today.
How to be happy, be healthy, be successful, be a good parent … and the list goes on.
But what are the “how-to’s” for an effective spiritual life? Are there daily practices that Christians should pursue? First and foremost, there needs to be an appreciative awareness of God’s amazing grace in our lives: grace that adopted us as sinners and made us members of the heavenly kingdom; grace that sustains and directs our daily steps; and the grace that will ultimately usher us to our eternal home.
Secondly, let me suggest these key words that also need to be a vital part of every believer’s daily experience: Praise—Prayer—Love A daily life of praise, thanksgiving, and the adoration of God. A daily life of prayer, fellowship, and a communion with God. A daily life of love, a delight in the personal assurance of God’s love and a desire to share His love with others. Two basic resource books are available to help us in this spiritual well-being: the Bible, and the church hymnal.
Regular study of the Bible, God’s infallible rule of faith and practice, is an absolute essential for Christian living. Nothing ever replaces our daily need for His trustworthy Word.
Through the ages, however, devout believers from every Christian community have responded to God and His inspired revelation with their own expressions. The church hymnal, a most important heritage of the Christian church, is one of the finest collections of man’s thoughts and feelings about God. When these choice responses are further enhanced with appropriate melodies, harmonies, and rhythms, there exists a reservoir of unusual spiritual strength and encouragement. Spend time each day with the two resource books now blended together into these daily devotionals.
Allow God to speak directly to you through the Scriptures. Also, consider thoughtfully how other sincere believers have related to God with their “psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.” Then respond to Him with your own expressions of praise,prayer, and love. Carry a musical truth with you throughout each day. Let the non-Christian world observe a living demonstration of a joyful faith. And as you do, you will become increasingly aware of God’s amazing grace and His power that enables you to live an effective and victorious Christian life. Perhaps these words, written more than two centuries ago, will begin to have new meaning for you:
Amazing grace—how sweet the sound—that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see. ’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved; How precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed. The Lord has promised good to me, His word my hope secures; He will my shield and portion be as long as life endures. Thru many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come; ’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home. —John Newton, 1725–1807
“I am in myself, incapable of standing a single hour without continual fresh supplies of strength and grace from the fountain-head.” —John Newton
Hymns breathe the praise of the saints, The vision of the prophets, The prayers of the penitent and the spirit of the martyrs. They bring solace to the sad, assurance to the perplexed, Faith to the doubter and comfort to the oppressed. They span the centuries of history and bridge the barriers of denominations. Study them to be pure in heart; Sing them to be joyful in spirit, Store them in the mind to possess a treasury of worship. —Unknown
I wish I could introduce everyone to my friend Billy Strachan… unfortunately, he is busy pranking people in heaven.
Billy was the first person to show me Jesus Christ.. not tell me about him… but actually show me.
Billy went to play pranks on Jesus. He touched thousands of lives for Christ. Well, I suppose it helps that this blog post has the top spot on Google when searching for him. So.. I’ve decided to spruce the page up a bit. I will add his picture. Voila. Also.. I will put a few links to some of his sermons/lectures: Via Capernwray Store (a little expensive for digital downloads if you ask me.. but Capernwray is a good cause.. and his lectures are worth it). Ahh.. here are a few free ones. https://www.sermon-online.com/search.pl?d1=Billy+Strachan&lang=en&author=262
Please.. if you have any great Billy stories to share.. please leave them in the comments below. They are encouraging to me and to others who loved Billy.
Here’s more of my story with Billy. I was in Austria working at Tauernhof. I had had Billy as a lecturer in Germany and in England a few years before and I was immediately drawn to Billy and his lectures. His lectures made me want to stand up and scream “FRREEEEDDOOMMM!!!” after every lecture. He was the embodiment of freedom in Christ and I loved it. His stories set Christ free in my life. I was drawn to Billy then but I wasn’t one of this chosen ones.. those few people he discipled. I tried to strike up conversations with him but they didn’t go anywhere. It wasn’t till I met him in Austria that we hit it off. We were watching Fawlty Towers in the staff lounge.. having a good laugh (he was laughing more then I was). At one point he stopped.. turned it off and spoke directly into my life. He nailed 3 things I was struggling with in my life without knowing a thing about me. He looked, and spoke into my soul through the Holy Spirit (later I came to find out this was fairly common for him to do). I got all weepy. We went on to have a long chat about all sorts of things and he told me to email him regularly. I didn’t.. I didn’t feel I had anything to say and I knew how busy he was. I met up with him again that summer at a friend’s wedding. It was an honor to stand in a kilt next to him. He locked eyes with me and said, “You need to email me more”. Dang. So, I did. We had long email conversations. I was amazed at how much he wrote.. pages. Amazing. Then I didn’t get an email back.. odd. I got a phone call from a friend in Austria.. Billy had died as all good Scots die.. of heart disease. Man, I miss that guy. It was like having God himself stop what we was doing while creating the Universe to reach down and say “Hello”.. in a nice Scottish accent.
“I am now a hundred and twenty years old and I am no longer able to lead you” (Deut. 31:2).Each of us leaves a heritage behind when we reach the end of our lives. Moses left a glorious heritage: a generation prepared for victory, a Law for Israel to live by, and the memory of the God who keeps His promises.
Overview
God would be with Israel’s new leader, Joshua (31:1–8). The Law was to be read to all Israel every seventh year (vv. 9–13), but God predicted future rebellion (vv. 14–30). Moses taught them a unique song, in the form of a judicial indictment, to encourage obedience (32:1–47). Just before his death (vv. 48–52), Moses blessed the tribes of Israel (33:1–29). An unknown author later added Moses’ epitaph (34:1–12).
Understanding the Text
“I am now a hundred and twenty years old” Deut. 31:2. In Egypt, 110 was the symbolic age of wise men. Like Moses, those who base their lives on relationship with God are wiser than this world’s wisest. It’s fascinating to remember that Moses was 80 when he was first called to serve God. The last third of Moses’ life was the most productive spiritually. Old age isn’t the end for any of us, though persons who found great satisfaction in their jobs often feel this way. The time we once devoted to work can now be devoted to serving God and others. “The Lord your God goes with you” Deut. 31:3–8. Moses presented Joshua as Israel’s new leader and reminded the people that it was the Lord who had won past victories and who “goes before you.” It’s only natural for us to depend on human leaders. But such dependence is misplaced. God, not Moses, was the key to past triumphs. Let’s respect our leaders, but let’s depend only on the Lord. “Moses wrote down this Law and gave it to the priests” Deut. 31:9–13. It seems likely that what Moses delivered to the priests was the bulk of the Book of Deuteronomy. This book was to be read to the whole nation—“men, women and children, and the aliens living in your towns.” The reading was to be done at the Feast of Tabernacles every seventh year, “as long as you live in the land.” All have a right to know and to understand what God says to us in the Scriptures. “I know what they are disposed to do” Deut. 31:14–29. Despite commanding that the Law be faithfully and regularly taught to Israel, God told Moses that dark days were ahead. Israel would “soon” turn to idolatry and “break the covenant I made with them.” God knew “what they are disposed to do, even before I bring them into the land” (v. 21). The Hebrew word, yeser, (“purpose”) here means a tendency, impulse, or disposition. The revelation of this tendency may come as a surprise, for under Joshua the Israelites obeyed God. In fact, their behavior was exemplary. But God, who knows the heart, saw the inner tendency toward sin despite outward obedience. You and I need to be sensitive to our hearts. That tendency toward sin still exists within us. We can be in great danger even when there is no sign of faltering in our outward behavior. Jesus once explained His criticism of certain Pharisees who were extremely strict in their approach to God’s Law: “These people honor Me with their lips,” He said, “but their hearts are far from Me” (Mark 7:6). Only wholehearted love for God can guard us against our tendency toward sin. “Moses recited the words of this song” Deut. 31:30–32:47. The Israelites were expected to memorize this lengthy “song,” or poem. In cultures where reading and writing are less common, memorization of extremely long poems, legends, treaties, etc., is quite common. This fascinating poem follows what is known today as the “RIB pattern.” The Hebrew word, rib, means a controversy or a legal suit. The song was in effect God’s indictment of Israel for breaking the covenant with Him as Sovereign. What is striking is that the poem then went on to add material that is not found in ancient secular indictments! God assured Israel that though “they are a nation without sense” He would indeed have compassion on them (vv. 26–38). God would deliver Israel once again and free them from their enemies (vv. 39–43). The rib pattern of the poem shows its ancient origin, for it fits comfortably into the culture existing in Moses’ day. But the variation from that pattern is most important to us. Those who angered secular rulers perished. The statement which expressed the punishment due to covenant-breakers ended the indictment. But even when we sin and deserve judgment, punishment is not God’s last word. His last word to us as to Israel is one of grace. We too can be restored. We too can come back, and once again worship our God as a forgiven people. “This is the blessing that Moses . . . pronounced” Deut. 33:1–29. The final blessing pronounced by a dying father was viewed as a will in the ancient Near East, and was legally binding. The blessing of Moses, Israel’s spiritual father, contained elements of prophecy. The poetic blessings in these chapters are sometimes obscure but are based on traits of the tribal patriarchs and on God’s revelation concerning their future. The blessings contain prayers, predictions, praise, and commands. The emphasis of each blessing is shown below.
Reuben
A prayer for survival.
Judah
A prediction of victory.
Levi
A prayer for blessing, a call to faithfulness.
Benjamin
A promise of safety.
Ephraim
A promise of preeminence.
Manasseh
A prediction of strength.
Zebulun
A prediction of wealth.
Issachar
A prediction of wealth.
Gad
A promise of land.
Dan
A prediction of energy.
Napthali
A promise of blessing.
Asher
A prayer for strength and security.
The range of blessings predicted again shows that God desires the very best for His people. Yet, as this magnificent psalm of blessing concludes, we need to remember that the most important gift God can give is already ours—Himself. As Moses said, “the Eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.” GOD’S INDICTMENT OF ISRAEL
A statement of God’s character
(vv. 1–4)
Implied accusation of Israel
(vv. 5–6)
Recalling God’s acts for Israel
(vv. 7–14)
Specific charges against Israel
(vv. 15–18)
The sentence
(vv. 19–25)
DEVOTIONAL
Moses’ Epitaph (Deut. 34)
One of the unusual privileges I’ve had is to serve as chaplain to my family. Though ordained, I’ve not pastored a church. So most of the weddings I’ve performed, and all of the funerals, have been for family. To date I’ve buried my mother, my dad, a stepmother, an uncle, and an aunt. Each time I’ve thought back over their lives, I’ve found something that made that person special. Each one of my relatives was very different from the others. But in each life God had done something beautiful. Something to remember that honored Him, and made the memory of our loved one more precious. Then, after Moses’ death, an unknown editor added an epitaph. He described the words God spoke to Moses (vv. 1–4), and the grief felt by Israel (vv. 5–8). He added a word about Joshua to show that life goes on (v. 9). And then he concluded with an epitaph intended to show what was special about Moses. “Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, who did all those miraculous signs and wonders the Lord sent him to do in Egypt” (vv. 10–11). Moses was special. And he deserved this epitaph as well as our awed respect. But what moves me most has been to realize, as one by one the members of my own family die, that every one of us is special. When God enters a life, He takes at least one trait of ours and makes us beautiful.
Personal Application
What trait of yours will your family members remember with greatest joy?
Quotable
“Enjoy your life without comparing it with that of others.”—Marques De Condorcet
“I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction” (Deut. 30:15).The most significant choice any human being can make is the choice between life and death; between loving and serving God, and ignoring Him.
Definition of Key Terms
Covenant.
The Hebrew brit is a flexible term used of a variety of legally binding agreements. Between nations a brit is a treaty. Between individuals it can be a contract. God even used one familiar covenant form to confirm His promises to Abraham. In ancient times brit was also used to describe the formal relationship between a ruler and his subjects. This passage of Deuteronomy follows the format used in the second millenniumB.C to state just such a relationship. It is in this “constitutional” sense that “covenant” is typically used in Deuteronomy, and especially here. These two chapters are in essence a review of Deuteronomy 1–28. Israel had heard Moses’ lengthy explanation of the relationship God, as King, intended to have with His people. Now, perhaps a few days later, Moses briefly reviewed the covenant that would serve as Israel’s national constitution, and called on the people to commit themselves to it and to God.
Overview
Moses summarized God’s covenant with Israel. He reviewed God’s saving work (29:1–9) and His call to covenant relationship (vv. 10–15). Moses warned of curses on rebels (vv. 16–29) but stated God’s intention to ultimately restore Israel (30:1–10). In view of this, Moses called for a firm commitment to the Lord (vv. 11–20).
Understanding the Text
“Your eyes have seen all that the Lord did” Deut. 29:2–9. Israel’s relationship with God was initiated by saving acts. When the people were helpless, slaves in a foreign land, God performed “miraculous signs and great wonders” to free them. The most powerful motive the Israelites can have to commit themselves to God is to remember what He has already done for them. It’s the same with you and me. God doesn’t ask for blind faith or commitment to the unknown. The God who calls for our commitment has acted in Jesus to save us from the power and the penalty of sin. We know His love through Jesus’ death for us, and His power through Jesus’ resurrection. Is it really safe to commit ourselves completely to God? In view of all He has done for us, we can answer with full assurance—yes! “You are standing today in the presence of the Lord your God” Deut. 29:10–15. Hundreds of years earlier God had made a promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to be their God and the God of their children. He had confirmed the initial promise to Abraham in a legally binding covenant-making ceremony (cf. Gen. 15:8–16). This early covenant was still in force, stretching on through the centuries, giving each generation of Israelites a special relationship with God. The Covenant of Law, proposed at Sinai, was God’s way of showing the Israelites how each generation could experience the blessings of relationship with the God who was already committed to them. The issue facing the Israelites who stood before Moses in that “today” was simple. Would they commit themselves to the God who was already committed to them? The issue is very much the same for us today. God has executed His New Covenant of love in Jesus. Christ’s death on the cross and His resurrection are proof of God’s irrevocable commitment to you and me. The only question left, which each of us must face in our own “today,” is, will we commit ourselves fully to Him? “I will be safe, even though I persist in going my own way” Deut. 29:16–29. I was converted while in the Navy. I started a noon Bible study and began to put up Bible verses on the bulletin board near the office coffeepot. These stimulated a number of conversations and some debate. One of the big arguments my friends had against my new faith was, “Hey, if you’re saved, you go to heaven no matter what, right? Then you can do whatever you want, and it’s OK? That just can’t be right.” I tried to explain that a person who knows Jesus loves God. It is love for God, not fear of Him, that keeps Christians from sinning. My cynical Navy buddies just couldn’t accept that. If they knew they could get away with doing whatever they wanted to do, everyone figured he’d overdose on sin. I suspect that, while my answer was right, I might deal with the question a little differently today. Perhaps as Moses dealt with Israel. We can’t look at all God has done for us and decide that it means, “I will be safe, even though I persist in going my own way.” Going our own way is never safe. It is a prescription for disaster. For Israel, failure to commit to the God of the Covenant meant calamity. The land would become a burning waste; the people would stagger because of disease and foreign enemies. For us, a similar failure means life on a spiritual desert, with no sense of God’s presence, no experience of divine guidance, no comfort or assurance, and the likelihood that our choices too will lead to disaster. “Even if you have been banished . . . the Lord your God will gather you and bring you back” Deut. 30:1–10. A survey of Bible history shows that many generations of Israelites did turn from God to idolatry. The disasters Moses predicted happened, including exile from the Promised Land. But, as Moses made plain, God remained committed to His people. Disobedient generations experienced disaster, but their disobedience did not void God’s promises to Abraham. You and I can sin. But the door is always open for us to return to God. We can claim the promise made to Israel so long ago. “When you and your children return to the Lord your God and obey Him with all your heart . . . then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes” (vv. 2–3).
DEVOTIONAL
“I Do”(Deut. 30:11–20)
Perhaps the best analogy to the commitment God asks us to make to Him is the wedding ceremony. The wedding comes as the culmination of months (or better, years) of gradually coming to know another person. In time friendship blossoms into love, or initial attraction deepens into appreciation. Then each person realizes, “I want to spend my life with this individual!” Then the two plan a wedding—a ceremony to announce to one and all that two people have decided to cleave only to each other, for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, till death do them part. Yet it’s fascinating. That ceremony, the culmination of so many young women’s dreams, isn’t an end but a beginning. It is the beginning of a lifetime of acting on the decision that the ceremony marked. It is the start of a lifetime of making choices shaped by the fact that at a particular point in time, two people stood side by side and committed themselves to one another. For then. And forever. It’s just this kind of ceremony that is in view in Deuteronomy 30. Moses calls on the new generation to make a life-shaping decision. Moses calls on Israel to make a commitment to God, to choose life with Him, and then to carry out that commitment the rest of their lives. As Moses says, the life this commitment calls for “is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach.” That life is spelled out in the word God has given us, a near word, in our mouths and in our hearts. Make and keep this commitment, Moses promised, and “you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you.” Hold back or turn away, and “you will certainly be destroyed.” We Christians need to realize that our initial relationship with Jesus is intended to grow and deepen to the point at which we too realize, “I want to commit my life to this Person who loves me.” That realization may come in church, in response to a pastor’s call. It may happen in the privacy of your own room, reading devotional literature like this book. When the realization does come, then you too have a decision to make. Will I commit myself fully to God, realizing that this decision will shape my choices for the rest of my life? Perhaps Moses himself gives us the most compelling reason to make that commitment now. “This day,” he says, “I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to His voice, and hold fast to Him. For the Lord is your life, and He will give you many years in the land He swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob” (vv. 19–20).
Personal Application
If you have not made a specific commitment to love and obey God, why not make it now?
Quotable
“Most high, glorious God, enlighten the darkness of my heart and give me, Lord, a correct faith, a certain hope, a perfect charity, sense, and knowledge, so that I may carry out your holy and true command.”—Francis of Assisi
“Cursed is the man who does not uphold the words of this Law by carrying them out” (Deut. 27:26).A basic principle of the Law Covenant is that obedience brings blessing; disobedience, punishment. How important it is that we understand the tragic consequences of our failure to obey God.
Overview
Moses and the elders gave instructions for building an altar when they entered the Promised Land (27:1–8). Directions were given for giving blessings and curses from Mount Ebal (vv. 9–26). Blessings for obedience (28:1–14) and curses for disobedience (vv. 15–68) were given.
Understanding the Text
“Build there an altar to the Lord” Deut. 27:1–8. This command is the last of the covenant stipulations stating what the people must do. The laws in chapters 21–26 list practices to be followed faithfully by future generations. This chapter calls for a ceremony to be performed once: a ceremony in which God impressed on Israel the utter necessity of obedience. By that ceremony the people of Israel indicated their complete acceptance of God’s Law and the consequences of disobedience. The altar and sacrifices made on it confirmed the official acceptance of God’s Laws by that generation. You and I need to be sure that our children understand the consequences of wrongdoing. When we have spelled out consequences, we have a clear basis on which to punish and correct.
“Cursed is the man” Deut. 27:9–26.
Twelve violations sum up laws contained not only in Deuteronomy but also in earlier books of Moses. The chart on this page lists parallel passages. The people were to shout “Amen!” to the recitation of each of these curses. There could be no confusion. Israel knew the Law and accepted responsibility for obeying it. “If you fully obey” Deut. 28:1–14. The blessings promised to Israel for obedience focus on security and prosperity within the Promised Land. The Christian has no similar commitment from God. Rather we’re told that God has “blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ” (Eph. 1:3). Spiritual blessings assure us of God’s loving presence in our lives, and that “in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28). “If you do not obey” Deut. 28:15–68. Three groups of curses are found here. Verses 15–46 warn that if Israel disobeys, the nation will experience poverty rather than prosperity. Verses 47–57 warn that if Israel disobeys, the nation will live under constant threat of foreign invasion. Verses 58–68 warn that persistent disobedience will result in Israel being torn from her land and hurled among the nations. There God’s people will find no rest, but only “an anxious mind, eyes weary with longing, and a despairing heart.” As many have pointed out, this chapter previews what actually did happen to Israel. First the Assyrians and Babylonians scattered God’s people. Later Rome crushed those who had regathered in the Holy Land. Only today is there a sign of a regathering of scattered Israel in her ancient homeland. When the prophets shouted out their warnings to rebellious Israel, they based many of their predictions on the divine program revealed in this critical Old Testament chapter. The fulfilled predictions of disaster remind us that no one can sin safely. God, directly or through the natural consequences following our actions, will punish sin.
DEVOTIONAL
The “Now” Generation(Deut. 28:15–68)
A recent article in the St. Petersburg newspaper stated that while it takes an average of 8 to 10 years to experience the full destructive power of alcohol abuse, the person who starts taking crack cocaine will find his life ruined in six to eight months! Yet according to the paper, crack is epidemic in St. Petersburg, attracting users from every strata of society. I’m not really surprised. We Americans have increasingly become a nation of people who demand instant gratification. We want our pleasures now. Tragically, few seem concerned whether getting them involves doing right or wrong, or whether the pleasures we demand will help or harm us in the long run. Somehow, to many people, only the present seems important. The future, shaped by the consequences of present choices, seems too unreal to consider at all. Perhaps this is why Deuteronomy gives four times as much space spelling out consequences of disobedience as describing blessings the obedient can expect. People have always tried desperately to ignore the future. We are not the first to pretend that sin is irrelevant and that today’s choices will carry no consequences over into tomorrow. I suspect that some would be a little upset with God for spending so much time painting such a dark picture. But actually, this passage reminds me of how gracious God is. He understands our human tendency to choose pleasure without considering tomorrow. By spelling out the dark consequences of wrong choices in terrible detail, God compels us to face reality. No one can sin safely. No one can sin impudently. No one can escape the consequences of his acts for long.
Personal Application
Live a righteous life today, and tomorrow will take care of itself.
Quotable
“The wages of sin is death—thank God I quit before payday.”—Reamer Loomis
This is my personal collection of thoughts and writings, mainly from much smarter people than I, which challenge me in my discipleship walk. Don't rush by these thoughts, but ponder them.
Milo 