January 15, 2014 - Wednesday

Start Time: 5:27 A.M.

End Time: 6:13 A.M.

Title: The Holy and the Profane

Scriptures: Deuteronomy 14:1 – 29

God’s Messages / God’s Promises / God’s Commands:

→ Moses said that they are the children of the Lord their God so they are not to cut themselves or shave their forehead bald for the sake of the dead.  For they are the people Holy to the Lord their God, He has chosen them to be His people, prized above all others on the face of the earth.  They must not eat any forbidden thing.  Moses then listed the animals that they may eat.  They may eat any animal that has hooves divided into two parts and that chews the cud.  Moses went on by telling them what birds are good to eat and animals on water.

NOTES:

Ø God is a God who provides good and healthy food for His people.  He ensures that they eat only which are good for their bodies.  So He made sure that His children know which ones to eat and which ones are not to be eaten. 

Ø God is a God of specifics!  These are details that our God wants to participate because He looks after our whole being and not just the bigger picture.  Praise God for that!  He is concern of every little and big things in our lives!   Is there a God like Him? None!

→ They must be certain to tithe all the produce of their seed that comes from the field year after year.  In the presence of the Lord their God, they must eat from the tithe of their grain, their new wine, their olive oil, and the firstborn of their herds and flocks in the place He chooses to locate His Name, so that they may learn to revere the Lord their God always.  When He blesses them, if the place where HE chooses to locate His name is distant, they may convert the tithe into money, secure the money, and travel to the place the Lord their God chooses for Himself.  Then they may spend the money however they wish for cattle, sheep, wine, beer, or whatever they desire (investment for business, satisfaction of their bellies, for pleasure, or whatever they desire).  They and their household may eat there in the presence of the Lord their God and enjoy it.  They are not to ignore the Levites in their villages but should support and take care of them.  At the end of every three years, they must bring all the tithe of their produce in that very year and they must store it up in their villages.  Then the Levites, the resident foreigners and the orphans and the widows of their villages may come and eat their fill so that the Lord their God may bless them in all the work they do.

NOTES:

Ø God is a God who seeks to bless us.  The work we do for God comes with blessings so never grow weary in doing the work of the Lord for it is God’s desires to bless us and that’s why He calls us to do His work on earth.  That great thing about God is that even if we do not do the task consistently, He continues to bless us.  But when we accomplish the work He gave us, our blessings overflows.

Ø God is a God who looks after each one of us, especially the ones that have been treated unfairly by fate in the human eye!  The Levites, resident foreigners, orphans and the widows, they may be the unlucky ones in the site of the people but they are the more blessed people of God because God clearly made others work for them.  What a great God!  Clearly He is just!  For those who were felt abandoned and rejected are provided greatly.  For those who have skills and lacks nothing are provided with work to bless them so that they, themselves, will be blessed!  How great the mind of the Lord is!

Application / Realization:

Ø God is very particular with the specifics in our lives.  He cares both the big and the small things in our lives.  He makes it His business to take care of our business!  God is great and His love truly endures forever!  Amazing Lord!

Ø God seeks to bless us and is fair when it comes to His blessings to everyone!  Those who lack nothing are given opportunity to work to be a blessing and to be blessed as well.  Those who are abandoned and rejected; are provided of their needs!  Amazing Father and Lord, who thought of everything for His people!

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, You are great and worthy of all my praises!  Father, You are a God whose love I cannot comprehend.  It is amazing and huge and I am not able to contain it!  Every day I rejoice to see Your Grace, love, and favor poured out in my life.  Lord I am greatly touched and moved for Your goodness in my life.  I cannot understand at times what I have in me that You love me this much.  All I can do is thank You and sometimes that is not enough as well.  Thank You because every little thing in my life, You make it Your business.  It is amazing to have a God who cares so much about my life.  I consider it a tremendous blessing to have a God who wants to take care of every business in my life.  Thank You for You seek to bless me and You love me so much.  Holy Spirit, help me to love You and create in me the desire to always want You more than anything and anyone else.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen!