Deu 10:17 The LORD your God is supreme over all gods and over all powers. He is great and mighty, and he is to be obeyed. He does not show partiality, and he does not accept bribes.
God does not accept bribe.
We received salvation by grace through faith alone. When we do work for the Lord, we do so out of love, out of gratitude. It is because our faith grows and as our faith grows we become strong, we give more. We do not work for our salvation because Christ died for us and his blood is enough to cover our sins. We do not work for our salvation because we are not in a position to ask something from God, we receive only what He has given, what Christ has given-his life. We cannot work for our salvation for we are justified only by our faith.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Friday, January 18, 2008
Deuteronomy 9
"After the LORD your God has driven them out for you, do not say to yourselves that he brought you in to possess this land because you deserved it. No, the LORD is going to drive these people out for you because they are wicked. It is not because you are good and do what is right that the LORD is letting you take their land. He will drive them out because they are wicked and because he intends to keep the promise that he made to your ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. You can be sure that the LORD is not giving you this fertile land because you deserve it. No, you are a stubborn people. "Never forget how you made the LORD your God angry in the desert. From the day that you left Egypt until the day you arrived here, you have rebelled against him.
Deu 9:4-7
Since when did I receive something form God that I truly I deserved?
I remember a pastor (or is it a teacher) defining grace as getting something that you do not deserve.
Listening to pastors and preachers preach about law versus grace, I, in my mind developed this understanding that the law is a device for the salvation of the Israelites. It’s like a state law where if one got convicted of a crime, punished for it and after serving that punishment he/she is cleared of the crime. Maybe it is, maybe it is not. The relationship of God with the Israelites shows more of his grace. How many times have the Israelites angered God and how many times have God forgiven them?
The law reveals sin but, I think, the most important thing that the law has done and is doing is to reveal grace. Getting something you do not deserve like mercy, salvation, blessings and even trials.
And I prayed, 'Sovereign LORD, don't destroy your own people, the people you rescued and brought out of Egypt by your great strength and power. Remember your servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and do not pay any attention to the stubbornness, wickedness, and sin of this people. Otherwise, the Egyptians will say that you were unable to take your people into the land that you had promised them. They will say that you took your people out into the desert to kill them, because you hated them.
After all, these are the people whom you chose to be your own and whom you brought out of Egypt by your great power and might.'
Deut. 9:26-29
Deu 9:4-7
Since when did I receive something form God that I truly I deserved?
I remember a pastor (or is it a teacher) defining grace as getting something that you do not deserve.
Listening to pastors and preachers preach about law versus grace, I, in my mind developed this understanding that the law is a device for the salvation of the Israelites. It’s like a state law where if one got convicted of a crime, punished for it and after serving that punishment he/she is cleared of the crime. Maybe it is, maybe it is not. The relationship of God with the Israelites shows more of his grace. How many times have the Israelites angered God and how many times have God forgiven them?
The law reveals sin but, I think, the most important thing that the law has done and is doing is to reveal grace. Getting something you do not deserve like mercy, salvation, blessings and even trials.
And I prayed, 'Sovereign LORD, don't destroy your own people, the people you rescued and brought out of Egypt by your great strength and power. Remember your servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and do not pay any attention to the stubbornness, wickedness, and sin of this people. Otherwise, the Egyptians will say that you were unable to take your people into the land that you had promised them. They will say that you took your people out into the desert to kill them, because you hated them.
After all, these are the people whom you chose to be your own and whom you brought out of Egypt by your great power and might.'
Deut. 9:26-29
Friday, January 11, 2008
Deuteronomy 7-8
Deuteronomy 8
"Obey faithfully all the laws that I have given you today, so that you may live, increase in number, and occupy the land that the LORD promised to your ancestors. Remember how the LORD your God led you on this long journey through the desert these past forty years, sending hardships to test you, so that he might know what you intended to do and whether you would obey his commands. He made you go hungry, and then he gave you manna to eat, food that you and your ancestors had never eaten before. He did this to teach you that you must not depend on bread alone to sustain you, but on everything that the LORD says.
Deuteronomy 8:1-3
I was talking with one of my church co-worker who together with her husband is the junior church ministers, and she told me that she has applied for a job as a call center agent. I was depressed because this husband and wife team has started a very good discipleship program for the juniors in the church, and the first thing that came into my mind is what will happen to their ministry?
Another church worker, this time the youth minister, I later found out tried to apply for a job as a call center agent too. They are also a husband and wife team ministering to the youth in our church. I was loosing a little sleep with the idea of two church workers working as a call agent centers. Call center agents work graveyard shift and it would be difficult for them to work in the church on their rest days because their bodies will want to catch up on sleep.
I am praying that God will provide for these people the way he had provided for the Israelites. I pray and believe that God will supply the needs of these people.
This is the challenge facing our church today.
And after reading this chapter, the message is clear, as it was in the old testament that God will provideas long as we do our part.
Deuteronomy 7
Remember that the LORD your God is the only God and that he is faithful. He will keep his covenant and show his constant love to a thousand generations of those who love him and obey his commands, but he will not hesitate to punish those who hate him.
Deu 7:9-10
God has given to the Israelites the defeat of the seven nations. God also reminded the Israelites against idolatry and intermarrying with the pagans. The Israelites are a chosen people and that God will keep his covenants with them. Obedience is rewarded and disobedience punished.
"Obey faithfully all the laws that I have given you today, so that you may live, increase in number, and occupy the land that the LORD promised to your ancestors. Remember how the LORD your God led you on this long journey through the desert these past forty years, sending hardships to test you, so that he might know what you intended to do and whether you would obey his commands. He made you go hungry, and then he gave you manna to eat, food that you and your ancestors had never eaten before. He did this to teach you that you must not depend on bread alone to sustain you, but on everything that the LORD says.
Deuteronomy 8:1-3
I was talking with one of my church co-worker who together with her husband is the junior church ministers, and she told me that she has applied for a job as a call center agent. I was depressed because this husband and wife team has started a very good discipleship program for the juniors in the church, and the first thing that came into my mind is what will happen to their ministry?
Another church worker, this time the youth minister, I later found out tried to apply for a job as a call center agent too. They are also a husband and wife team ministering to the youth in our church. I was loosing a little sleep with the idea of two church workers working as a call agent centers. Call center agents work graveyard shift and it would be difficult for them to work in the church on their rest days because their bodies will want to catch up on sleep.
I am praying that God will provide for these people the way he had provided for the Israelites. I pray and believe that God will supply the needs of these people.
This is the challenge facing our church today.
And after reading this chapter, the message is clear, as it was in the old testament that God will provideas long as we do our part.
Deuteronomy 7
Remember that the LORD your God is the only God and that he is faithful. He will keep his covenant and show his constant love to a thousand generations of those who love him and obey his commands, but he will not hesitate to punish those who hate him.
Deu 7:9-10
God has given to the Israelites the defeat of the seven nations. God also reminded the Israelites against idolatry and intermarrying with the pagans. The Israelites are a chosen people and that God will keep his covenants with them. Obedience is rewarded and disobedience punished.
Sunday, December 30, 2007
"Israel, remember this! The LORD ---and the LORD alone---is our God.
Love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. Never forget these commands that I am giving you today.
Teach them to your children. Repeat them when you are at home and when you are
away, when you are resting and when you are working. Deu 6:4-7
"Teacher," he asked, "which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"
Jesus answered, " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' Mat 22:36 -37
Love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. Never forget these commands that I am giving you today.
Teach them to your children. Repeat them when you are at home and when you are
away, when you are resting and when you are working. Deu 6:4-7
"Teacher," he asked, "which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"
Jesus answered, " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' Mat 22:36 -37
Friday, December 28, 2007
Deutoronomy 5
'The LORD our God showed us his greatness and his glory when we heard him speak from the fire! Today we have seen that it is possible for people to continue to live, even though God has spoken to them. But why should we risk death again? That terrible fire will destroy us. We are sure to die if we hear the LORD our God speak again.
Has any human being ever lived after hearing the living God speak from a fire?
Go back, Moses, and listen to everything that the LORD our God says. Then return and tell us what he said to you. We will listen and obey.'
"When the LORD heard this, he said to me, 'I have heard what these people said, and they are right.
Deu 5:24-28
Has any human being ever lived after hearing the living God speak from a fire?
Go back, Moses, and listen to everything that the LORD our God says. Then return and tell us what he said to you. We will listen and obey.'
"When the LORD heard this, he said to me, 'I have heard what these people said, and they are right.
Deu 5:24-28
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Deuteronomy 4
There you will look for the LORD your God, and if you search for him with all your heart, you will find him. When you are in trouble and all those things happen to you, then you will finally turn to the LORD and obey him. He is a merciful God. He will not abandon you or destroy you, and he will not forget the covenant that he himself made with your ancestors.
"Search the past, the time before you were born, all the way back to the time when God created human beings on the earth. Search the entire earth. Has anything as great as this ever happened before? Has anyone ever heard of anything like this?
Deu 4:29-32
"Search the past, the time before you were born, all the way back to the time when God created human beings on the earth. Search the entire earth. Has anything as great as this ever happened before? Has anyone ever heard of anything like this?
Deu 4:29-32
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Deuteronomy 3
'Sovereign LORD, I know that you have shown me only the beginning of the great and wonderful things you are going to do. There is no god in heaven or on earth who can do the mighty things that you have done! Deu 3:24
With God’s help the Israelites defeated the King of Bashan, Og. The defeated kingdom is then divided to the two tribes and a half. God only allowed Moses to see the Land; he is not allowed to enter it.
Instead, he said, 'That's enough! Don't mention this again!
Go to the peak of Mount Pisgah and look to the north and to the south, to the east and to the west. Look carefully at what you see, because you will never go across the Jordan.
Give Joshua his instructions. Strengthen his determination, because he will lead the people across to occupy the land that you see.' Deu 3:27-28
With God’s help the Israelites defeated the King of Bashan, Og. The defeated kingdom is then divided to the two tribes and a half. God only allowed Moses to see the Land; he is not allowed to enter it.
Instead, he said, 'That's enough! Don't mention this again!
Go to the peak of Mount Pisgah and look to the north and to the south, to the east and to the west. Look carefully at what you see, because you will never go across the Jordan.
Give Joshua his instructions. Strengthen his determination, because he will lead the people across to occupy the land that you see.' Deu 3:27-28
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