week of 11-03-10 1st recorded Bible study

The passage I read was Deuteronomy 7:1-11
You can find that passage here:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%207:1-11&version=NIV

My summary of the passage is this:
God is about to give land to his children and he instructs them how to take hold of it. He tells them to completely destroy and drive out the nations in the way there and he is very specific in telling his children not to become one with those nations or in any way accept them and their pagan rituals. He makes it clear that if they end up letting their sons marry the daughters of those nations or vice versa, that it will result in pagan worship and that God would then need to punish His children out of anger. He is not only specific as to what not to do, but He also tells them exactly what to do. Burn down carved wooden gods, break down alters, etc. He then goes on to explain that He didn’t set apart the people of God because they were special in and of themselves. Matter of fact is that they were almost nothing when they were found. Instead, the reason that God saved them was 2 fold. 1 because He loved them. 2 because He keeps His covenants and is loyal. He had made a covenant with the forefathers of this generation and was now keeping it. This passage is wrapped up with a final reminder that even though he is loyal to those who love him, he is also quick to pay the wages of death to those who hate him. The passage stops at verse 11 saying to “take care to follow the commands, decrees and laws I give you today.”

As I reflect:
This week’s bible studies are supposed to in one way or another reflect God’s faithfulness. I decided a few weeks ago not to let what the bible studies or “supposed” to be about effect what I might take away from the Word if given the openness to receiving directly from God what is meant to be given to me in that passage. It is no different in this passage. Instead of focusing on God’s faithfulness, I am left looking at the passage as a whole and waiting on a message that I can and will apply to my life.
Here are some things that kinda stick out:
Do not be unequally yoked
Do not accept evil
We are a treasured possession of God
We weren’t chosen because of our own greatness.
We were chosen because of love
God is faithful to His word
Take care to follow the commands and decrees and laws of God
As I came across the second to last point that stands out there, I got my reflection. God is faithful to his word, yes, but He also has a condition set in verse 9. He said Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.
Notice the last part of that verse states the condition of the covenant… It is to those who love Him and keep his commandments. That idea is kind of reflected in the first couple verses too as the Lord discusses the specifics of what to do as he brings them into the land. There are conditions that we are asked to meet in our walk with Christ. I’m not saying that these conditions necessarily are the basis of our salvation, but they are certainly things that we need to remember on the daily. Looking at my own salvation for example, I know that I am saved from hell. I know that I am saved from my own sin’s condemnation. But the only reason I know that is because I walk in a different law. The law of the Spirit through life in Christ Jesus, and this affects my ability to be free from such condemnation. Promise = freedom from condemnation, condition = walk in the law of the Spirit. Promise = all things work together for the good, condition = love God and be called according to His purpose. Promise = eternal life with Christ Jesus, condition = confess with your lips and believe in your heart (which WILL affect how you live) that Jesus is Lord over your entire life. There are many other conditional offers that exceed just being saved from eternity in hell. There is still more to a Christian walk. There are characteristics and fruits offered when we meet the required conditions of seeking after Him fervently and making our request known properly. That being said, this study did indeed come back to God’s faithfulness. It’s quite clear now just how this passage applies in that light. The conditions or part of the equation sometimes. Like God is faithful to forgive us (promise) if we will repent (turn away from) and confess our sins (condition of our heart).

My response to the Lord:
Lord, so far beyond our poor ability to grasp is the depth of the plans you have made for us. That you have so perfectly set up every little intricate detail is amazing to me. Even the rules by which we live and die, you have plainly given to us to either receive and follow, or ignore and fall. Thank you for putting thought into me Lord. Thank you for giving us the opportunities to improve and grow as we seek after you. May I daily be reminded of who I am in you and reflect it in my walk, talk, and thought. Thank you for your faithfulness Lord. I can rely on you to do what you said you will do, if I will do what you have asked me to do. And I thank you for your unconditional love and blessings undeserved that despite my failures, you continue to offer me and my family. I truly love you Father.