March 12 - God’s Curse, Our Blessing

 Read today’s texts first: Deuteronomy 19-21; Galatians 3

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The curse Jesus endured became our blessing!

It’s sometimes difficult to read through this section of the law - it seems so harsh! But, we must remember how barbaric the middle eastern culture was at this time in history (and by comparison, still is today). The Judaic law was far more just and civilized than any ancient culture of that day. In fact, the way Jesus applied OT law (Judeo Christian values) has become the foundational justice system of most developed nations today.

But what struck me this time was the practice of raising the bodies of those guilty of capital crimes on a pole as an example to others. According to 21:23, anyone who is raised on a pole is under God’s curse. Coincidentally, our reading in Galatians quotes that same verse in reference to Jesus: Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole” (3:13).

Think about that. We are all law breakers, guilty of the harshest of judgments. The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23a). We deserve to be put up on that pole, but Jesus, God’s only Son, became cursed for us, sinless yet sentenced to die on that cross in our place: the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23b).

Reading about the law reminds us of how much we need God’s amazing grace. If we were to be justified by the law then we would die, but instead we are justified by faith in Jesus. That’s what the book of Galatians is all about. Paul is addressing those who are trying to undermine faith in the gospel message by emphasizing the works of the law. The law can point out our sin but falls short of saving us. “Thank You Lord for doing what I couldn’t; fulfilling the demands of the law in my place. The curse You endured became my blessing!”

March 11 - The Man Who Would Be King

 Read today’s texts first: Deuteronomy 16-18; Psalm 38; Galatians 2

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Two avoid the pitfalls of power: study God’s Word
every day and remember He is God & you are not.

The above title I borrowed from a novella written by Rudyard Kipling. It features two British adventurers who, through superior knowledge and firepower, become revered as gods by the people of Kafiristan. They rule there as kings until one of them is bitten by his kafir wife and bleeds. Because gods aren’t supposed to bleed, they suffer rejection by the kafirs and an unpleasant end to their lives. The title and the plot are fitting to what will happen in Israel.

The Israelites, as God’s chosen people, were supposed to be ruled by God (1 Samuel 8:6,7). But God, who sees man’s choices before they’re made, knows that someday they will want to have a human king, just like the other nations. He warns them well in advance what can happen when you give a man that kind of god-like power. The three areas of temptation come into play: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16). They will tend to gather women (lust of the flesh), wealth (lust of the eyes), and weapons (eg. horses=power=pride of life) (Deuteronomy 17:14-17).

The same thing can happen today with God’s chosen people, His church. Some Christians don’t want to be directly accountable to God so they set up their pastor to rule as their priest and king. That way, instead of feeling personally responsible, they can sit back, complain when things don’t go well, and get rid of their pastor when they discover he or she was human after all!

But God gives two simple rules for leaders to avoid the pitfalls of power: study God’s Word every day so you remember that He is God and you are not, and never consider yourself better than those you lead (17:18-20). “Lord, I have learned, sometimes the hard way, that You are my God and King; any influence I have comes only through submission to You!”

March 10 - The Law of Love

Read today’s texts first: Deuteronomy 13-15; Galatians 1

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The congruence between our words and actions is called “integrity” - the “integration” of faith and works! 

Some Christians dismiss much of the Old Testament, thinking it focuses on the law while the teachings of Jesus and the New Testament seem to focus on love. Then they tie the law to “legalism,” a bad thing, and love to “relationship,” a good thing. Next they start to disconnect obedience to God’s laws with their love for God. The end result - Christians who lie, steal, dishonour their parents, and commit adultery during the week, but sing love songs to God on Sunday morning.

Jesus wasn’t the first one to connect God’s laws to love. He summed up all the commands in two: love God and love others. But He got that idea from OT law (compare Matthew 22:37-40 with Deut. 6:5 and Lev. 19:18). The first 5 of His 10 commandments have to do with loving God; the next 5 relate to loving people. We prove our love for God by obeying His laws (John 13:34,35; 14:15).

We see this over and over in our readings today. If we love God with all your heart and soul, we will not worship false gods (13:3), we will eat what God tells us to eat (14:2,3), we will set aside our tithes for Him (14:22,23), observe the sabbath day and sabbath year, take care of the poor, and so on. We prove our love by our obedience - walking the talk! The congruence between our words of love for God and our actions is called integrity – “integration” between our faith and works.

“Lord, I want to love You with all my heart, soul, mind and strength, my words and my actions.”

March 9 - The Lord is my Inheritance

 Read today’s texts first: Deuteronomy 10-12; Mark 16

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When you devote your life to God’s business,
He’ll take care of yours.

We tend to speed read through the OT “law library,” as the fast-paced action-packed stories of Genesis and Exodus slows down into the fine details of God’s laws. But Deuteronomy means “the second law” because it reviews, expands, and beautifully illustrates the law. It’s one of my favourite books because it has so many memorable passages and devotional insights.

The one phrase that caught my eye and heart this time was in reference to the Levites. They were the only tribe who did not receive any portion of the promised land. This is why the Levites have no share or inheritance among their fellow Israelites; The Lord is their inheritance (10:9). I love this statement. In fact, I said the same thing to my financial advisor after he reviewed my meager retirement funds!

I really do believe when you devote your life to God’s business, He’ll take care of yours. I’ve seen it over and over again, especially within my own family. Jan’s dad and mom never had high-paying secular jobs and never owned a house. They devoted their lives to ministry. Helen continued to pastor her flock of seniors at Courtyard Terrace until her 98^th birthday. Yet they never lacked for the essentials of life, and still managed to leave both a financial and spiritual legacy to their children. Their inheritance was the Lord, and their children, grand children, and great grand children got to share in that inheritance. Now that’s a retirement plan with dividends that are out of this world, literally!

That doesn’t mean we should be foolish with our resources, but the promises of provision and protection throughout the rest of our readings today apply to everyone who loves God and obeys His commands, especially those who do it full time. “Lord, You are my inheritance and while I may not have much financially to pass on to my children and grand children, You are more than enough for them too!”

March 8 - How to Fix a Stiff Neck

 Read today’s texts first: Deuteronomy 7-9; Mark 15

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Turning our heads around and lifting our heads up
regularly will prevent a spiritual stiff neck!

I have often been bothered by a stiff neck, in more ways than one. One of the perks in helping my kids with their careers was the free massages. A local massage college offered last minute bookings free to struggling actors, like my son who does occasional “extra” work (and me, his “agent” of sorts). These massage therapy students taught me how to free up my neck muscles through regular neck rotations and I’ve never felt better.

In the Bible the physical problem is a metaphor for a spiritual one (9:6,13). The Jews understood the term “stiff-necked”- they used it in reference to oxen that refused to turn their necks and change direction when prodded by the ox goad. God called His people stiff-necked when they would not respond to His prodding. The solution for a spiritual stiff-neck is much the same as the physical – regular neck rotations. Sometimes we get so focused on the present and the future, staring straight ahead, that we forget where we came from and how we got here. That’s why Moses is reminding God’s people, and that includes us, to “remember” (7:18; 8:2,18; 9:7), “don’t forget” (8:11,14,19; 9:7).

We need to turn our heads once in a while, look back, and remember that we didn’t get here through our own efforts. God brought us here – it had nothing to do with our power or strength (8:17,18) or our righteousness (9:6), but by God’s grace. When we stop looking around at what God has done for us (9:29) or looking up to thank Him every day for His provision (8:10), our spiritual necks will stiffen up. By the way, is saying grace before every meal a lost discipline, because if so, we need to find it again and fast. Turning our heads around and lifting our heads up regularly will prevent a spiritual stiff neck!

“Lord, remembering what You did (Mark 15) once a month during church communion is not enough exercise. Help me to keep my neck loose by looking back every day at what You did for me in the past and looking up with a heart of thanks for all that You’ve provided for me right now!”

March 7 - Stay Awake. Part 2

 Read today’s texts first: Deuteronomy 5,6; Psalm 43; Mark 14

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Sometimes the spirit is willing but the flesh is “asleep!” 

More of the same today - me nodding off again while reading the Bible, and another reminder from those readings to stay awake. In this account it’s the disciples who can’t keep their eyes open. They know Jesus is distressed and sorrowful (14:33), facing betrayal and a possible death sentence. He urges them to stay awake and stand guard while He goes into the garden to pray. Three times He comes back to find them sound asleep (32-41).

You would think after their intense last supper with Jesus, the disciples would be aware of how important the next few hours would be. If not, what Jesus said next should have given them a clue: Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak (38). We can only guess, but had they stayed awake and prayed with Jesus, maybe they wouldn’t have deserted Him during the tortuous hours ahead.

But the real sequel to this “wake-up” theme is found in the OT reading. Not only do we need to be vigilant for our own good but also to safeguard our children. As the protective Hebrew nation moved into the promised land, they were being exposed to the perversion of other nations, much like Christian families experience today. While some parents try to shelter their kids through Christian schools or home-schooling, that may not be enough. We need to help our children wake up to evil in our world and teach them how to follow God’s Word. The advice in Deuteronomy 6:4-9 applies to parents today: talking about God and His commands with our kids as they start and end each day, reading it, posting it on our walls, memorizing it, and, most of all, living it!

“Lord, thank You for the opportunity I now have to spend more time with my grand kids. Help me as I help them wake up spiritually, learning to hate evil and love You and Your Word!” 

March 6 - Stay Awake

 Read today’s texts first: Deuteronomy 3,4; Psalm 36; Mark 13

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Like frogs in a simmering kettle, we think we’re lounging in a hot tub but we’re really just neck-deep in “hot water!” From comfort to compromise to comatose! 

Normally I get excited when it’s time to read God’s Word each day, but I must confess - I remember a day when I fell asleep reading these passages, several times! There was a good reason. We had just spent the week looking after our three grandkids and their dog, Sadie Belle. Let’s just say I had renewed appreciation for my parents who raised the six of us (although we were exceptionally good and mature well beyond our years). My grandkids were also exceptionally good, but Sadie was not (still is not) well trained. She did live up to her breed name (a cockapoo), leaving plenty of cucca and poo on every carpet in the house. Where's Cesar Millan when you need him?! 

So when I read the last two words from Mark 13, “stay awake,” I really felt convicted. Spiritually, this is exactly what can happen to any of us at one time or another. We get caught up in the demands of every-day life and forget what and Who we are living for. If we are not alert, we can become like the godless world we live in. Like frogs in a simmering kettle, we may think we are lounging in a hot tub but we soon discover we’re really just neck-deep in “hot water!” From comfort to compromise to comatose!

The readings in both Deuteronomy and Mark carry warnings coupled with prophetic consequences for disobedience: listen to the rules (4:1), observe them carefully (4:6), be careful and watch yourselves closely (4:9), be careful not to forget (4:23), watch out (13:5), be on guard, be alert (13:9,23,33), stay awake (13:35,37)! What was promised in Deuteronomy came true in startling detail; the same will happen for the end times prophecy predicted in Mark 13.

“Lord, I may get tired at times physically, but I can never nod off spiritually. Reading Your Word each day helps me stay alert to possible compromise and keeps me out of hot water!”