March 15th

Wow! There was alot in this morning's bread. Deut 6-8 are the heart of Israelites law. "Hear, O Israel" - we are to listen. Listening is the beginning of knowing God's commands. "The LORD our God, the LORD is one." - He is it. There are no other gods and God is complete - He is holy. We are to love him with all of our heart, soul and strength. Everything that we are. We are to serve Him only and not to forget what He has done and who He is. We should totally destroy the enemy - not allowing Satan to have a foothold. God loves us and calls us "His treasured possession." He loves us by setting us free from Egypt and keeping His promises with us. We too must love Him and keep his commands. I was impacted by these sentences; "The LORD your God will drive out those nations before you, little by little. You will not be allowed to eliminate them all at once, or the wild animals will multiply around you." Reflecting on this I think that God establishes freedin in a way that free will remain and so other taskmasters will not be allowed to bind us or put us into slavery. Freedom had boundaries and limitations. Perhaps we would turn away if we were given more than we can handle. I have to reflect on this some more. In chapter 8 God reminds the people not to forget about Him and the discipline He gave to them in the desrt. He humbled and tested in the wilderness. Humbling took place through hunger. Then God provdied miraculously showing that he is sustainer. That food alone is not what sustains or satisfies. We are sustained and satisfied by God's Word. The Word that comes from His mouth. Not what I say or think but what God says. When I eat - I must PRAISE God and not become proud of my accomplishments. I must remember that HE has done everything for me.
Lord, thank you for your word. Every word that comes from your mouth is what sustains me. i praise you because you are faithful. You love me and call me your treasured possession. You love me, so you discipline me, humble me, test me and cleanse me. Lord, I surrender my body, my mind and my heart to you. I give up my striving after fleshly accomplishments and hand over my fleshly desires to you - knowing that you fully satisfy. Thank you for your goodness. Thank you for your kindness. Thank you for the cross and the blood that covers my sin and the sin of the world. To you be all honor and glory!