by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Deuteronomy 11-13
“For the land, into which you are entering to possess it, is not like the land of Egypt from which you came, where you used to sow your seed and water it with your foot like a vegetable garden….But the land into which you are about to cross to possess it, a land of hills and valleys, drinks water from the rain of heaven, a land for which the Lord your God cares; the eyes of the Lord your God are always on it, from the beginning to the end of the year.” (Deut. 11:10-12)
That’s your life now, as a Christian. Before you came to the Lord all you had was striving and striving in your own strength, but now, you know that God’s eyes are upon your life and your Promised Land. He is watching over you in all that you do.
Sometimes it may not seem like it, but it is true. What you and I have to do is reach out for that promise, just like the woman with the issue of blood or blind Bartimaeus did with Jesus. They reached out and received what He had, when others just watched Him walk by. Now it’s our turn. We too can reach out and receive this promise from our Father. (more…)
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Deuteronomy 8-10
Heads up as we see the Israelites approach the Promised Land. Remember, Egypt and the bondage to Pharoah resembled our lives and bondage to Satan before we were born again. We were able to cross the Red Sea (the blood of Jesus) by God’s mighty hand. Now we have a choice. There is a certain amount of wilderness to go through, but we can stay there and “hang out,” or we can press through to the Promised Land.
The Promised Land is the land full of the promises from God for healing, deliverance, blessed families, and provision. There are giants in the Promised Land; demonic forces which do not want you to have all that Jesus paid for. So we have to proceed as our Father directs.
We must worship Him with our whole hearts, and we must love others. And we are to have faith. If we are to live the God kind of life, we will not be prideful, because it is His goodness that provides the blessings. (more…)
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Deuteronomy 3, 4
“And now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the judgments which I am teaching you to perform, in order that you may live and go in and take possession of the land which the Lord, the God of your fathers is giving you.”(4:1)
With this introduction, Moses begins one of his most inspiring messages to the Israelites. As he speaks, you can feel a father’s heart toward the people. Just think what he must be feeling. For the last forty plus years he has led this group on a mission from God.
He exhorts them to inquire from one end of the earth to the other and see if anything like this has ever been done before…”that a god has tried to go and take for himself a nation from within another nation by trials, by signs and wonders and by war and by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm and by great terrors, as the Lord your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?”(4:34)
The significance of their relationship with God is beyond anything ever seen or heard. But Moses knows how easy it is for people to forget unless they are reminded over and over. So he is gving them a final charge.
They must remember that “the Lord, He is God in Heaven above and in the earth below; there is no other.”(4:39)
He warns them of making idols with their hands. Today, idols are still made with hands, but they usually aren’t of wood or stone. They are bank accounts, stock portfolios, or even education – anything that you might trust more than God.
All of us have to guard our hearts so that we are locked into the One True God.
Mark 10:32-52
Blind Bartimaeus has faith and he boldly shows it. His crying out annoys the disciples, but not Jesus. Jesus hears the faith in his voice.
When Bartimaeus casts aside his cloak, he is showing faith. Blind people of that day wore cloaks to signify their handicap, so as he casts it aside, he is indicating that he won’t be needing it anymore.
“Go your way; your faith has made you well.”(v. 52) If we can just grasp this, our lives will change forever. Jesus is still in the healing and delivering business, and our faith can still make us well.
Read, meditate, believe. Read, meditate, believe. That’s the way our faith comes to us.
I want to be like Bartimaeus, and I know that you do also. I don’t want to settle for the status quo; I want to believe – and receive – God’s best.
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by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Numbers 34-36
The land gets divided. The time has almost come for entering the new territory. There must have been excitement, and there must have been fear. To enter the territory was thrilling and it was scary.
It’s interesting how much detail is put into making sure that the tribes don’t start gaining the others’ property. Marriages are to stay within the tribes so that outsiders won’t come in and inherit the land of another family.
The land of inheritance is so important to God. The land is still important to Him today. When you look around your community, think about it. (more…)
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by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Numbers 31-33
Reuben and Gad settle. They settle in the land before they cross over into Canaan, and they settle for less than God’s best.
We know people like that today. Rather than stretching for all that God has, they are willing to settle. They may have an addiction that they just “live with.” Or they may spend their life in ordinary, humdrum distractions, not reaching for the best that God has.
I don’t want to “settle,” do you? I want all that God has for me. I want to fulfill my destiny in Him.
In 33:50-56, God gives Moses a charge. He is to speak to the sons of Israel to warn them of things to come. They are to leave no one alive in the new land, or they will be like “thorns in your sides.” (more…)
Deuteronomy 11-13
