Highlights:
Warning against false gods and adding to or taking away anything from His Word. Just think! We are to cleave (adhere) to (Deut. 11:22) the Lord! We must choose between loyalty to and love of the Word of God and enjoying His blessing or conforming to worldly standards that are inspired by Satan (12:28).
Verses for Today:
Lay up these My Words in your heart and in your soul. . . . And ye shall teach them (to) your children . . . when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up (Deut. 11:18-19).
At Sinai, God had directed Moses to tell the people: If ye will obey My voice indeed, and keep My Covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto Me above all people (Ex. 19:5). The importance of obedience was emphasized 19 times in the instructions concerning the building of the Tabernacle (chap. 38 through 40). Moses repeated to the new generation what the Lord had said to their parents and reminded them of how important it is to diligently keep all these Commandments which I command you, to do them, to love the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, and to cleave (hold fast) unto Him (Deut. 11:22).
To perpetuate loyalty and love to God in future generations, every Israelite was to live in subjection to the Word of God and also to teach it to their children. As Christians, we too should love the Lord and be obedient to Him. We are also responsible to teach our children to truly love God their Heavenly Father and obey Him.
Moses stood in sight of the promised land and said: I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; A blessing, if ye obey . . . and a curse, if ye will not obey (11:26-28). Let's not be so concerned about praying for blessings as we are with being obedient to His Word; then, God will take care of the blessings. Another fundamental principle for pleasing God is to rejoice in all that ye put your hand unto, ye and your households, wherein the Lord thy God hath blessed thee (12:7).
What our children will become is often influenced by what they learn about our values in life. That is why parents need to devote time to developing the minds of their young children. It is of utmost importance that parents guide even the youngest child to reverence God, to worship Him, to pray, and to recognize the Bible as the voice of God speaking directly to them.
It is vital in this time of moral chaos to provide our children with a strong spiritual home environment that includes prayer at meal times and family Bible reading and devotions every day.
Thought for Today:
Children need to fear (have a reverential attitude to) God and to know that He commanded: Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first Commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth (Eph. 6:2-3; comp. Ex. 20:12).
Christ Revealed:
Through the Burnt Offerings which were totally consumed. These typified Christ's total offering of Himself to death (Deut. 12:6; see Heb. 10:5-7). The bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the Sanctuary (Holy Place) by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify (make holy) the people with His own blood, suffered without the gate (13:11-12).
Word Studies:
11:1 keep His charge =be true to all His requirements; 11:6 opened her mouth =split like a chasm; 11:10 thy foot =working a water treadmill with your foot; 11:11 drinketh water =soaks up water; 11:17 wrath be kindled =anger flare up; 11:21 as the days of heaven upon the earth =forever; 11:22 cleave =hold fast; 11:25 stand before you =resist you; 12:15 lusteth after =covets, desires; 12:26 holy =consecrated; 12:29 cut off =destroy; 13:13 Belial =worthlessness, evil; 13:15 smite =strike; 13:16 spoil =plunder; 13:18 hearken =listen and obey.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for International Broadcasts sponsored by Lt. Col. Walter W. Swanson • Government Officials: Rep. Tim Holden (PA), Rep. Todd Platts (PA), and Sen. James Risch (ID) • Country: Barbados (259,000) on the island farthest east in the West Indies • Major language: English • Religious freedom • 79% Protestant; 8% Roman Catholic • Prayer Suggestion: When discouraged over material or financial loss, praise the Lord for preparing and providing an eternal home (John 14:1-3).
Optional Reading: Luke 20
Memory Verse for the Week: Exodus 20:17