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Things God Hates…It May Surprise You–Proverbs 6:16-19

May 28, 2013 in 2013 Journey, Choices, Divorce, Family, Forgiveness, Friendship, Holy Spirit, leadership, Parenting, Proverbs, Workplace with 2 Comments

Today’s Scripture Reading:  Proverbs 5:1 through Proverbs 7:27

When my kids were little I was a fanatic about teaching them to respect other people.  I literally had them thinking words like dumb, stupid and shut up were curse words.  Another biggie was the word, “hate.”  They would definitely get in trouble if they said they hated another person.

In today’s reading God used the word “hate.”

God didn’t say He hated a person or a people group, but there are some things people do that really irritate Him.

So, if we are Christ followers and He hates “stuff,” we should probably hate it too.

Here are seven things God hates in Proverbs 6: 16-19

  • Haughty eyes
  • A lying tongue
  • Hands that kill the innocent
  • A heart that plots evil
  • Feet that race to do  wrong
  • A false witness who pours out lies
  • A person who sows discord in a family

In verse 16, Solomon said there are six things the Lord hates—no, seven things he detests.  The commentaries I read said this pattern of writing (six…seven) was to let the reader know that this wasn’t an exhaustive list.  In other words, there are more things the Lord hates.  But I think this list deserves our attention.

The last one struck a chord with me.

  “A person who sows discord in a family”

This says a lot about the importance God places on the family. We all know that the biblically created family unit is under tremendous attack. From this scripture it should be clear we need to fight to protect it. But before we get our signs and head to Washington, we need to sweep around our own front door.

Do you know of any mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters who refuse to speak to one another?

Do you know family members who gossip back and forth to stir up trouble?

How about adult brothers and sisters whose hearts are filled with jealousy?

Do you know divorced moms and dads who make life miserable for their children because they’re too selfish to “let it go?”

God hates this; we must stop it!

If you have been divorced make every effort to let the past go; your kids have suffered enough.  Let their weddings, children’s’ births, and birthdays be joyous occasions that aren’t about you and your ex’s “stuff.”  Get over it!

Let’s make a pack that we will guard our families at all costs and work with everything we have to create peace.  Don’t major on minors and ask God for grace and guidance to keep discord from growing like a cancer in our families.

Holy Spirit, illuminate the areas in our lives that you hate.  Show us, then help us to overcome it.  Jesus, I especially pray for families; help us as Christians to realize our family is our first mission field.

Help us to love like you love!

In Your Holy Name.  Amen and Amen!

 ©2013, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading:  Proverbs 8:1 through Proverbs 10:32

Have You Ever Been Interrupted by the Presence of God? 1 Kings 8:10-11

May 23, 2013 in 1 Kings, 2 Chronicles, 2013 Journey, Holy Spirit, Prayerfully and Proactively Prioritizing and Planning with 0 Comments

Today’s Scripture Reading: 1 Kings 8:1-11; 2 Chronicles 5:1-14; 1 Kings 8:12-21; 2 Chronicles 6:1-11; 1 Kings 8:22-53; 2 Chronicles 6:12-42

When the priests came out of the Holy Place, a thick cloud filled the Temple of the Lord. The priests could not continue their service because of the cloud, for the glorious presence of the Lord filled the Temple. –1 Kings 8:10-11

The order of the service was interrupted by the Presence of the Lord.  I wonder if the priests were disappointed when they couldn’t continue their service?

It’s so easy, even in the church to organize God out of the plans.

When’s the last time your day, your sleep, or your worship was interrupted by God?

Why are we so surprised when this happens?

For those of us who are task oriented, we live and die by our schedule and then somewhere during the process we ask God to bless what we’ve created.

I think the better way is to expect and even plan for the Spirit of God to show up and change things.

Heavenly Father, I want to fit my life around Your Presence and Your Plan.  Lord, You are welcome in my day…please come.  Holy Spirit, teach me to recognize Your Presence. I’m Yours.

In Jesus’ Name.  Amen and Amen!

 

©2013, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading:  1 Kings 8:54-66; 2 Chronicles 7:1-10; 1 Kings 9:1-9; 2 Chronicles 7:11-22; 1 Kings 9:10-14

Who Do You Know That’s Crying for Help? –Psalm 69

May 13, 2013 in 2013 Journey, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Obedience, Prayer, The Hurting World, Tough Times with 0 Comments

Today’s Scripture Reading:  Psalm 68 through 70; Psalm 86; Psalm 101

Many years ago I had a dear friend who made a one night mistake that wound up taking her life.

For years I didn’t know what was wrong; finally about ten months before she died she told me—she had A.I.D.S.  I knew she had been very sick, but the naïve person that I am would have never suspected that dreaded disease.

A few days following that life-changing conversation the Holy Spirit prompted me to write prayers from the scriptures everyday for my friend and mail them to her.

Not long after I began the daily prayers I came across Psalm 69.  The Lord used this Psalm to show me the pain, sadness, shame, loneliness and desperation my friend was going through.

Save me, O God,
for the floodwaters are up to my neck.
2 Deeper and deeper I sink into the mire;
I can’t find a foothold.
I am in deep water,
and the floods overwhelm me.
3 I am exhausted from crying for help;
my throat is parched.
My eyes are swollen with weeping,
waiting for my God to help me.
4 Those who hate me without cause
outnumber the hairs on my head.
Many enemies try to destroy me with lies,
demanding that I give back what I didn’t steal.

5 O God, you know how foolish I am;
my sins cannot be hidden from you.
6 Don’t let those who trust in you be ashamed because of me,
O Sovereign Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
Don’t let me cause them to be humiliated,
O God of Israel.
7 For I endure insults for your sake;
humiliation is written all over my face.
8 Even my own brothers pretend they don’t know me;
they treat me like a stranger.

9 Passion for your house has consumed me,
and the insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.
10 When I weep and fast,
they scoff at me.
11 When I dress in burlap to show sorrow,
they make fun of me.
12 I am the favorite topic of town gossip,
and all the drunks sing about me.

13 But I keep praying to you, Lord,
hoping this time you will show me favor.
In your unfailing love, O God,
answer my prayer with your sure salvation.
14 Rescue me from the mud;
don’t let me sink any deeper!
Save me from those who hate me,
and pull me from these deep waters.
15 Don’t let the floods overwhelm me,
or the deep waters swallow me,
or the pit of death devour me.

16 Answer my prayers, O Lord,
for your unfailing love is wonderful.
Take care of me,
for your mercy is so plentiful.
17 Don’t hide from your servant;
answer me quickly, for I am in deep trouble!
18 Come and redeem me;
free me from my enemies.

19 You know of my shame, scorn, and disgrace.
You see all that my enemies are doing.
20 Their insults have broken my heart,
and I am in despair.
If only one person would show some pity;
if only one would turn and comfort me.
21 But instead, they give me poison[a] for food;
they offer me sour wine for my thirst.

I am suffering and in pain.
Rescue me, O God, by your saving power.

30 Then I will praise God’s name with singing,
and I will honor him with thanksgiving.
31 For this will please the Lord more than sacrificing cattle,
more than presenting a bull with its horns and hooves.
32 The humble will see their God at work and be glad.
Let all who seek God’s help be encouraged.
 33 For the Lord hears the cries of the needy;
he does not despise his imprisoned people.

Friends, someone you know is crying for help today!

No, my friend wasn’t healed of her sickness.

She went through tremendous physical and emotional suffering but at God’s perfect time she was rescued from it all; like David she praised God’s name with singing and honored Him with thanksgiving.  She told me of multiple “God moments” during her last days and wrote many beautiful songs that are still blessing others today.

There are many, many people suffering today and crying out for help.  You and I may be God’s answer to their prayers.  Yes, we feel helpless, but if we step out to help them God will make a way for us to know how they feel.

Thank you David for being obedient to God and opening up your heart to give us a glimpse your pain so that we may comfort others.

Lord, I pray that you will use us to help the hurting!  No, we can’t help everyone, but we can help someone.  Show us the “one”  Holy Spirit.   Help them to “Hold Fast, Help is on the Way.”  Use us Jesus, to be your hands to the hurting.

In Jesus Name, Amen and Amen!

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 ”Hold Fast, Help is on the Way” by Mercy Me

©2013, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading:  Psalm 103; Psalms 108 through 110; Psalms 122, 124

Are You Afraid of His Presence?

April 23, 2013 in 1 Chronicles, 2 Samuel, 2013 Journey, Holiness, Holy Spirit with 2 Comments

Today’s Scripture Reading:  2 Samuel 6:12a; 1 Chronicles 15: 1-28; 2 Samuel 6:12b-16; 1 Chronicles 15:29; 2 Samuel 6: 17-19a; 1 Chronicles 16: 1-43; 2 Samuel 6: 19b-23

Then King David was told, “The Lord has blessed Obed-Edom’s household and everything he has because of the Ark of God.  ~ 2 Samuel 6:12

There are many names in the Bible for the Ark of God. Here are a few I’ve found:

The Ark

The Ark of the Testimony

The Ark of the Covenant

The Ark of the Lord

They all mean one thing: The sacred chest representing the Presence of God.

In yesterday’s reading David tried to bring the Ark to Jerusalem, but the tragic death of Uzzah stopped him in his tracts.

David became afraid of the “presence of God” and decided to leave it at Obed-Edom.

In today’s reading things have changed.  God is blessing Obed-Edom’s household and everything he has because of “His Presence,” so David decides he’ll try again to bring the Ark to Jerusalem.  He handles the Ark much differently this time.

David handles it like a treasure.

In David’s day the average person didn’t have the Presence of God living inside them. God’s presence was confined to a gold box some 45 inches wide and 27 inches long and 27 inches tall.

Today, we have our own personal “Ark of God” living inside of us.  Knowing that, this scripture in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 takes on a whole new meaning!

Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

 

How do we handle the Presence of God?

How do we handle the ark (our body) that His Presence resides in?

Do we treat His Presence like a treasure or is it just some souvenir from a onetime experience we had in days gone by?

Are we afraid of God’s presence in our lives?

 

Holy Spirit, who am I  that You would live within me?

Lord, you are my treasure! Consume me by Your Presence today!

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Emanuel!  God is With Us!

 
 
©2013, Dianne Guthmuller
Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: 2 Samuel 7: 1-17; 1 Chronicles 17: 1-15; 2 Samuel 7: 18-29; 1 Chronicles 17: 16-27; 2 Samuel 8: 1-14; 1 Chronicles 18: 1-13; Psalm 60
 

Can You Pass The Success Test? –1 Samuel 13:14

April 14, 2013 in 1 Samuel, 2013 Journey, Failure, Finances, Goals, Holy Spirit, leadership, Pride, Psalms, Success with 0 Comments

Today’s Scripture Reading:  1 Samuel 17:32 through 19:17, Psalm 59, 1 Samuel 19:18-24

Two amazing men chosen by God—one has the title of “a man after God’s own heart” and the other an everlasting example of what not to do.

Let’s go back to the beginning of David and Saul’s lives and see what we can learn from them:

Both were chosen by God:

  • Now the Lord had told Samuel the previous day, “About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin.  Anoint him (Saul) to be the leader of my people. –1 Samuel 9:15-16
  • And the Lord, said, “this is the one; anoint him.”  So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil.  –1 Samuel 16:12-13

Both had the Spirit of the Lord upon them:

  • When you (Saul) arrive at Gibeah of God…At that time the spirit of the Lord will come powerfully upon you and you will prophesy with them. You will be changed into a different person. –1 Samuel 10:6
  • So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil.  And the Spirit of the Lord cam powerfully upon David from that day on.  –1 Samuel 16:13

Both started out as humble men:

  • When Samuel met Saul and told him that “he and his family would be the focus of all Israel’s hopes” Saul replied, “but I’m only from the tribe of Benjamin, the smallest tribe in Israel, and my family is the least important of all the families of that tribe!  Why are you talking like this to me?”  –1 Samuel 9:20-21
  • When Saul offered David his daughter Merab, David replied, “Who am I, and what is my family in Israel that I should be the king’s son-in-law?” David exclaimed,  “My father’s family is nothing!” –1 Samuel 18:18

What happened?

Both of these men got off to a great start…

If you know the Bible stories you know that David did some bad things as well.  In my eyes they seemed as bad or worse than what Saul did; what was the difference?

The condition of the heart—when Saul was disobedient the first time, Samuel told Saul that his kingdom must end, for the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart.  –1 Samuel 13:14

So God’s number one qualification for king was for that person to be “a man after His own heart.”

Success is one of the greatest tests of the heart, even more than failure. 

Saul’s immediate success and fame led him to forget who made him king.  Saul’s became filled with pride and arrogance instead of humility.

The heart is still the most important thing the Lord looks at.  We can say and do the right things but it’s the heart that God judges. A heart full of pride cannot totally follow after God!

Holy Spirit, show us the areas of our heart that aren’t pleasing to you.  Help us to repent, ask for your forgiveness and cleansing and then help us to have a heart like David!

In Jesus Name, Amen and Amen!

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©2013, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading:  1 Samuel 20:1 through 1 Samuel 21:15, Psalm 34      

How Do You Know It’s God Speaking? –1 Samuel 14:6

April 12, 2013 in 1 Chronicles, 1 Samuel, 2013 Journey, Faith, God Speaks today, Holy Spirit with 3 Comments

Today’s Scripture Reading:  1 Chronicles 9:35 through 1 Chronicles 9:39, 1 Samuel 13:1 through 5, 1 Samuel 13: 19 through 23, 1 Samuel 13: 6 through 18, 1 Samuel 14:  1 through 52

Today’s reading is sort of “all over the place.”  Just a reminder, the Chronicles run parallel with Samuel so we’ll have a lot of this in the next few days.

Today we meet another one of my favorite characters— Jonathan.  We’re going to get to know him more as the days go by, but today he shows us something I just could not pass by…

The first we hear of Jonathan, he’s winning a battle and his father Saul is taking credit for it (1 Samuel 13:3-4).  It’s hard to know whether Jonathan had real courage or if he was so young and naïve that he just thought he was invincible.

After today’s reading I think there’s a third possibility for Jonathan’s boldness…

He knew he had a big God!

One day Jonathan and his armor bearer snuck away to spy on the Philistines; they told no one.  Out of the blue, so it seemed; Jonathan said to his armor bearer:  “Perhaps the Lord will help us, for nothing can hinder the Lord.  He can win a battle whether he has many warriors or only a few.” (1 Samuel 14:6)

“Perhaps the Lord will help us?”

What does THAT mean?

Did Jonathan actually make this move without knowing he had heard from God?

Is that umm…spiritual?

I think, and please know this is me thinking, that Jonathan knew God and knew He lived in him and spoke to him.  So when the thought crossed his mind “Let’s go across to the outpost of those pagans” (1 Samuel 14:6a), Jonathan realized there was a good possibility it was God speaking.  So, he decided to move “just in case” it was God.

Friends, I want to be a “perhaps the Lord will help us kind of girl!”  How many times do we miss God because we’re over-analyzing and talking ourselves out of the “God thought” that crossed our mind.

I have had these moments over the years and each time like Jonathan; I would say, “Lord, I think this may be Your idea.  I want to step out, but a need to know it’s You.  Confirm this to me Lord.”  If I felt the Holy Spirit urging me along I would act, if not I would just try to forget it.  If I couldn’t forget it, I would take it as a sign (1 Samuel 14:10) that it was in fact the Holy Spirit speaking to me.  I’ve seen God do some amazing things but more times than I like to remember I talked myself out of stepping out.

I wonder, how many times have I missed the great adventure, because I wasn’t willing to step out and say, “Perhaps the Lord will help me, for nothing can hinder the Lord.”   With tear-filled eyes I say, “What if it’s God speaking?”

Father God, help us to recognize your promptings.  Use us for Your Glory!  We Trust you!

In Jesus Name, Amen and Amen!

©2013, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading:   1 Samuel 15:1 through 1 Samuel 17:31

One Sign of Emotional and Spiritual Health–1 Samuel 10:27

April 11, 2013 in 1 Samuel, 2013 Journey, Choices, Holy Spirit, leadership, Pride, Workplace with 0 Comments

Today’s Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 9:1-12:25

When Saul returned to his home at Gibeah, a group of men whose hearts God had touched went with him.  But there were some scoundrels who complained, “How can this man save us?” And they scorned him and refused to bring him gifts. But Saul ignored them. –1 Samuel 10:27

Why did Saul ignore them?

After all he had just been anointed king; shouldn’t he have put these folks in their place?

Saul was just and ordinary guy and he knew it:

Saul replied, “But I’m only from the tribe of Benjamin, the smallest tribe in Israel, and my family is the least important of all the families of that tribe! Why are you talking like this to me?” –1 Samuel 9:21

At this stage of the game Saul was emotionally and spiritually healthy.  He knew his authority came from God. He was God’s puppet moving when the Spirit of God came upon him.  It wasn’t about him, so it was easy to ignore his scoffers.  God gave him a new heart (1 Samuel 10:9) that cared about the people of Israel more than his own reputation.

How much time to you spending fretting and worrying about what people are thinking and saying about you?

There’s only one opinion we need to be concerned about–our Heavenly Father’s.

In a few short chapters Saul will completely change…

I like this Saul.

 

Heavenly Father, help us to learn from Saul.  Help us to realize that when we begin to care more about what people think than what You think we are of no use to You.  Give us a new heart and teach us how to keep it pure. Use us for Your Glory.

In Jesus’ Name.  Amen and Amen!

©2013, Dianne Guthmuller


Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: 1 Chronicles 9:35-39; 1 Samuel 13:1-5, 19-23, 6-18; 1 Samuel 14:1-52

What if it’s God Speaking? –1 Samuel 3:1-10

April 9, 2013 in 2013 Journey, God Speaks today, Holy Spirit, Word of God with 2 Comments

Today’s Scripture Reading:  1 Samuel 1:9 through 1 Samuel 4:11

I wonder if young Samuel ever thought about the possibility of God speaking to him.  He had heard all the stories of Moses and Joshua; he knew God spoke to them, but in the day Samuel lived messages from the Lord were rare, and visions were quite uncommon (3:1).

Can you imagine the feeling of realizing  the God of the Universe is calling you and expecting you to answer?  Especially if you were only 12 years old!

Do you ever wonder if God speaks in today’s world?

Some say those days of God speaking to people are over.

I say, “What if the God of the Universe could and would speak to you and me?”

Would we want that?

I certainly do! God Speaking to us and being with us through the Holy Spirit are gifts Jesus assured us of when when He returned to heaven after His resurrection:

 However, I am telling you nothing but the truth when I say it is profitable (good, expedient, advantageous) for you that I go away. Because if I do not go away, the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you [into close fellowship with you]; but if I go away, I will send Him to you [to be in close fellowship with you].  –John 17:7 (Amplified Bible)

I think God speaks in many ways to everyone, even people who don’t know Christ but most of the time we don’t realize it’s God.  He speaks to us through nature, thoughts that walk through our heads, other people, music, art, books, billboards, Facebook and Twitter; and of course His Word…just to name a few. I also believe God speaks audibly to us if He chooses. After all, He is God and He can do whatever He wants.

I think the question is really do we want God to speak to us?

Why did God choose Samuel to speak to and through when there had been many years of silence?

Here’s what I noticed about Samuel:

  • Samuel had great examples of what not to do (Eli’s sons)
  • Samuel was focused on the Lord
  • Samuel did not cave into peer pressure
  • Samuel had the favor of God on his life
  • Samuel was respected by people
  • Samuel pressed in to be close to God
  • Samuel was listening (very important)

I want to be like Samuel and say “speak Lord, your servant is listening.”

Listen to the words of this song.  What if it’s God Speaking?

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I pray God speaks to you in a new and refreshing way TODAY!

©2013, Dianne Guthmuller


Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 4:12 through 1 Samuel 8:22

If the Lord is With Us, Why has This Happened? –Judges 6:12

April 1, 2013 in 2013 Journey, Faith, Fear, Holy Spirit, leadership with 0 Comments

Today’s Scripture Reading:  Judges 3:31 through Judges 6:40

Angel of the Lord to Gideon: Mighty Hero, the Lord is with you!  (6:12)

Gideon to Angel of the Lord:  If the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? (6:13)

Have you ever been in a situation where you just weren’t sure you could make it and some well-meaning person said, “The Lord is with you.”   I can remember times when I was thanking them on the outside and inside I wanted to smack ‘em.

When we’re in a rough place we usually react like Gideon, “if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us?”

For most of us, having God with us in our hard times just isn’t enough…

we want Him to fix it. 

If we really understood the power of God, His being with us would be enough. We would realize that if God is with us, we always win!

But just like Gideon in our humanness we cry out, WHY is this happening to ME?

And God gently says, “Go in the strength you have, I am sending you.” (6:14)  In other words, do what you can do, but just remember that “I Am” is sending you and that makes all the difference!

Gideon was a farmer and felt inadequate to lead an army.  God encouraged him, “I will be with you and you will destroy the Midianites as if you were fighting against one man.”

In verse 34 of Judges 6 there is the most amazing statement:  Then the Spirit of the Lord took possession of Gideon.

How would I handle my challenges if I were possessed by the Spirit of the Lord?

Confidently and peacefully…

This goes back to something we said a few days ago, “God qualifies those He calls.”  No,  we may not have an angelic glow, but when we are moving in the calling and plans God has for us, we are possessed by His Spirit and we can expect supernatural results!

Lord, you know the jobs You have for us to do, Spirit of the Lord take possession of us and supernaturally use us for Your glory!

Lord, be with us!

In Jesus Name, Amen and Amen!

 

 
 ©2013, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading:  Judges 7:1 through Judges 9:21

Beware of Signs and Miracles–Deuteronomy 13:1-4

March 16, 2013 in 2013 Journey, Absolute Truth, Deuteronomy, Holy Spirit, Jesus, leadership, Word of God with 0 Comments

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Today’s Scripture Reading:  Deuteronomy 13:1 through Deuteronomy 16:17

Suppose there are prophets among you or those who dream dreams about the future, and they promise you signs or miracles, and the predicted signs or miracles occur.  If they then say, ‘Come, let us worship other gods’—gods you have not known before—do not listen to them.  The Lord your God is testing you to see if you truly love him with all your heart and soul.  Serve only the Lord your God and fear him alone.  Obey his commands, listen to his voice and cling to him.       ~Deuteronomy 13:1-4

I’ve been sitting here “a while” knowing there was something in this scripture passage for us, but not knowing what it was.  Thankfully, “I” decided (Thank you Holy Spirit!) to go to my Bible software and see what the Bible commentaries had to say about it.  Here is an excerpt that I copied from The Bible Knowledge Commentary (Wheaton, IL : Victor Books, 1983-c1985, S. 1:286) that spoke to me.

13:1-5. After the general prohibition against involvement in pagan worship (12:29-31) Moses discussed three ways in which the temptation to idolatry was likely to come: through a false prophet (13:1-5), a loved one (vv. 6-11), or “revolutionaries” who had been successful in leading an entire town into apostasy (vv. 12-18).

Miraculous signs alone were never meant to be a test of truth. Miracles happen in many religions because Satan uses false religions and false prophets to deceive the world (cf. 2 Cor. 11:13-15; Eph. 6:11; Rev. 12:9). So Moses warned the people that the standard for truth must never be a miraculous sign or wonder (or other areas of human experience). The standard of truth is the Word of God.

A prophet’s or a dreamer’s prediction may come true. But if his message contradicted God’s commands, the people were to trust God and His Word rather than their experience of a miracle. If human experience seemed to contradict God’s clear teachings the Israelites were to bow in submission to God’s commands, for His Word is truth (cf. John 17:17).

The Israelites were to view each solicitation to idolatry as a test of their love for the Lord. Though there was always the danger that they might succumb to a temptation, with each successful resistance to sin their faith in and love for Him would grow stronger (cf. James 1:2-4). They were to love . . . follow . . . revere . . . obey . . . serve, and hold fast to Him (cf. Deut. 10:20; 11:22; 30:20).

My Take aways:

  • Temptations can come through our loved ones or people we respect
  • Miraculous signs were never meant to be a test for truth
  • Satan uses false religions and false prophets to deceive the world
  • The standard of truth is the Word of God
  • Trust God’s Word over an experience or miracle
  • Each time we resist the temptation to worship false gods our faith in and love for the One True God grows stronger

Just like the Israelites we can be easily deceived if we aren’t using the Word of God as our standard.  It’s easy to see why Satan fights so hard to keep us  from reading the Bible.

John, the disciple of Jesus, warns us about false prophets in the New Testament:  Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world.  ~1 John 4:1

Holy Spirit, draw us to Your Word like a magnet.  Give us supernatural discernment that can only come from You!  Jesus, teach us to run to You when something doesn’t seem right!  Father, thank You for making a way for us to know the truth!

In Jesus Name,   Amen and Amen!

©2013, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading:  Deuteronomy 16:18 through Deuteronomy 21:9

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