Quote for the Day

“Keep all these commands that I give you today.”

Today's Prayer

This week pray for those you encounter, asking God to be your voice to minister to them.

Deuteronomy 27:1-26

Deuteronomy 27:1-26 (NIV)1 Moses and the elders of commanded the people: “Keep all these commands that I give you today. 2 When you have crossed the into the land the LORD your God is giving you, set up some large stones and coat them with plaster. 3 Write on them all the words of this law when you have crossed over to enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your ancestors, promised you. 4 And when you have crossed the , set up these stones on , as I command you today, and coat them with plaster. 5 Build there an altar to the LORD your God, an altar of stones. Do not use any iron tool on them. 6 Build the altar of the LORD your God with fieldstones and offer burnt offerings on it to the LORD your God. 7 Sacrifice fellowship offerings there, eating them and rejoicing in the presence of the LORD your God. 8 And you shall write very clearly all the words of this law on these stones you have set up.”Curses From9 Then Moses and the Levitical priests said to all , “Be silent, , and listen! You have now become the people of the LORD your God. 10 Obey the LORD your God and follow his commands and decrees that I give you today.”11 On the same day Moses commanded the people:12 When you have crossed the , these tribes shall stand on to bless the people: Simeon, , Issachar, Joseph and Benjamin. 13 And these tribes shall stand on to pronounce curses: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan and Naphtali.14 The Levites shall recite to all the people of in a loud voice:15 “Cursed is anyone who makes an idol—a thing detestable to the LORD, the work of skilled hands—and sets it up in secret.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”16 “Cursed is anyone who dishonors their father or mother.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”17 “Cursed is anyone who moves their neighbor’s boundary stone.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”18 “Cursed is anyone who leads the blind astray on the road.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”19 “Cursed is anyone who withholds justice from the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”20 “Cursed is anyone who sleeps with his father’s wife, for he dishonors his father’s bed.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”21 “Cursed is anyone who has sexual relations with any animal.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”22 “Cursed is anyone who sleeps with his sister, the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”23 “Cursed is anyone who sleeps with his mother-in-law.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”24 “Cursed is anyone who kills their neighbor secretly.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”25 “Cursed is anyone who accepts a bribe to kill an innocent person.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”26 “Cursed is anyone who does not uphold the words of this law by carrying them out.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”

Message

Okay, here it comes… Rules, COMMANDS, and curses. Wait a minute. I thought we served a loving and gracious God. What is the deal? I break a rule and, boom, I’m out? Well no, not out, and hardly even down. This is where not only the nation of Israel, but also many of us today forget what we just learned a few verses ago and what is repeated over and over again in the Bible. We are God’s possession and God desires to be the power in our lives to “keep the rules.” It is the ONLY way we can keep the rules, by allowing God to keep them for us. His desire is to be our strength and our life each and every step we take.Chapter 27 starts with a discussion on building an altar, coating it with plaster, and writing the words of God on the altar, then making a sacrifice to God. One of the most interesting (and I think overlooked) verses is verse 5, “Build there an altar to the LORD your God, an altar of stones. Do not use any iron tool on them.” No tools or effort of man were to go into the altar, ONLY what God had created: the stones and plaster, with the words of God. NOTHING is needed to be added by man. God alone is sufficient to be our life. This is the message God has given to us since Adam. We are His, and He loves us and desires to be our very being. This week let God possess you and then rest in HIS provision.