Our Daily Bread 23rd September 2020 Devotional Today message
Topic: God-Paved Memories
Bible in a Year: Song of Songs 1–3; Galatians 2
Key Verse: Assemble the people before me to hear my words so that they may learn to revere me. – Deuteronomy 4:10
Today’s Scripture: Deuteronomy 4:3–10 (NIV)
The New International Version
3 You saw with your own eyes what the Lord did at Baal Peor.u The Lord your God destroyed from among you everyone who followed the Baal of Peor, 4 but all of you who held fast to the Lord your God are still alive today.
5 See, I have taughtv you decrees and lawsw as the Lord my God commandedx me, so that you may follow them in the land you are enteringy to take possession of it. 6 Observez them carefully, for this will show your wisdoma and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.”b 7 What other nation is so greatc as to have their gods neard them the way the Lord our God is near us whenever we pray to him? 8 And what other nation is so great as to have such righteous decrees and lawse as this body of laws I am setting before you today?
9 Only be careful,f and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teachg them to your childrenh and to their children after them. 10 Remember the day you stood before the Lord your God at Horeb,i when he said to me, “Assemble the people before me to hear my words so that they may learnj to reverek me as long as they live in the landl and may teachm them to their children.”
Insight: Our Daily Bread 23 September 2020 Devotional Today message
To encourage the Israelites to remain faithful to Yahweh by keeping God’s laws, Moses reminded them of what happened at Baal Peor in Moab (recounted in Numbers 25:1–9 and Psalm 106:28–29) to warn from their own history that their very lives depended on obeying God’s law. As an added motivation, Moses also reminded them that they were the only nation privileged to have a personal relationship and intimate fellowship with God and were the only nation given God’s law (Deuteronomy 4:7–8). Faithful obedience to God would distinguish them as a great and wise people (vv. 6, 8–9).
TODAY’S WORD: When my grown son faced a difficult situation, I reminded him about God’s constant care and provision during his dad’s year of unemployment. I recounted the times God strengthened our family and gave us peace while my mom fought and lost her battle with leukemia. Highlighting the stories of God’s faithfulness stitched into Scripture, I affirmed He was good at keeping His word. I led my son down our family’s God-paved memory lane, reminding him about the ways He remained reliable through our valley and mountaintop moments. Whether we were struggling or celebrating, God’s presence, love, and grace proved sufficient.
Although I’d like to claim this faith-strengthening strategy as my own, God designed the habit of sharing stories to inspire the future generations’ belief in Him. As the Israelites remembered all they’d seen God do in the past, He placed cobblestones of confidence down their divinely paved memory lanes.
The Israelites had witnessed God holding true to His promises as they followed Him (Deuteronomy 4:3–6). He’d always heard and answered their prayers (v. 7). Rejoicing and reminiscing with the younger generations (v. 9), the Israelites shared the holy words breathed and preserved by the one true God (v. 10).
As we tell of our great God’s majesty, mercy, and intimate love, our convictions and the faith of others can be strengthened by the confirmation of His enduring trustworthiness. By: Xochitl Dixon
Reflect: Who’s invested in your spiritual growth by sharing what God has done in their lives? What creative ways can you share His faithfulness and love across generational lines?
Today’s Prayer: Sovereign God, thank You for empowering me to walk with sure-footed faith that crosses generational lines.
Thanks for reading Daily Devotional! God bless you!
Our Daily Bread 23rd September 2020 Devotional Message
Comments are closed.