DEUTERONOMY 5:1-6:25
OBEDIENCE: Moses reviews the 10 commandments for the new generation, then tells them that Obedience is an expression of love and gratitude. And Obedience is a demonstration of the fear of God. Obedience will preserve us alive. It is the parents' responsibility to teach these things to their children!
REMEMBER #1: (5:15) He brought you out of the bondage to sin, into His Sabbath Rest (Matt 11:28-30). Moses demonstrated to this new generation that God had purchased and purposed us for Himself. He brought us out that He might bring us in. "Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:" (Col 1:12-13)
RESPONSE: I think Deuteronomy was Jesus' favorite OT book, because He was always quoting from it. It is a book of OBEDIENCE. It is Moses' dying words - Obey and you will be blessed. Disobey and you will be cursed. If you want to possess your inheritance, which is Life with God - you MUST obey. I used to think that "obey" was a four-lettered word! I could hardly even say it! I thought obedience was optional! Then I was put into a situation where obedience became a matter of survival. I had no choice! It was a place of safety for me to obey. I learned that if I say that I am submitted to Jesus, but not submitted to those He placed in authority in my life, then I am just jiving with God and I am deceived. Isa 1:19-20 says, "If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land; but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword." For the mouth of the LORD has spoken."
LUKE 7:11-35
Jesus could get into trouble just walking through town! Of course, raising the dead got back to John the Baptist, who was in Herod's jail.
DEALING WITH DOUBT: Two doubters here: John the Baptist and the Pharisees. The Pharisees weren't just doubters, they were scoffers and their doubt was a cover-up for rebellion against God. John's doubt was probably the result of the tough circumstances he was in. He had obeyed God and now he was in prison! Had he heard God correctly? What should he do? What do WE do in difficult times?
(1.) He took his doubts to Jesus Himself. He could have asked the Pharisees who would probably take sides with John in his doubt and shown him some sympathy, but that would have made things worse. John stayed submitted to God and did the right thing.
(2.) He looked at God's goodness and greatness in Jesus. Jesus told him to do that. As he considered those things, his heart and mind calmed down.
CHILDREN AT PLAY: This is a rebuke to the religious leaders for rejecting both John AND Jesus. John was a "hippie in a hairshirt", preaching sternly about sin and repentance and judgment. Jesus, on the other hand, came preaching about forgiveness and healing and "good news for the poor". Same Message, just a different presentation. But the religious leaders, like those little children at play, don't want to play unless they can make up the game and the rules. They rejected both presentations of Truth.
RESPONSE: Do you want sympathy or a solution? Don't use "doubt" as an excuse to disobey God. We usually dress it up by saying things like, "I'm not sure". THEN GET SURE!! We do that by going to God in prayer and asking Him our questions. As long as they are asked in a submissive and honest attitude, God doesn't mind questions. Then, out loud, thank and praise God for His goodness and His greatness. God is always good and always great; but circumstances can change.
PSALM 68:19-35
God takes people who have no hope, and gives them "strength and power" so that they rise in triumph over their enemies.
PROVERBS 11:29-31
"troubles his own house" - to churn the water; to keep things stirred up - That person ends up with nothing!
The fruit of the righteous, which is his influence on others, itself is a tree of life for others, because his words and actions bring righteousness, peace and joy to them. By this the wise becomes a winner of souls, either to himself or to Jesus.
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