April 3
Deut 23:1-25:19 | PS 75:1-10 | Prov 12:12-14 | Luke 10:13-37
It is essential that we keep our minds on the main thing. People talk of revival, but we must remember this is a matter of one’s coming into a relationship with God, with placing their trust in Jesus, and thereby one day entering heaven. It is much less about earthly matters, but often it is earthly matters which consume us. We read in Luke 10:17, 20, “When the seventy-two disciples returned, they joyfully reported to him, “Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name!”…But don’t rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven.” We must remember that God may use us in various capacities for His kingdom, but no matter what stage we are in our walk, from the newest convert to the seasoned pastor, we never become adults, we may mature in the faith, but must remain childlike in our submissive position before God, as we see Jesus emphasize in 10:21, “At that same time Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, and he said, “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way.”
There is a tendency to elevate our times, to see ourselves as more sophisticated, perhaps more aware than those in prior generations. Technology does not mean we have evolved at all. In fact, the sins that are tolerated today, would make prior generations blush by merely mentioning them. We have been given so much, God has availed us of so much, and with that we should read these words soberly in Luke 10:13-15, “What sorrow awaits you, Korazin and Bethsaida! For if the miracles I did in you had been done in wicked Tyre and Sidon, their people would have repented of their sins long ago, clothing themselves in burlap and throwing ashes on their heads to show their remorse. Yes, Tyre and Sidon will be better off on judgment day than you. And you people of Capernaum, will you be honored in heaven? No, you will go down to the place of the dead.” To make this more applicable, change the names of the above towns to ones that will hit closer to home, such as NYC, London, Chicago, etc. God is real, His Word is readily available, but most blindly choose to follow the world and the world’s system.
As we continue to go through the many laws outlined in Deuteronomy, may we please approach them with the same child-like innocence that Jesus stated we need to have. God’s standards are always correct. They are never outdated. His rulings are always fair and balanced. We need to come to Him as an open vessel, not filled with our years in the educational system, with our viewpoints passed onto us from those in university or from any variety of so-called experts. Even if things don’t seem to make sense, He is right. We are the children. We are the students. He is our Father. He is our teacher. In His laws we will see mercy, justice, love, etc. as long as we empty ourselves of pride and pre-conceived thoughts and allow the beauty of His Word to permeate us.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: