OT Fire Starters – Day 76: Deuteronomy 11-12
READ: Deuteronomy 11-12
THINK: Are you easily distracted, or are you a pretty focused person? It’s good to be focused only if you are focused on the right things-things that are worthy of your time, attention and affections. Certainly, God’s purposes for your life fit that criteria. But you’ll not find or fulfill that purpose if you don’t follow His instructions and guidelines. On the other hand, sincere love and devotion to His Word will give you the insight to discover His plans, the discipline to avoid being distracted from those plans, and the strength to follow through with those plans.
RESPOND: When it comes to following God, what’s the connection between love and obedience? How does following God’s commands and instructions provide strength (11:8)? What does it means to serve God with all your heart and soul? In what circumstances should you talk about God with those who look to you as an example (11:19-20)? What topics of conversation can you turn toward spiritual issues, and how? What ultimate choice did God give the people as they were about to enter the promised land? (See 11:26 note.) What would bring God’s blessing, and what would bring a curse? What other “gods” might people today follow and why? What did God tell the Israelites to do so they wouldn’t be tempted by other gods (12:2-3)? (See 12:2 note.) What practical steps can you take to ensure that nothing takes God’s place in your life? How do Christians benefit by having a place where they can gather with other believers to worship God? (See 12:5 note.) In what ways are people in society-even some in the church-showing curiosity or interest in ungodly spiritual ideas or forms of worship? What danger and destruction can come from this kind of “openness”? How can people become ensnared (12:30) by other religious practices without realizing it?
PRAY: Give God thanks for the strength and wisdom that come from living by the guidelines in His Word. Pray for boldness and insight to turn daily conversations toward spiritual matters.
ACT: Try to turn your conversations today toward spiritual matters. For help in doing this, see “Topics and Transitions” and “30 Questions to Spark Spiritual Conversation,” on p. 2285 in the FBSE. If you’re flirting with any activities that have ungodly spiritual overtones or a connection to other religions or forms of worship, give this up and give your time and attention to things that honor and reflect the One true God.