DEUTERONOMY 8:1-5 – “The whole commandment that I command you today you shall be careful to do, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land that the Lord swore to give to your fathers. And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Your clothing did not wear out on you and your foot did not swell these forty years. Know then in your heart that, as a man disciplines his son, the Lord your God disciplines you.”
Theme of the Day. WHAT IS GOD DOING IN OUR LIVES? The theme of today’s nugget is a common question from believers who hunger to know the Lord more, serve Him with greater zeal, and make spiritual growth the highest priority in their lives. Use my last sentence as a good “spiritual physical” to see how spiritually healthy we are. Those three things are always present and intensifying in healthy Christians.
So, what is God doing in our lives? First, I am not referring to the outward physical world like relocation of where we live, a change of job, or anything else we measure by sight and feeling. I am drawing our attention to the chief places God works in our lives – our mind and heart. If we understand this is where God does His greatest work in us, all the physical stuff won’t matter. We will be content in all outward circumstances.
In today’s scripture are three things God is working in our lives for the chief goal – conformity to Christ. First, God’s work in us to create humility – And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that He might humble you (Deuteronomy 8:2b). Be aware of this work of God through every trial, relationship, and event in life. Here is where spiritual growth is born – the humble heart. Without humility, no spiritual growth. The next work of God is testing us – testing you to what was in your heart, whether you would keep His command or not (Deuteronomy 8:2c). Remember an untested faith is a false and unreliable faith.
A third work of God is teaching us total dependence on His Word – And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Your clothing did not wear out on you and your foot did not swell these forty years (Deuteronomy 8:3-4). This defines the “what” of the Christian life and hope – the Word of God. And He will bring us to the point of complete reliance on His always trustworthy promises. Finally, the Lord’s work in us is a “construction project” of correcting us or building us into the image of His Son through discipline – Know then in your heart that, as a man disciplines (corrects) his son, the Lord your God disciplines you (Deuteronomy 8:5). Read the New Testament parallel when we grow weary of the Lord’s construction work in us (Hebrews 12:3-13). The Christian life is the constantly changing life as God changes us. Yes, God is at work in us. Look not outwardly but inwardly for that work. That is where it truly happens!
PRAYER: “Father, help me to recognize Your Hand in my life through all the ordinary events in life.”
QUOTE: “Beware of tolerance of any sin for even the slightest one will deaden our fellowship with the Lord.”