Psalm 119:1-24; Deut. 4:25-31; 2 Cor. 11:21b-33; Matt. 6:24-34
So what Moses is saying is that if you choose other gods then you will be given the penalty of serving them. If the people choose carved images they will lose the Land because it is Yahweh’s land and they will be forced to serve these other gods who are no gods at all. Moses prophetically foresaw both what would happen to their faith and also the diaspora, that they would be spread abroad and their numbers would decrease. He also knows the true character of the Lord and His lovingkindness for a wayward people, he has lived it these last forty years. The fact that they are this close to the Land is a testimony to one thing, Yahweh’s merciful love for them. Here Moses says what 2 Chronicles 7, 1 Kings 8 and so many of the prophets speak, when you cry out to Him in repentance He will hear and He will act to bring you back.
Jesus tells us what the life of faith looks like, a very focused life. Seek first the kingdom and everything else will be added. CS Lewis said it this way, “Put first things first and we get second things thrown in: put second things first and we lose both first and second things.” When we put other things first we have created our own gods and Jesus says we can’t serve two masters so it is relatively easy to see which is first in our lives by the time and energy we give. Are we prepared to be content in all things in this life at the level God provides?
When I read this passage I always realize that I do not seek or value the kingdom of God enough and I am nowhere near as thankful as I should be that I have a place in that kingdom. Paul endured so much for the sake of the Gospel it is almost unimaginable that all this could have happened to one man but it seems that he never wavered in his commitment to see it through to the end and it always seems true that he would do it all again. Paul knew gratitude and he knew the value of the kingdom. Those two things make all the difference. My heart still needs a lot of work to get where I need to be. Paul’s determination is meant to be normal not extraordinary. What are we willing to suffer for the kingdom?
Let all things their Creator bless,
And worship Him in humbleness,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son,
And praise the Spirit, Three in One!
O praise Him! O praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
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