Read Deuteronomy 3,4
Pastor Gary teaches us that in Deuteronomy that the law will be repeated to the second generation. Moses writes this at 120 years old, in the first person until his decline and death. This takes place over about a one month period of time. Deuteronomy is the most quoted book in the New Testament. Jesus quotes from here more than any other book in the Old Testament. The word love appears more times than the four previous books combined.
Moses will stress upon them the importance, the vital necessity of knowing God’s word, His laws, His decrees and His statutes. We must also apply them to our lives so that it will go well with us.
Moses will give three benefits to keeping God’s word. First, for your own personal benefit. Second, for the benefit of others who don’t know God. Third, for the benefit of the next generation.
- There are consequences to sin even if God doesn’t strike you dead every time you sin. Obey so it will go well with you. Honor God and receive His favor. Dishonor God and experience the consequences. It doesn’t mean everything will go perfect in your life if you obey God.
Even if you’re a committed Christian, you will still have your share of trouble because of our fallen world. There is double trouble that we bring on our ourselves in addition to regular trouble when we disobey God. When we violate the Commandments of God, we invite hardship and difficulty into our lives.
Deuteronomy 4:40, 6:3, 6:18, 12:28. James 1:22, 25. God’s Word is for comfort and correction, for wisdom and direction, for blessing and salvation.
- When the people of God obey the Word of God, it causes other people to take notice of God. We can become a living testimony so that others can look on our lives and realize there is something different, unique or special about our lives. You can then direct people to the Lord because they first see it evidenced in the way we live.
Matthew 5:16. Something should be illuminating about our lives in the Lord. 1 Peter 3:15. People will ask you because they observe something about your life that will prompt them to ask, “what’s the reason for this hope that you have?”
Are we living our lives in such a way that it would prompt someone to ask us about the Lord? There are too many Christians that are undercover Christians. Are you a secret Christian? Be known – be noticed. Worse than this, is someone who proclaimed to be a Christian and yet lives a life that communicates a mixed message to a watching world.
What does the Lord think about your life? 1 Timothy 1. Encounter Jesus, so your life has changed. We’re not perfect people, but we’re perfectly saved.
- Set a proper example for the next generation. There are two different approaches to helping instruct the next generation. First, to teach by example – observation. Kids are sponges. We have a moral responsibility by example.
What are your kids learning by the way you talk, the way you love your wife, respect your husband, discipline them, encourage and love them, manage your money, settle disputes? Do you point them to Jesus?
Let them learn about the Lord by the way we live. Examine your life.
Second, to train – prodding and guiding them through the course of life with the Word of God. Use the Word as a tool so that they might know who He is. Be an example to the next generation by training them, by prodding them.
You can’t control all the choices your children will make the older they get. Sometimes they will make bad choices just like you and I did. Despite all you did to try to instill God‘s Word in their lives. We can only be responsible to a certain degree then we must trust the Lord. How much of an investment will you make in their lives to help them grow? This small window could set the course for their eternity.
We are living our eternity now. Keep God’s word.
https://cornerstonechapel.net/teaching/20130908/
https://biblenote.topmusetech.com/shared/5da57e21568d442db05d66f872eb35f3
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