Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
And Moses recited the words of this song from beginning to end in the hearing of the whole assembly of Israel:
Listen, O heavens, and I will speak; hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.
Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants.
I will proclaim the name of the Lord. Oh, praise the greatness of our God!
He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.
Deuteronomy 31:30, 32:1-4
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
As Deuteronomy, Chapter 31 ends and Chapter 32 begins, Moses recites the words of the song God gave him to the “whole assembly of Israel”. In his opening words, he shows us eight critical points to remember as we go forth to address others about the awesome God we serve:
1. We should seek to proclaim the word of the Lord everywhere.
Moses starts off by saying, “Listen, O heavens, and I will speak; hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.” What Moses had to say was of critical importance because they weren’t his words but words from the mouth of God. Given this, all attention was required to what was going to be said, in heaven and on earth.
2. We should always seek to teach about the Lord.
One of the major tenets of the Great Commission issued by our Savior Jesus Christ was to teach others to obey all that He commanded. His Father expected it before He did and Moses understood this. We know because of his heartfelt words…”Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants.” The people of Israel had so much to learn about God, His word, His laws, His commands and His expectations. Many were new in their faith…like “new grass” and “tender plants”. Moses hoped that his teaching (which in essence was God’s teaching) would “descend like dew” or “abundant rain” on those he instructed, helping them to grow and blossom in the name of the Lord. We should wish to do likewise as we go forth to carry out the call of Jesus and make disciples of all nations.
3. We should always seek to proclaim the name of the Lord.
There should never be a time in our lives when we don’t lift up His name. He is responsible for everything that we are and everything we have. Thus, we should ever testify about His providence, grace, mercy, goodness and love to the point where everyone who knows us knows who defines us and our lives. Bless His holy name not only by what you do but what you say…what you proclaim to others.
4. We should always praise the Lord’s greatness.
Think about everything that you are and everything that is. God made it all. He created everything in existence and continues to reign over all…the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We would be nothing without Him. We would have nothing without Him. Friends, we serve a truly great God and He is worthy of our praise…now and forever. Let us never cease to lift Him up in every way…every day…to everyone we talk to.
5. We should always remember that we serve a Lord who is the Rock.
Genesis 49:24 called God the “Rock of Israel” and He remains our Rock today. So many people we come into contact with are in need of strength and assurance. They are often living life that is built on shifting sand. We are required to point them toward relocating their life onto the Solid Rock...Jesus…where they can always find everything they need to make it through their circumstances. Or as Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)
6. We should always remember that the Lord’s works are perfect.
Indeed, as James said, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17) Why doesn’t He change? Because He’s the Rock and He gives us what we need in accordance with His will for our lives…not in accordance with our will…but His will. If we remember that, then we will patiently wait for His glory to be revealed in whatever our circumstances…a glory that will always show us that His works are indeed perfect. Let us use this as an encouragement to all we minister to.
7. We should always remember that our Lord is just.
Unlike us, He does no wrong and is upright. And given our sinful inclinations, do we deserve any favor from Him? And yet, He corrects us only as needed to draw us nearer to Him and the righteous, holy life He desires for all of His children. And He forgives and restores when we repent from our sinfulness and turn back toward Him. These are critical qualities of our Lord that need to be shared this with others.
8. We should always remember that the Lord is faithful.
In fact, the Lord is the definition of faithful. He stays with us even though we so often turn from Him. He never gives up on us and always awaits the day when we return to Him. Is there anyone we can rely on who stays truer to us than the Lord? There isn’t…and we need to let everyone know that.
Friends, we serve a great, perfect, just, upright and faithful God whose name should be proclaimed and praised for all to hear. Whether we do it in a song, a poem, a devotional, a letter to someone, in prayer, or in conversations with everyone we speak to, we simply must do it…not because we have to but because we want to with all our heart and soul. The Lord would expect nothing less. He is worthy of nothing less. Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
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