Deuteronomy 16:20 “Justice, and only justice, you shall pursue, that you may live and possess the land which the Lord your God is giving you.”

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

Have you ever wondered what it meant to be just?  Well, it simply means to show justice.  Do what is right, according to God, not man.  Man can pervert justice.  Man can change the rules to fit what they want it to say.  But man cannot change what God calls justice.  He is justice.  He demands justice.

And by living that way we are given a promise.  I believe this promise to the Hebrew children, as they were preparing to enter the Promised Land, applies to us well.  We may not be going in to possess a land, but we are promised to live and possess what the Lord is giving us (whatever that is) if we pursue justice.

TEACHING MOMENT

Children don’t learn justice naturally.  Their sinful flesh will always pursue what it wants.  It doesn’t care about others.  But as God comes to live in and through them in the Holy Spirit, justice will win out.  The Holy Spirit will demand it.

Sometimes showing justice (being just) is not comfortable.  Sometimes it will cost us something or even a lot.  But God has promised that if we do what is just He will bless us.

Justice is fair.  Justice is right.  Justice is good.  Whether we believe it or not, justice will make us stronger.  Justice will bring us to look more like Him.  So, why wouldn’t you want to be just and live justly?

How are you doing today with that?  Is there something you could do to correct that?  Of course there is.  Submit to the One who is just.  Let Him guide your every decision.  As a believer, He will guide you in living a just and holy life.  Let Him!

1 Corinthians 7:19 “Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is the keeping of the commandments of God.”

IT’S INTERNAL

So many religions focus on the external, what you have to do to be holy.  You have to do this or do that.  You have to look this way and not eat this food.  Paul, who knew all about law keeping, makes it clear that it is NOT about what we can or can’t do.

Don’t forget the fact that this is Paul, the former Pharisee, speaking here.  He was a law abiding Jew before he came face to face with the Lord on the Damascus road.  Paul was confident in his abilities to keep the law and wanted to force everyone else to do the same.  Christ showed him different and then sent him to preach to the very people he had despised.

TEACHING MOMENT

I bet you have rules for your children to follow.  Am I right?  Most of us have house rules.  There is NOTHING wrong with rules.  However, don’t forget that rules are designed to teach, not control.  If your children grow up thinking that rules are their dictator, they will rebel.  If they understand that rules are meant to teach them to be obedient to authority (parents, teachers, bosses, etc), they will appreciate the boundaries they have.

Today, all over the world, we see the two extremes.  On the one hand, young people are rebelling against any kind of authority.  They do not want to be told how to do anything.  They think they should be able to do whatever whenever with whomever they wish.  On the other hand, we have a radical following of Islam that demands obedience or death.  Neither are the answer.

Mom and Dad, be firm with your children as you enforce the rules, but teach them WHY there are rules.  Your children need to know the why behind the what or it doesn’t matter how many rules you have.

Speaking of rules, how many did you break today?  Driving over the speed limit, taking that pen from work, or telling that little “white lie” are all examples of how we stretch things.  We MUST be the model for our children in keeping the rules that are set before us, not to be legalistic, but to be obedient.

The Law Giver demands obedience also.  But He wants us to obey out of love, not fear.  Obey Him today.  Allow Him to teach you through obeying Him.

Deuteronomy 12:32 “”Whatever I command you, you shall be careful to do; you shall not add to nor take away from it.”

PRETTY SIMPLE

Why do we men always think we can assemble any toy or contraption BEFORE we read the instructions?  We have this macho, I-can-do-it mentality that makes us too proud to read the instructions.

I remember back in 1990 or 91 we bought our son, Christopher, one of those Powerwheels.  It was a red jeep with a black top.  It was cool.  It had those big plastic tires.  We just knew he was going to love it.  The problem was it came in a box to be “assembled.”  I was up half the night on Christmas Eve putting that thing together.  After wrestling with it for an hour or so, I finally pulled out the instructions.  There actually was a method to the madness.

TEACHING MOMENT

Our children have to be taught to follow the instructions.  It is still true that we need to be careful to do all the Lord commands.  That’s why we require them to follow our commands and instructions.  We are modeling for them what the Lord requires of them.  If we do not require them to follow our instructions why would we think they would follow God’s?

Too many parents today are so “child focused” that they do not require obedience.  God still does!  When we do not discipline our children and give clear guidelines, we are doing them a disservice.  Of course, our guide to guide them is God’s Word.  And we must also be obedient to Him as a model for our children.

What are you disobeying today?  What are you NOT doing that the Lord has asked you to do?  Are you being careful to follow His commands?  It’s hard sometimes, I know.  We all like to have our own way.  But obedience precedes the joy.

Be obedient today.  Be careful to keep His Word and, thereby, set an example for others.  They are watching!

I Corinthians 5:9-11 “9 I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; 10 I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world. 11 But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler-not even to eat with such a one.”

HANGING OUT

You have probably heard the expression “If you lay with dogs you are going to get fleas.”  Well…that’s kind of what Paul is saying here.  He is warning us not to associate with “so-called” brothers or sisters.  We have to live in the world, thus we have to be around unbelievers.  But we do NOT have to hang out with those who pretend to be believers.  That is warned against.

Do you know those people?  I hope and pray you aren’t one of them yourselves.  That would not be good for you or the Body of Christ.  We should live in a way that we are above reproach and only bring honor to our Lord.  I, for one, have been that other brother in the past.  Thankfully, the Lord convicted me and has brought me to a place of repentance.

TEACHING MOMENT

This is one truth that our children need to learn.  They must be careful when choosing friends, especially those who say they are believers.  Today many say they believe, but in reality, they just have the appearance of being a believer.  It is easier in some places to say you are a believer just to get people off your back.  That is not what is expected by us.  We must be true to our Lord.

When your children come home and tell you that “so and so” is doing things that you know would bring dishonor to the Lord, counsel your children wisely.  They will learn the skill of friend making from you.

Are you “hanging out” with unbelieving believers?  You too need to be careful.  You don’t want fleas, do you?  Don’t let other “believers” bring you down.  Don’t let their impure thoughts and actions influence you. Don’t let their judgmental attitudes corrupt your walk.

God wants you “flea free.”  Allow Him to direct you to those believers who can walk with you in this life.  They are your true friends.

Deuteronomy 7:6 “For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.”

HIS OWN

Don’t you remember choosing sides in grade school?  At recess, everyone would gather, two captains were picked, and then they would take turns picking their team.  I always felt sorry for the last one who was picked.  You know how that was, right?  Usually, it was the same kid every time.

Maybe you were that kid.  Or maybe you were the one picking.  It doesn’t matter now, does it?  But back then it was so important.  Aren’t you glad God doesn’t do that.  He chooses ALL OF US!  He wants us ALL on His team.  But we have to be willing to join it.

TEACHING MOMENT

I promise you there is going to come a time when your child is NOT picked for a team.  It could happen early or when they are grown.  But it will happen eventually.  This is the verse to share at such a moment.  They need to know that God will ALWAYS choose them.  He is just waiting for them to say, “Yes Lord, I want to be on Your team.”

Our job as parents is to get them ready to respond to that “choosing.”  We need to help them learn to recognize the voice of God, so when He does “call them” to Himself, they will know it is the Lord.  That means they need to know as much about the Lord as we can tell them.  If we do our part in sharing what the Lord has done in our lives and how He speaks to us, then they will know Him when He speaks.

Are you listening today?  Are you attentive to the voice of the Master?  He has chosen you, or have you forgotten?  You are His special child whom He loves dearly.  He wants to pull you close today and love on you.

Maybe you are listening and are just chomping at the bit to get in the race.  You are saying, “Put me in!  I am ready!”  Don’t worry, when you are ready He will use you.  Just don’t forget that He chose you before the foundation of the earth.  If you have received His Son you are on God’s team which means you are ALWAYS a winner!

Deuteronomy 6:4 “Hear, O Israel!  The LORD is our God.  The LORD is One!”

SHEMA YISRAEL

Every Jew knows this verse.  It’s part of their daily prayers.  Our God is One!  There is no other.  It’s kind of like us chanting at a ballgame, “We’re Number One!  We’re Number One!”  But this shout is directed at the world to acknowledge that Jehovah is the One and Only God.

Shouldn’t we be shouting the same thing?  Our God is Number One!  He is the Only One!  He is our Everything!  There is no other god!  Instead, we try to apologize for our God when the world “blames” Him for evil.  We try to make our God politically correct.  Pardon me, but God does not care about being politically correct.  He IS correct, all the time and in every situation.  He is THE Truth!

TEACHING MOMENT

We must teach our children this basic principle.  The following verses in Deuteronomy 6 say that.  Why not have verses written and hanging all over the house?  Put them on the frig.  Put them on the bathroom mirrors.  Challenge your child to memorize one verse a week.  Write it out for them or have them do it if they are able.  Then post it in their room, in their bathroom and even put it in their lunchbox.

The great thing about knowing and believing that God is One is there is no confusion about Who to worship.  Our children need to know that.  There are no worries about offending another “god.”  Unlike other people in the world, we focus all our adoration on our One God who exist in Three!  Our God died for us.  He doesn’t ask us to die for Him.  Our God lives in us.  He is not in some far off place that is unreachable or unachievable.

Are you living today as if you truly believe that God is ONE!  Do you want to have the ONE guiding you?  Why don’t you right now just stop whatever you are doing and thank Him for being ONE?  Thank Him for taking you into His family.  Thank Him for rescuing you from the domain of darkness.

The One thinks you are number one, too!  He gave His Son just for you!  Live like it!

Deuteronomy 4:24 “For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.”

IT’S NOT A BAD THING

Did you know your God is jealous?  In fact, in Exodus 34:14 it reads, “for you shall not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God”  His NAME IS JEALOUS!!!  Now that’s serious.

But what does that mean?  Does He stalk you like a jealous boyfriend?  Does He call you incessantly if you break up with Him?  Of course not.  He is jealous in that He demands full allegiance.  He wants your full attention.  He does not allow you to “say” you love Him and then flirt with other “gods.”

TEACHING MOMENT

Children need to learn that our Holy God will not allow them to make Him just another interest.  He is not interested in sharing their attention.  He is the ONLY God and requires us to recognize that.  Our children will be bombarded by other religions and their false beliefs.  They will hear from others that there are many gods and many ways to heaven.  There aren’t!

I am sure your children will sooner or later have a jealous moment over a friend.  That’s a perfect time to share this verse.  They will understand the emotions they feel in a jealous moment.  You, as Mom or Dad, need to talk to them about how that type of jealousy is not of God.  But also share with them how God is jealous for them.  He will defend them.  He will cherish them.  They are HIS.

And you?  Are you a jealous type?  Do you get jealous over little things?  Do you get jealous when you see your husband or your wife flirt with someone else?  You should.  You have sole rights to them as their spouse.  God has sole rights to you, too.  Don’t forget it. No other gods before Him.

Recommit yourself to God today.  Thank Him for His selfless love He showed by giving us His Son to die for us.  Let Him feel your love and devotion today.  Hey, why don’t you get jealous for God?

1 Corinthians 1:18 “For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

YOU MUST BE CRAZY!

I will never forget when I got saved.  It was the summer of 1977, actually July 31,1977.  It was the single, most important decision of my life, hands down.  But decisions have consequences.  I lost most of my friends because of that decision.  My “friends” thought I was crazy for getting all excited about Jesus.  You see, they all went to church, too.  But they were NOT going to give Him their lives.  They were too young.

I was seen as crazy and too far out there for them, now that I had stopped partying with them.  They just didn’t understand that they were the foolish ones for not turning to Him then.  Fortunately, most of those friends have come to Christ.  Some have not.  And sadly some died before experiencing His saving power.

TEACHING MOMENT

Do all you can to set the table for your kids to eat of God’s Word.  You can’t make them receive it.  Only He can draw them to Himself, but you can be the one who encourages and directs them to the source.

They need to see that you are sold out to Him.  They need to see that your life is centered in Christ.  They need to see the “power of God” in your life.  They need to know that, although their friends may think they are crazy and foolish, they have made the smartest decision they will ever make when they have given their lives over to their Father in heaven.

Are you living in the power of God?  Or are you limping along with a childlike faith?  God wants to unleash His power in your life, if you will only submit and follow.  Who doesn’t want more power?  Captain Kirk was always asking Scotty for more power, wasn’t he?  Lol

Be a fool for Jesus today.  Abandon yourself to Him and just see what He will do through you.  You might be surprised.  No, I am sure you will be surprised.  Go for it!

Job 42:1-6 “1 Then Job answered the LORD and said, 2 ‘I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted. 3 Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge? Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. 4 Hear, now, and I will speak; I will ask You, and You instruct me. 5 I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; but now my eye sees You; 6 therefore I retract, and I repent in dust and ashes.’”

FINALLY

I have a few friends to which I send greetings by other friends sometimes.  My message is usually, “Repent.”  I say that to them in jest, because I know they are walking with the Lord.  But really it is a message we all need to hear.  Right?

Job has finally come to this point. It doesn’t matter what he thinks he has or has not done.  The bottom line is in the presence of God we must ALL repent.  In view of His holiness we are nothing by filthy rags in need of cleansing.

TEACHING MOMENT

Teaching our children about repentance can be difficult.  But when they experience the Holy God, He will draw them into repentance.  Many parents ask me how to know WHEN their child has really made a decision for Christ.  I tell them to watch for repentance and remorse when they do something against God.  The Spirit of God, which lives in them as a believer, will not let them slide.

When is the last time you got on your knees or on your face in repentance?  How long has it been since you confessed those things you THOUGHT you were hiding from Him?  He wants to hear from you and cleanse you.  But He won’t until you come to Him in humility and bow.

Stop what you are doing right now and do that!  Go to the Father and say as Job said, “I repent in dust and ashes.”  He will do a mighty work in you.  Just let Him!

Job 40:2 “Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty?  Let him who reproves God answer it.”

HISSY FITS

Have you ever argued with God over something?  I have!  Now, I don’t mean I verbally assaulted Him, but I have argued in my spirit over something I KNOW He has directed me to do.  My flesh is strong, and it desires its own way.  So, when God directs me through His Word or in prayer to do something His way, well, my flesh just wants to rebel.

How fruitless!  How ridiculous!  And here we see the Lord God speaking to Job and telling him the same thing.  “You think you know better, Job?  Okay, let’s see what you can do.”  You really need to read chapters 39-40 in their entirety to see the full conversation.  I can totally relate to my own “talks” with God about what I think is a better way.

TEACHING MOMENT

How about your children?  Has little Susie ever been determined to show you that she knows best?  Has Elrod ever told you that he doesn’t need your advice anymore?  Our children will do that.  They will insist on trying something their way, when we know that it won’t work or it isn’t the best way.  If it’s not dangerous, let them.  Sometimes failure is the best teacher.

Then when you are helping them pick up the pieces, you can share Job’s story with them.  You can tell them about a righteous man who thought he understood God.  You can read to them how he had NO CLUE about the power and majesty of a holy God.  We don’t either.  We may think we do, but our grandest thoughts come way short of the full picture of Who God really is.

Okay, what are you arguing with God about right now?  Don’t tell me you aren’t.  We all do it.  Do you question His sovereignty?  Do you question His right over your life?  Do you not believe His Word?  What is it that is causing you to get in God’s face?

It’s okay.  God can take it.  He wants us to be honest with Him.  Then He can show us the truth.  Our part is to listen and allow Him to teach.  Will you do that today?