March 28

Deuteronomy 9:1-10:22, Luke 8:4-21, Psalm 69:19-36, Proverbs 12:2-3 

Pray: In many liturgical churches/settings, prior to the Scriptures being read, there is a prayer for illumination. Most are similar to this: “Lord, as the Scriptures are read and Your Word proclaimed, may we hear with joy what You say to us today.” Let your prayer today be that as you read God’s Word, you will hear with joy what God wants to speak to you.

Read: It’s uncharted territory. You’ve never had to deal with this kind of thing before. You don’t exactly know how you’re going to face this or get through this. Perhaps it is a medical issue. Maybe you’re looking at a relationship that is struggling. Is there a loss that you’re trying to process? It could even be a happy time that brings about a monumental change (graduation, move, job/career change). As the people of Israel were about to cross into God’s Promised Land, Moses reminded them of this: “recognize today that the Lord your God is the one who will cross over ahead of you….” That must have brought much comfort and peace to the people. The same God who had led them up to that point had not abandoned them (even in the midst of their rebellion and sinful actions). God was still leading them! It was true for them and it is true for you! God will cross over ahead of you into whatever uncharted land lies before you. Follow Him and you’ll never be lost.

Edify: As the Lord was about to lead His people into the Promised Land, there must have been questions. What does this mean? Will there be new responsibilities? When God delivers on His promise, then can we relax and do whatever we want? Will God hold us to an even higher standard now that we are receiving His promise? Moses answers these questions with simplistic, but profound instructions: “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you? He requires only that you fear the Lord your God, and live in a way that pleases him, and love him and serve him with all your heart and soul. And you must always obey the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good.” God’s requirements had not changed, whether in the wilderness or the Promised Land, God remains the same. Where are you today? Are you wandering in the wilderness, trying to find your way, trying to discern God’s plan? Are you in the Promised Land attempting to understand what God now asks of you? He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Fear the Lord, live the kind of life that pleases Him, love Him, serve Him, obey Him…it’s for your own good that you do these things.

Practice: In order to have a garden that produces good crops, the soil must be prepared properly. When Jesus tells the parable of the soil, too many of us hear the story as passive Christians…or we put the emphasis upon the farmer/sower. To be sure, of the four categories of soil, the first (where “the devil” takes away the seed) doesn’t seem to have much of a defense. The other 3, however, involve soil preparation. Nobody would plant a garden among rocks. You wouldn’t expect much to grow if you planted among thorns. You only get a good harvest of crops when you plant in good soil. How receptive are you to God’s Word? In other words, how’s the soil of your soul? Are there rocks in your spirit that are preventing you from allowing the Word of God to grow deep roots in your life? Are the thorns of culture choking out what God is trying to do in your life? We want…we NEED to have good soil for God to work with. Plow up the rocks, pull out the thorns by the root, and allow the Lord to plant something within you that will yield a crop a hundred times over what you might have received before.