Bible Studies for Life Series for June 24: Renew your devotion daily
Posted: 6/24/07
Bible Studies for Life Series for June 24
Renew your devotion daily
• Deuteronomy 28:10-15; 30:1-3, 6, 11-14, 19-20
First Baptist Church, Stanton
Finding the right leader can be a great challenge for God’s people. Many churches are seeking the person God would have for them to lead and minister among his people.
Several years ago, many Baptist conventions began to train some men across the states to be “intentional interims” for churches. By nature, this process tells us the church and the intentional interim have a purpose and a plan to “work through” together while a search is made to find a new leader and pastor for a church.
Finding successors is not limited to the church. Many years ago, the New York Yankees were saying goodbye to a real hero, Bobby Richardson. Richardson was the second baseman and the quiet leader of his team. He had prayed about the end of his career. He felt that God had a higher purpose for his life and that it was time for him to move on.
Management disagreed. Del Webb, the Yankees co-owner, pushed a blank contract across the table and asked Richardson to fill it in. He pushed it back across the table, saying: “The Yankees have treated me well, and I am not interested in filling in the blanks in that contract. My interest is filling in the blanks in my life as a husband and a father. My last game was my last game.”
Moses was leading the people to settle in the Promised Land without settling for less in their relationship with God. This is a mark of a great leader. If they truly would be Promised Land people, they would remember in a passionate and obedient way the Lord who kept all his promises to them.
Are we a people who remember? Is our relationship with the Lord one of passionate obedience?
Come before God (Deuteronomy 29:10-15)
All of God’s people were gathered in his presence. The purpose of their worship was to renew their commitment to God. Some would enter into this covenant for the first time. Others would renew their commitment to the covenant. This renewal of the covenant included all the people of God. This corporate act of worship and commitment was a spiritual marker in their walk with God.
What happens when we worship God? Each time we come before God, we retrace our spiritual steps and are reminded of who God is and all God has done in our lives. He alone is God and is deserving of our highest and best. When we come before God in worship, we exchange our heart for his.
Return to passionate obedience (Deuteronomy 30:1-3, 6)
Moses knew how hard-hearted his people were from 40 years of wilderness experiences. God revealed to him that they would one day forget him and be exiled from the land. In spite of this, God provided hope. They turned from their sins and returned to the Lord. He provided an opportunity for them to renew the covenant.
The emphasis is on how God would gather them and deliver them from exile. It is God who renews and restores his repentant people. He enabled them to love him with all their hearts and souls. God alone gives new life.
Have you followed the Lord for a long time? Has your love for him grown darker or is it brighter today?
I am preparing a funeral message for a precious family as I write these words. Loss and grief can do strange things to us. I met a wonderful 79-year-old man named Jerry who has lost the love of his life. He shared with me that each night, he spends the last few hours searching the Scriptures and reflecting on God’s word. I’d say my new friend Jerry has kept his passionate obedience for the Lord. Jerry preached to the preacher today.
Realize you can know and obey (Deuteronomy 30:11-14)
Moses gives God’s people a stirring word of encouragement. We would do well to look closely at his words. Moses says some things about our eternal God:
• God is not incomprehensible (not difficult to understand).
• God is not inaccessible.
• God is near.
• God is approachable.
We all need a word of encouragement from time to time. Any leader worth his or her salt will want to lift the people in their relationship to God. Moses points us to our relationship with God, reminding us that he longs to love us and be near us daily.
Choose life today (Deuteronomy 30:19-20)
Moses set before his people two choices—life and death. There were no other choices. God’s way leads to life and blessing. Their way led to death and curses. God offered himself to his people to give them life and peace. Now people must renew their commitment to life. They must guard against temptation and hold on to the Lord.
Bobby Richardson came to our area a few years ago, and I had an engaging conversation with him. This was a real treat for me. He bubbled as he told me of having two sons who are pastors. He looked me in the eye and said, “My son is my pastor!”
Bobby Richardson chose life with God and life with family over life with the Yankees and millions of dollars. Bobby has no regrets over his decision. You may know that Bobby Richardson has ministered to many of his Yankee teammates over the years. He tells them: “Choose life. Look to the Lord and be saved.” Good choice, Bobby. May we make the wise choice of choosing life.
Discussion questions
• In what ways do we settle for less in our relationship with God?
• How can we ignite more passion in our commitment with God?
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