Pastor Billington's Blog

Deuteronomy 14

The Israelites were to be different than the world around them. This was expressed by the way they mourned, ate, and gave.

Thought for the day: We are to be different too!

1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 (WEB) “But we don’t want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who have fallen asleep, so that you don’t grieve like the rest, who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.”

Romans 12:2 (WEB) “Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God.”

Matthew 6:19-21 (WEB) “Don’t lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves don’t break through and steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Deuteronomy 13

Here Moses reminds them that they’re going to be surrounded by nations that don’t follow God. They need to guard against being enticed to idolatry. If a prophet encourages them to turn away, or says something that isn’t true or doesn’t come to pass, then they need to stone that prophet. And even if a whole city turns away, the punishment is the same. Any and all things that could turn people to idolatry or be used for false worship need to be destroyed. They are that weak!

Modern day paraphrase: “Don’t listen if someone comes along and tells you to stop worshipping God or to follow another God. Don’t pay attention if they say that God’s Word has changed, or that it means something other than what people have understood for thousands of years. Flee from all things and people that can tear you away from God!”

Thought for the day: Don’t just believe what anyone says. Hold them up to a higher standard – God’s Word!

1 John 4:1 (WEB) “Beloved, don’t believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”

1 Thessalonians 5:21 (WEB) “Test all things, and hold firmly that which is good.”

Acts 17:11 (WEB) “Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.”

Deuteronomy 12

Here we have a checklist for worship once they enter into the promised land. First, they need to destroy all the pagan places of worship. Second, they need to make a place to worship God – not just anywhere, but where God tells them to put it! Third, they need to remember that blood is sacred and shouldn’t be consumed. Fourth, they need to dedicate the first ten percent of the field and the firstborn of the livestock to God. One reason for that is to take care of the Levites who lead them in worship (12:19). Fifth, they need to make sure that they don’t engage in any idolatrous practices themselves. And finally, they need to make sure that they don’t add to or take away from any of the laws that God has given them.

Thought for the day: Although the Israelites only had one sanctuary and one place to bring offerings, we aren’t restricted in that way. We can worship anywhere, because the offering that was given is a once and for all time offering!

John 4:23-24 (WEB) “But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such to be his worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Hebrews 7:27 (WEB) “[Jesus] doesn’t need, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices daily, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. For he did this once for all, when he offered up himself.”

Deuteronomy 11

Throughout this passage we have the reminder that we are a repository of truth for our children and grandchildren. God reminded the Israelites that they had seen and experienced His mighty works during their journey, but their children hadn’t. They were responsible for passing their knowledge on!

Deuteronomy 11:18-20 (WEB) “Therefore you shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul. You shall bind them for a sign on your hand, and they shall be for frontlets between your eyes. You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall write them on the door posts of your house and on your gates.”

Our children need to hear about the truthfulness of the Bible from us. They need to know that God has worked in the past, and that He is still working now. They need to see the truth of God modeled in our lives. They need to understand that following God brings blessing, and that disobedience brings consequences!

Deuteronomy 11:26 (WEB) “Behold, I set before you today a blessing and a curse…“

Thought for the day: God promises us the blessings of His presence and His Spirit when we believe, but sin can bring negative consequences instead.

Ephesians 4:30 (WEB) “Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”

Deuteronomy 10

When Moses came down from the mountain to catch the Israelites in idolatry, he smashed the tablets that God gave him. God remade them, and commanded Moses to put them in an ark, which they were carrying with them. The priesthood cared for it, with Aaron’s descendants carrying on after his death.

God’s sovereignty is shown through His creation and His choice of them. What does He require from them, since He created and chose them?

Deuteronomy 10:12 (WEB) “Now, Israel, what does Yahweh your God require of you, but to fear Yahweh your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, and to serve Yahweh your God with all your heart and with all your soul.”

Thought for the day: There is another, similar passage that is more well known. Both of them remind us of what is really important in God’s eyes.

Micah 6:8 (WEB) “He has shown you, O man, what is good. What does the LORD require of you, but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?”

Deuteronomy 9

Why is God giving the promised land to His people? It’s not because of their righteousness. It’s not because they deserve it. It’s because of the utter sinfulness and immorality of the people that are currently in the land! And then, to prove it to them, Moses recites some of the ways that they’ve failed God along the journey. They certainly haven’t been righteous. In fact, there have been times God has threatened to destroy them and start over! But Moses pleaded for them, even going so far as to suggest to God that His honor would be impugned by the nations if He destroyed His people, and they are saved.

Thought for the day: Jesus is our model for intercession, and Paul reminds us of our responsibility to engage in the ministry of intercession.

Romans 8:34 (WEB) “Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, yes rather, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.”

1 Timothy 2:1 (WEB) “I exhort therefore, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and givings of thanks be made for all men.”

Deuteronomy 8

Humility. It’s at the heart of Christianity. Through humility we understand that we need a Savior. Through humility we understand how much God has done for us. Through humility we realize that God has a purpose in testing. Through humility we realize what we owe Him, and we willingly worship and obey!

Unfortunately, the more we get from God (either spiritually or physically), the more we take Him for granted, and the more we think that we are responsible for what we have. God warns them here: they will want to say, “My power and the might of my hand has gotten me this wealth.” That’s the trap. That’s when they (and we) need to focus and remember what God has done.

Thought for the day: Jesus reminds us of the importance of humility in our walk with God.

Matthew 5:3 (WEB) “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.”

Deuteronomy 7

Here God tells His people that they are special and chosen. That they have a future and a hope. That they don’t need to fear the nations because He has promised that they will be victorious if they worship and obey Him!

What does this teach us for our lives today? First, we should be so devoted to God that we put aside any things or relationships that threaten to take us away from him. Second, because of His great love (shown to us through Jesus Christ) we should be willing to obey Him. Third, because of our obedience we can expect blessing. And finally, although we don’t engage in physical battle, we do engage in spiritual warfare, and God tells us that we don’t need to fear!

Ephesians 6:10-18 (WEB) “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having the utility belt of truth buckled around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having fitted your feet with the preparation of the Good News of peace, above all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; with all prayer and requests, praying at all times in the Spirit, and being watchful to this end in all perseverance and requests for all the saints.”

Thought for the day: Obedience brings blessing? Yes, but the blessings we receive now aren’t national or necessarily physical. The blessings are primarily spiritual!

Ephesians 1:3 (WEB) “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.”

Galatians 5:22-23 (WEB) “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control.”