June 24, 2010

Deuteronomy 29

An acquaintance of mine has published several books on Christian Education. He tells the joke/story that during book signing events he frequently signs his name with the reference Deut. 29:29, which reads, “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” One day after a particularly long day, he signed it Deut. 28:28. Later the lady came back and asked why he had signed it that way. He said that he had meant Deut. 29:29. He couldn’t remember what 28:28 said. So, he looked it up. It reads, “The Lord will strike you with madness and blindness and confusion of heart.”

Is it not amazing that the God of the Universe would seek to establish us in a covenant with Him? He desires us to be a people just for Himself that He would be a God to us! How awesome is that? He is very jealous of that relationship. I am very jealous of my relationship with my wife. There is only one person to whom I want her to be more attached, that is God. It is right that I should be that way. The God of the Universe is very jealous. There is no person to whom He wants us to be more attached! It is right that He should be that way. After all, He is the God of the Universe. Nevertheless I am overwhelmed that the God of the Universe should desire such a relationship with me.

Everything He designs and permits to come into my life, He does so with the goal of enhancing that relationship with me. I do not fully understand His motivations in everything He designs and permits. They are often times secret. He does not make them known to me, nor is it incumbent upon Him to do so. But He has revealed this—He loves me, and wants my affections set on Him first. That is also true for my children. He has also revealed that He desires that I should obey Him. Anyone who says that they know Him yet has no desire to obey Him should beware. Either they do not know Him, or they are about to receive some pretty severe discipline. Either way, it will not be pleasant. You see He is jealous for His own glory—rightly so. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!

--Pastor john



Acts 7:22-43

Moses understood himself to be some sort of a deliverer. But even having been raised in Pharaoh's court, his delusions of grandeur were too small. He had not yet met the God of glory. He thought that he could deliver his brethren from temporary oppression through murder. It didn't work. Forty years he lived in Pharaoh's court, believing he was somebody. Forty years in the desert he lived as a shepherd, learning he was nobody. But then he heard the voice of the Lord. He saw the Lord of Glory in a burning bush. Later he met the Lord of Glory atop Mt. Sinai. Understanding the glory of the Lord made all the difference in the world. He delivered 2,000,000 from Egypt to Mt. Sinai by just depending upon God to show His glory. He didn't have to commit murder. He left everything in God's hands. He simply spoke the glory of God as it was revealed to him. Moses learned that God takes nobodies who depend only upon His glory and does marvelous things for His own glory. That is the way Jesus works. Indeed we serve a glorious king! Speak His glory to someone today!

--Pastor john