Deuteronomy 7:1-14
I struggle with the instructions God gives to the Israelites in Deuteronomy 7:1-5. But then, I have to remember that this is the Old Testament and at that time, things operated and were done very differently than today. Add to that what we read in verse 6 and beyond, and things become a little more understandable. You see it's at this point (verse 6 and beyond) that God declares that the Jewish people are special. They are chosen, a treasured possession, loved and holy (set apart) to Him.
So think about this. If the Israelites moved into a pagan country, took up residence beside, had friendships with, and married people who worshipped idols and didn't believe in or follow God, how long do you think it would be before their ungodly practices and influence would start rubbing off, being accepted and then followed by the Israelites? You guessed it--not very long. God knows this and He doesn't want the Israelites to end up there.
So what does living a holy life, being set apart for the Lord, mean to you? How are you living that out today? Tami W.
I need to live it out no matter what.
I need to keep my eyes on God and not get distracted by thing things around me that would pull me away from what is right. Lord, please help me.
Living a holy life that is pleasing to God is one of the things that I try to achieve each day—I don’t always get is right. But, I want Him to say “good job faithful child of mine”. I know that He loves me. And when I do or say the wrong things that not pleasing he will give me another chance to prove my love to Him. But, I strife to get it right the first time. I do not want to do the things that I did before I accepted Christ as my Savior. I do not want to do things that will not reflect His goodness and glory. I do not want to grieve my Father in heaven.
I love the second part of this reading about the blessings that He will give to us. And I know that since I have chosen to serve Him and not this world that He has blessed me—more than I deserve. It is not the reason that I serve Him, but it is a wonderful thing to know that He loves me and wants me to have a wonderful life here on earth. Therefore, since I know how much He wants for me and how much He loves me I want to demonstrate that love to Him as well—I want to love Him as much as he loves me and to bless Him as much as He blesses me.
Thank you Tami for the time that you give to others, so that we can grow and learn, in our faithful walk with our Lord. I also want to thank all of you that comment on this blog. It is an encouragement and enlightenment to my spiritual growth.
There are so many things in our society today that are against God's word. I believe we need to be more vocal in our unacceptance of the many beliefs and actions that are unGodly. As a church I think in many cases we are bending with societies wishes. It is difficult when, it seems like, the masses do not hold to an absolute truth. Therefore how do you give them The Word of Truth?
I have been a child of God for my whole life. I even graduated from aseminary and served in the pastorate for a few years. It is only recently that I learning what it means to be holy, to be set apart for God's good purposes. God is teaching me. He is helping me set time with Him each day so that I can learn what I need to get through the day. It is a struggle to life a holy life. I look forward to spending time with my Father every morning. This time has been the most peaceful I have ever enjoyed. He is giving me direction in the little things of my life. I am seeing Him more and more in the things I think, say, and do. He is changing me one day at a time.
So what does living a holy life, being set apart for the Lord, mean to you? How are you living that out today?
It means that I will be intentional about praising him all day long, I will spend time in prayer and I will read his word daily because I live in this world, but do not belong to it. This is what works for me to stay focus on Him. When someone curses or uses crude language and others laugh, i don't. When I am in traffic and feel frustrated at the trafic or at bad drivers, I am less likely to become frustrated if I am thinking about Him.
Living a holy life to me means having a lifestyle that is different from that of the world. In today's reading God was requesting His people to not take on any of the morally wrong practices from the nations surrounding them. His children were to remain committed to God standards only. Their committment to these standards would make them a more attracted people. Today, I am careful of the relationships I enter into and most of all how I am living my life around the unbelievers and believer .It is important to me that I look difference I am careful of what I do, how I speak, and how I look. I try in everything that I do to live in a way that will allow them to see a good healthy, honest picture of the living God in me .
this scripture in itself helps me to realise that i am destined for great things as an individual but it all comes in obeying and fearing the Lord and taking him for his word it really enlightens me on the fact that Gods way is not the shortest route to what we call fun but is the surest way to real and lasting happiness it shows me that even though God didnt promise days without pain laughter without sorrow or the sun without the rain but he did promise strength for the day comfort for the tears and light for the way life sometimes is the way we decide to make it look at this "GODISNOWHERE" what did you read "GOD IS NO WHERE" or "GOD IS NOW HERE" so in actual it does not matter what we face in life its what we see which makes the difference in our lives
to be set apart as the word of God said is very important for us to grow spiritually and to reach where God want us to be. We cant be mixing with the crowd and doing what everybody is doing we have to be different for the holy spirit to use us.
This passage breaks down in three parts. A clear instruction to not intermingle with the other nations. A reason why, because the Jewish people were: "For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession..."
Deuteronomy 7:6. And the blessing for obeying the Lord.
Is my life parallel to the blessings of the chosen people of Israel? I could honestly say yes. This passage makes me look at how much God has blessed me and how much I can be thankful for. I'm far from my family but have been blessed with a church family that cares and prays for me.
Being set apart from the world is hard work for any believer. Jesus explains how hard it will be for anyone choosing to believe. But Jesus replied, "Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head." Luke-9:58
Being set apart doesn't mean we can blend into the world. We need to stand up for our beliefs where people can just tell that we're different.
Well said, Madondo.