Dump Out the Melting Pot – Deut. Chpt. 12

The US is known as the world's melting pot. People from all over the world have come here; they are still coming. As a result, our culture is a melting pot of languages, traditions, food, music, etc. In Deuteronomy, as Israel prepares to cross the Jordan, they must also prepare…

God’s If-Then Statement – Deut. Chpt. 11

One of the first things I learned in computer programming, way back in the '80s, was the 'if-then' statement. In computer programming, the if-then statement is a conditional statement basically says, "if this is true, then do that, otherwise, do this". Example: if the 'enter' key is pressed, move the…

God is Worth Pleasing – Deut. Chpt. 10

As a husband who knows I am to lay down my life for my wife, I can approach how I treat her from one of two angles. I could do what I do to keep her off my back OR I could do what I do in order to please…

Mercy on a Stiffnecked People – Deut. Chpt. 9

The old testament can be difficult to read given that there sees to be so many stories we would consider negative. The story in today's text is no exception. Despite the negatives – which are tied mostly to Israel's behavior – there is an underlying positive as well: God's grace.…

I Have Humbled You – Deut. Chpt. 8

When someone mentions humility, what immediately comes to mind? Humility isn't a favorable characteristic in modern culture. In fact, the culture openly rewards pride and arrogance while casting the humble to the curb. God is different. Humility is valuable to God. He wants to see humility in the hearts of…

A Tug of War in Canaan – Deut. Chpt. 7

Have you ever participated in a tug-of-war contest? I'm sure you have; you know the drill. The physical tug-of-war provides a great illustration of one of the most fundamental spiritual truths: the enemies of God are constantly pulling at the hearts of men and women to keep them from him.…

Captivated by God’s Words – Deut. Chpt. 6

We left off last week talking about the failure of the old covenant: God's people didn't have the heart to keep his laws, statutes, & judgments consistently. We also learned that the new covenant changed everything. Because of what Jesus did for us on the cross, those of us who…

The Big Ten (Face-to-Face With God) – Deut. Chpt. 5

How significant would you say the 10 Commandments are from a cultural standpoint? I'm guessing most people have either heard of them or heard what some of them are – at least in countries where Christianity exists. It's also obvious that most countries' criminal codes share some similarities (murder, theft,…

The LORD He Is God – Deut. 4:25-49

It is both amusing and saddening to hear atheists defend their beliefs by pointing to the world around them as evidence that there is no God. A common complaint is that God can't be real because there is so much suffering in the world. But here's the thing: denying God's…

God Makes a Nation Great – Deut. 4:1-24

The book of Deuteronomy is dictated and recorded as Israel prepares to cross Jordan and begin taking the Promised Land. On multiple occasions prior to this point, God had made it clear that Israel will become a great nation. She will be honored, feared, and revered. It's a promise. But…