Taking Possession

 

“… we are condemned sinners; we need repentance, and we need mercy …” – Matthew Henry

 

Read:  Deuteronomy 1 and Mark 12:28-44

 

S.O.A.P.

Scripture – Observation – Application – Prayer

 

S:  “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”  Mark 12:30

 

O:  Deuteronomy repeats much of the history and of the laws contained in the three previous books and we see that as the book opens up in chapter 1 with a recounting of other things we have read so far this year.  Moses points out how advantageous obedience is and that disobedience causes us to wander and it takes longer to get where God wants us to get; and continued disobedience may result in forfeiting the blessings He has for us.  We learn it is better then to go forward; onward and upward to the blessings He has for us!

 

 

 

 

 

Matthew Henry points out that all true obedience springs from faith whereas disobedience comes from a place of distrust of God’s power and goodness.  Too often we focus on disobedience and the consequences.  I have been guilty of this in my own parenting.  I’m not saying that God never tells us the consequences of disobedience because He does, but when God asks us to obey it is coming from a place of total goodness with our very best in mind.  God is perfect in all of His ways.  As a human parent, I’m not, and sometimes my request for obedience is not because of the best interest of the child, but for the sake of my own sanity and for my benefit.  We cannot compare God’s “parenting” to ours.  He asks us to obey because it is what is best for us.  This is our model and perfect example that we can follow as parents as well.

 

“Our own plans seldom avail to good purpose; while courage in the exercise of faith, [will allow us] to take firm hold upon the promised blessings.” – Matthew Henry

 

A:  Today I want to think about God’s goodness and where obedience can take me as I surrender everything to Him knowing in fact that He is a good, good God and has only my best in mind.

 

 

 

 

P:  Heavenly Father, Thank You that You are a good, good Father, perfect in all of Your ways!  Thank You for being an example to me of a loving parent who keeps the best interest of the child in mind.  I know I am human and will make mistakes as I parent and continue to learn how to parent, but I pray You would teach me the best ways – Your ways.  I also pray today that as Your child I would grow more and more in my faith and trust You more and more as I learn to follow and trust and love You wholeheartedly.  Through Christ I pray, Amen & Amen.

 

Discussion and Reflection:  Spend some time right now reflecting about your life just like Moses reflected in Duet. 1.  Write down some highlights of your life story or recent events in your life.  Recount God’s goodness.  Ask yourself have I been wandering spiritually because I haven’t fully surrendered to His leadership or am I in the Promised Land taking possession and experiencing His blessings?   Are you loving Him with everything that you are?  Is there any pretense in your walk (see Mark 12:38-40) that you want to get rid of?  The enemy of our soul wants us to hide behind facades; and to pretend everything is okay.  Are you giving out your abundance and holding some of yourself back or are you giving all you have to Jesus in complete surrender?  Let’s make sure we are set on course for His blessings.  Sit for a moment and pray about these things that He has shown you today.