Tag: Walk in His Ways

52.n. Wilderness – 16.t. “The LORD will establish you”

 

 

Deu 28:9-14  The LORD will establish you as a people holy to himself, as he has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the LORD your God and walk in his ways. And all the peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they shall be afraid of you. And the LORD will make you abound in prosperity, in the fruit of your womb and in the fruit of your livestock and in the fruit of your ground, within the land that the LORD swore to your fathers to give you. The LORD will open to you his good treasury, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hands. And you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. And the LORD will make you the head and not the tail, and you shall only go up and not down, if you obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you today, being careful to do them, and if you do not turn aside from any of the words that I command you today, to the right hand or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.

God’s purpose in blessing Israel was greater than just enriching the nation for its own sake. He intended to glorify Himself through blessing them. (Guzik)

And the Lord shall establish thee an holy people unto himself,…. Having separated them from all others, for his service, honour, and glory, should continue them as such, and settle them in the land, and confirm all their privileges, natural, civil, and religious. And all the people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the Lord,…. Called his children, his people, his portion, and his inheritance; and that they are his, and he is theirs, by the care he takes of them, the provision he makes for them, and the protection they have from him: and they shall be afraid of thee; as not only the Canaanites were, but all other nations. Blessings – if that thou hearken to the commandments of the Lord thy God, which I command thee this day to observe and to do them; which is the condition on which all this happiness depended. And thou shall not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day,…. Depart from them as a rule to walk by, turn out from them as a path to walk in, neglect and disobey them, and go into practices contrary to them (Gill)

“The Lord will exalt thee for a holy nation to Himself,…so that all the nations of the earth shall see that the name of Jehovah is named upon thee, and shall fear before thee.” The Lord had called Israel as a holy nation, when He concluded the covenant with it (Exodus 19:5-6). This promise, to which the words “as He hath sworn unto thee” point back, and which is called an oath, because it was founded upon the promises given to the patriarchs on oath (Genesis 22:16), and was given implicite in them, the Lord would fulfil to His people, and cause the holiness and glory of Israel to be so clearly manifested, that all nations should perceive or see “that the name of the Lord is named upon Israel.” The name of the Lord is the revelation of His glorious nature. (Keil)

52.h. Wilderness – 16.n. “You shall be a people holy to the LORD your God”

 

 

Deu 26:14-19     ……….  I have done according to all that you have commanded me. Look down from your holy habitation, from heaven, and bless your people Israel and the ground that you have given us, as you swore to our fathers, a land flowing with milk and honey.’ “This day the LORD your God commands you to do these statutes and rules. You shall therefore be careful to do them with all your heart and with all your soul. You have declared today that the LORD is your God, and that you will walk in his ways, and keep his statutes and his commandments and his rules, and will obey his voice. And the LORD has declared today that you are a people for his treasured possession, as he has promised you, and that you are to keep all his commandments, and that he will set you in praise and in fame and in honor high above all nations that he has made, and that you shall be a people holy to the LORD your God, as he promised.”

 Now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the judgments which I teach you to observe. From Deuteronomy chapter 4 through chapter 26, Moses has reminded Israel of God’s commands. Now he exhorted them to keep the commands.  Israel was to proclaim two things. First, that the LORD to be their God. Second, that they will walk in His ways and keep His statutes. The two go together, because the identity of our God is always demonstrated by the direction of our obedience. God promised that He exalt an obedient Israel, to set them high above all nations which He has made, in praise, in name, and in honor. (Guzik)

Have we hearkened to the voice of the Lord my God, and have done according to all that thou hast commanded us; observed his word, and kept close to it, and not swerved from it, but acted according to it in all things before referred to? Thou hast avouched the Lord this day to be thy God,…. Said, affirmed, protested, and in the most solemn manner declared, that the Lord was their God, and him only; and that they would have no other God, nor worship, serve, or obey any other. The Lord is the God of all mankind, as he is the Creator and Preserver of them, and was of the people of Israel in a peculiar manner, they being chosen, redeemed, and privileged by him above all others; and especially is of his elect in Christ among all nations, whom he has loved and set apart for himself, and determined to save; whom he has adopted and regenerated; he provides for them, protects and preserves them, gives them grace here and glory hereafter: he is their God in Christ, and by virtue of the covenant of his grace made with them in him; and is known by them to be so in the effectual calling by the application of covenant blessings to them; and which is certified to them by the Spirit of God, upon which they claim their interest in him, and make profession of him as their God:and to walk in his ways, and to keep his statutes and his commandments, and his judgments, and to hearken unto his voice; that is, this was then their resolution and determination, their protestation and declaration, to walk in all the ways of God, both in private and in public, he directed unto; and to observe all his laws, ceremonial, moral, and judicial, which he had given them as the rule of their walk and behaviour; and to regard whatsoever he should reveal by his prophets and ministers as his will; and a view of covenant interest in God lays all good men under the strongest obligation in the strength of divine grace to attend to his will; nor can there be a greater motive to them than covenant love, grace, and mercy. (Gill)

After that solemn profession of their obedience to God’s commands, they are taught to pray for God’s blessing upon their land, whereby they are instructed how vain and ineffectual the prayers of unrighteous or disobedient persons are. (Poole)

Moses winds up his address by a solemn admonition to the people to keep and observe the laws and commandments which the Lord by him had laid upon them, reminding them that they had entered into covenant with God, and had thereby pledged themselves to obedience to all that he had enjoined, as he on his part had pledged himself to be their Benefactor, who would fulfill to them all his gracious promises, and would exalt them above all the nations of the earth. (Unknown)

 Moses here enforces the precepts. They are God’s laws, therefore thou shalt do them, to that end were they given thee; do them, and dispute them not; do them, and draw not back; do them, not carelessly and hypocritically, but with thy heart and soul, thy whole heart and thy whole soul. We forswear ourselves, and break the most sacred engagement, if, when we have taken the Lord to be our God, we do not make conscience of obeying his commands. We are elected to obedience, 1Pe 1:2; chosen that we should be holy, Eph 1:4; purified a peculiar people, that we might not only do good works, but be zealous in them, Tit 2:14. Holiness is true honour, and the only way to everlasting honour. (Henry)

At the close of his discourse, Moses sums up the whole in the earnest admonition that Israel would give the Lord its God occasion to fulfil the promised glorification of His people, by keeping His commandments with all their heart and soul. (Keil)

2.s. “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the LORD, to serve him.”

2 Chronicles 23:16  And Jehoiada made a covenant between himself and all the people and the king that they should be the Lord’s people. Then all the people went to the house of Baal and tore it down; his altars and his images they broke in pieces, and they killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars.

Deuteronomy 26:17-19    You have declared today that the LORD is your God, and that you will walk in his ways, and keep his statutes and his commandments and his rules, and will obey his voice.  And the LORD has declared today that you are a people for his treasured possession, as he has promised you, and that you are to keep all his commandments,  and that he will set you in praise and in fame and in honor high above all nations that he has made, and that you shall be a people holy to the LORD your God, as he promised.”

Joshua 24:21-25   And the people said to Joshua, “No, but we will serve the LORD.”  Then Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the LORD, to serve him.” And they said, “We are witnesses.”  He said, “Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your heart to the LORD, the God of Israel.”  And the people said to Joshua, “The LORD our God we will serve, and his voice we will obey.”  So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day

Multiple times throughout history there have been people of God declaring their intentional choices to serve Him, walk in His ways, keep His commandments, statutes, rules, and obey His voice.  They did this as a personal choice and as one voice collectively.  For some, this may have been a shallow commitment and for others, it was heart and soul-deep.

When the commitment is shallow you still may not see any difference between them and others with deep commitment.  For all outward appearance looks the same.  They may have gotten caught up in the moment and gave lip service to make this commitment.  We see this today when a seed of commitment is acted upon it to trust Jesus Christ. Yet the seed does not take root and over time withers dies.  Jesus gave a parable about this and we should take note of the importance of it.  It is up to those with heart and soul-deep service and obedience to nurture and help water and grow these shallow seeds.  This can only happen when there is continual growth and maturing.  And this can only happen when there is a desire to do so.  An intentional choice that is made every day.  An intentional choice that places service to Jesus Christ first.  An intentional choice to feed on His word, to listen to the whispers of the Holy Spirit, to trust Him when chaos and confusion attack, and to take every thought captive and ensure it is in line with God’s word.

Every small decision over time will yield good or bad.  These insignificant decisions in our mind have long term effects for both now and eternity.

We can rejoice when there has been a commitment made to trust, serve, follow, and obey but we must help and encourage each other in this life long commitment or we risk drifting away.  We don’t have to read far after each of these personal and nationwide commitments to see a drifting and falling away from serving, following, trusting and obeying God.  Be mindful that our sinful nature and self-centered interests are always being tempted by Satan or self to leave our commitment to God.  Our commitment is more than a one and done decision.  It is an intentional, mindful, heart full, and soul-deep choice every moment of every day.  Stay in His word, serve Him, follow Him, trust Him, listen to Him, and obey Him.  In doing this we are able to fight the good fight and encourage, lead, and instruct our brothers and sisters in Christ.

7. Run to the forest of God’s word

Exodus 23:25  You shall serve the Lord your God, and he will bless your bread and your water, and I will take sickness away from among you.

Exodus 23:33   They shall not dwell in your land, lest they make you sin against me; for if you serve their gods, it will surely be a snare to you.”

Deuteronomy 10:12     “And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul,

Deuteronomy 10:20    You shall fear the LORD your God. You shall serve him and hold fast to him,

Deuteronomy 11:13-14     “And if you will indeed obey my commandments that I command you today, to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul,  he will give the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the later rain, that you may gather in your grain and your wine and your oil.

Deuteronomy 13:4    You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice, and you shall serve him and hold fast to him.

Deuteronomy 28:1-6    “And if you faithfully obey the voice of the LORD your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth.  And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the LORD your God.  Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field.  Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground and the fruit of your cattle, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock.  Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl.  Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.

Joshua 24:24    And the people said to Joshua, “The LORD our God we will serve, and his voice we will obey.”

1 Samuel 12:24     Only fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you.

Do you ever wonder what interferes with serving God with all your heart and with all your soul?  Scriptures say “obey the voice of the Lord your God” and then it says to “serve Him with all your heart and soul.”  You have heard  of the question “Does a tree falling over in a forest makes a sound if no one is there to hear it.”  If it is not perceived by someone does not mean it did not make noise.

If we don’t spend time in the forest of God’s word there is no chance we will hear His voice, let alone, be able to follow and obey it with our whole heart and soul.  Spending time in the forest of God’s word allows us to see the massiveness as well as the singularity of it.  It allows us to see the beauty, promises, strength, power, might, and steadfast grace, mercy, and love of God.  Paul speaking to unbeliever said it this way – “how are people to hear unless someone tells them.  but Peter speaking to believers said it this way – “For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge,  and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness,  and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.  For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.”

Believers should desire and seek the forest of God’s word.  They should run to it each day to hear the voice of God speak into their lives.  They want to hear Him speak so they can serve, follow and obey.

I think people stay out of the forest of God’s word because they have seen all they want to see from a distance.  By staying outside of the forest there is little chance they will need to listen and because they are close enough to see it, they think they are ok enough.

Do you want to see truth and beauty – Run to the forest of God’s word with a desire seeking to hear Him speak into your life.  Blessing comes to those who spend time in the forest listening and obeying Him speak.

 

How can they call upon God?

“who swear by the name of the LORD and confess the God of Israel, but not in truth or right.”

Genesis 4:26  To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the LORD.

Deuteronomy 26:17-18    You have declared today that the LORD is your God, and that you will walk in his ways, and keep his statutes and his commandments and his rules, and will obey his voice.  And the LORD has declared today that you are a people for his treasured possession, as he has promised you, and that you are to keep all his commandments,

1 Kings 18:24    And you call upon the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the LORD,

Isaiah 63:19    We have become like those over whom you have never ruled, like those who are not called by your name.

Joel 2:32    And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the LORD has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the LORD calls.

Acts 2:21    And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

Romans 10:13    For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?

Those who have called on the name of the Lord and  believe and trust in the redemptive work of Christ on the cross and have repented of their sin are saved, born again, a new creation, in-dwelt with the Holy Spirit, are called children of God, are promised eternity with God in heaven where there is no more tears, pain, or death.  All of this is by faith in the one and only God.

Talk about a life saving decision with an eternal consequence!

Do you remember who it was that spoke to you about God’s love through Christ?  Loran Witlash, a truck driver for HyVee food store spoke of Christ to me while unloading his truck when I was 15.  My wife’s uncle spoke of Christ to me while taking me fishing when I was 22.  My neighbor invited my wife and I to an evangelistic service when I was 23.  Joe Schultz the evangelist spoke sin, forgiveness, redemption, and repentance.

I still remember each of these men in my life.  I thought Loran was a little different because he spoke of the need for Christ the whole time we were unloading the trucks and he never swore.  Harold, my wife’s uncle, was a wise man who was very successful, respected, and spoke of Christ.  Rich, our neighbor, I don’t remember him speaking of Christ before he invited us to hear the evangelist, but there was something I saw in how he acted.  Our interactions were nothing more than passing moments of hellos, waves, and seeing how he interacted with his wife and children.  Rich and his wife then became our friends and almost everyday spent time with us in scripture explaining the new life we had begun.

We never know who is watching our lives and will see light of Christ.  When we speak of the love of God and need for Christ we will never know how God will use this to soften a heart.  We never know how a life may be changed for eternity through what we say and how we act and the time we invest.

One thing is for certain and true – “But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?”

Incline my heart

Psalms 119:112  I incline my heart to perform your statutes forever, to the end.

Psalms 119:36     Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!

Psalms 141:4   heart incline to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds in company with men who work iniquity, and let me not eat of their delicacies!

Joshua 24:23    He said, “Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your heart to the LORD, the God of Israel.”

1 Kings 8:58    that he may incline our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments, his statutes, and his rules, which he commanded our fathers.

Philippians 2:13    for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes forever, to the very end: The theme is once again emphasized. The Psalmist would never forsake God’s word; never stop reading, learning, meditating, and especially obeying it.

“Observe where he begins his work – not with the eye – the ear – the tongue – but with the heart.” (Bridges)

“The believer feels that every step is dangerous; this is why he cried out fro the lamp to his feet and the light to his path. With every step dangerous, how can he ever hope to endure forever, to the very end? Because the same God who lights and sustains him for one step can do it for every step, to the very end.”

Choosing to incline your heart is the beginning, committing to it for every step, of every day, of every moment requires fuel for that commitment.  The Psalmist new something about the natural heart – it is not inclined to God.  It is inclined to self, self interests, and self reliance.  Choosing to humbly honor, glorify, sever, follow and obey to the very end will require fuel for the heart, mind and soul.  God’s word to the very end.  Let it overflow your thoughts and actions.

This hymn calms my heart and puts a softness to this journey with Christ:

I come to the garden alone. While the dew is still on the roses. And the voice I hear, falling on my ear. The Son of God discloses

And He walks with me. And He talks with me. And He tells me I am His own. And the joy we share as we tarry there. None other has ever known

He speaks and the sound of His voice. Is so sweet the birds hush their singing. And the melody that He gave to me. Within my heart is ringing

And He walks with me. And He talks with me. And He tells me I am His own. And the joy we share as we tarry there. None other has ever known

I’d stay in the garden with Him. ‘Tho the night around me be falling. But He bids me go; through the voice of woe. His voice to me is calling

And He walks with me. And He talks with me. And He tells me I am His own. And the joy we share as we tarry there. None other has ever known

Therefore it shall be a witness against you

Psalms 119:57   The LORD is my portion; I promise to keep your words.  I entreat your favor with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise.  When I think on my ways, I turn my feet to your testimonies;  I hasten and do not delay to keep your commandments.  Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me, I do not forget your law. At midnight I rise to praise you, because of your righteous rules.  I am a companion of all who fear you, of those who keep your precepts.   The earth, O LORD, is full of your steadfast love; teach me your statutes!

Psalms 16:5    The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.

Psalms 73:26     My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Psalms 142:5    I cry to you, O LORD; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.”

Lamentations 3:24     “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”

“Therefore it shall be a witness against you, lest you deal falsely with your God.”

Joshua 24:15     And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

Deuteronomy 26:17-18     You have declared today that the LORD is your God, and that you will walk in his ways, and keep his statutes and his commandments and his rules, and will obey his voice.  And the LORD has declared today that you are a people for his treasured possession, as he has promised you, and that you are to keep all his commandments,

“You are my portion, O Lord: These are the words of a satisfied soul. The Psalmist is satisfied with the portion received, and that portion is the Lord Himself.”

“The Lord Himself is satisfaction to the Psalmist because God has come to him through His word. It isn’t as if the word of God was in one place, and the Psalmist must go another place for experience of and satisfaction found in God. He can say, “You are my portion, O Lord, and I have received that portion as You meet me in Your word and I live it out.”

“He is an exceedingly covetous fellow to whom God is not sufficient; and he is an exceeding fool to whom the world is sufficient. For God is an inexhaustible treasury of all riches, sufficing innumerable men; while the world has mere trifles and fascinations to offer, and leads the soul into deep and sorrowful poverty.”

“A close connection with God that receives and enjoys Him as one’s portion also receives strength to keep His words.”

“But if we take the Lord as our portion, we must take him as our king. . . . Here is the Christian complete – taking the Lord as his portion, and his word as his rule.” (Bridges)

“I have said; I have not only purposed it in my own heart, but have professed and owned it before others, and I do not repent of it.” (Poole)

Do you ever take notice of how active God’s word is in your life, where you actually reflect on it at the end of the day?  It is easier to notice if time is spent in His word with a heart deep desire to humbly serve, honor, praise, glorify, follow and obey Him.  Being filled with His living word will satisfy the darkest soul and give light to their day.

Secretly serving God is not an option.  Publicly professing and owning it before others is a basic foundation for commitment and service to Him. Scripture adds to this where it says words of faith without deeds (action) is dead and are nothing more than a clanging noise.

Active faith has proclamation/profession and action.  I wait for the Lord, I hope in the Lord, I trust in the Lord, I rely on the Lord, I believe in the Lord, I believe in eternity, I believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, I know I have been forgiven, I honor the Lord, I hope in Him alone, I love His word and application in my life, I keep His word, I listen for His whispers of guidance…….. All of these are proclamations and have no meaning if there is no active influence in the actions of the person proclaiming them.

At Deaths Door

“neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead”

Joshua 23:14
“And now I am about to go the way of all the earth, and you know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one word has failed of all the good things that the Lord your God promised concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one of them has failed. But just as all the good things that the Lord your God promised concerning you have been fulfilled for you, so the Lord will bring upon you all the evil things, until he has destroyed you from off this good land that the Lord your God has given you,

1 Kings 2:2
“I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man, and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn, that the Lord may establish his word that he spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel

Luke 16:22
The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame. ’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us. ’ And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers —so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment. ’ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them. ’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent. ’ He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.

From these three scriptures we understand some truths: There is a set time for each of us on this side of eternity.  The warnings given by those who lived faithfully for God and were near their death were stern in their urgent warning about remaining true to God and penalty for not.  And then we have Lazarus the poor beggar who had nothing his whole life and was ushered into heaven.  The rich man however was cast into hell.  The dialogue between this rich man and Abraham should be clear to as a call from one from the grave on the urgency to trust in God and living for Him over self interests.  Our lives should be lived with urgency to follow Him and to tell others of His love and mercy.  If it is not believed this side of eternity there is no hope.  Our lives should point to Christ.  Our words should declare His love and mercy.  It is good for us to think on these things every day and every person we come into contact with.  You may be the only light they see and hear.

Wholly Committed

shall be an inheritance for you and your children forever.

Joshua 14:9
And Moses swore on that day, saying, ‘Surely the land on which your foot has trodden shall be an inheritance for you and your children forever, because you have wholly followed the Lord my God

Numbers 14:24
But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it

Numbers 32:12
‘Surely none of the men who came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old and upward, shall see the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, because they have not wholly followed me, none except Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua the son of Nun, for they have wholly followed the Lord

Deuteronomy 11:22
For if you will be careful to do all this commandment that I command you to do, loving the Lord your God, walking in all his ways, and holding fast to him, then the Lord will drive out all these nations before you, and you will dispossess nations greater and mightier than you.

What does it mean to “Fully Follow God”?  What do we use to determine if we are following Him fully?  I remember 40 years ago it was normal to attend Sunday morning bible study, Sunday morning worship, Sunday evening worship, Wednesday evening prayer, and some morning or evening throughout the week in bible study.  This was normal and considered to the region I lived.  As I look around now the norm is to attend a worship service on Sunday morning and maybe a bible study once per week.  What has changed?  Our culture seems to have been able to pull us away from continually meeting together to worship, pray, fellowship, disciple making, and hold each other accountable.  When this happens the first thing we leave behind is His word which leads to loss of focus and the repeated reminder of who God is and what our purpose is.  God wants us to serve Him with our whole heart, mind, and soul.  How is that possible if we live for Him straddling the fence of commitment?  Out of the twelve that Moses sent to scout out the land only two were found to fully follow Him with a heart and mind and soul.    I ask myself many times if I would be one of these two or one of the ten.  There are times I am one of the two but more often than not I am one of the ten who sees the battle before me and am not seeing it in the hands of God and His awesome power, strength and might.  Do you want rest from the battles before you – commit fully to serving God, give all your battles into His hands, and give the victory to His glory.