And So I Continue . . . . . .
Deuteronomy 15:9-11 ~ 9 Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him nought; and he cry unto the LORD against thee, and it be sin unto thee. 10 Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto. 11 For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.
Do you struggle with reading, studying the Word of God? From the Front Cover to the Back Cover, it is FULL of Great Words of wisdom, given to men of God for all people. The Old Testament is sometimes a little harder for me to get through, but I have never regretted one moment of time reading and studying in it. This book, Deuteronomy, is the last book of the Pentateuch. Its name means second law. As it is actually repetition of the law already given in Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers. It is a sermon Moses gave to the Israelites before they entered into the promised land after fleeing Egypt. Moses recalls the events of their history and the law, and mostly delivered this sermon on the plains of Moab just prior to their entrance into the Promised Land. Other than Moses there were only two men left from the original Israelites generation that escaped Egypt therefore, the repetition of the law was highly important to the well-being of the new generation.
So, there is a little history you may not have known. Moses was basically, reminding God's chosen people how they were to live for God once they entered the Promise Land. There was hope for them if they would just obey God's commandments. AND there is hope for us.
Moses is now in Chapter 15, of his sermon, and in verse 9 he warns the people not to get lazy in their right living as time draws near to the 7th year and the releasing of slaves and debt. (By the way, that is a wonderful study!) Just because the end is near, he encouraged them to not do evil to the slaves and their soon release from bondage of body and debt putting them in the danger of great sin. Many think slavery started and ended in the United States, not so. Slavery has been from the beginning, and it is still practiced in many countries around the world. These slave holders are in great danger if they go against God's teaching on release of these slaves/poor people and the mistreatment of them. ". . .poor brother. . ." God called them poor, and He wanted them treated fairly and compassionately.
We can certainly apply this message to our lives today. There are poor and needy everywhere, even in our own homeland. Sadly, many are not only hungry in body, but they are also hungry in Spirit. It was a sad day when I learned that Missionaries from other countries are coming to America to bring the Gospel to the lost, poor, and needy, because we were not reaching them all. Truth. But we still have much work to do as Christians. We need to open our hearts, our pocketbooks, and our hands to the poor. God gave us a way to do that wisely through and by our New Testament Churches. If you can buy a poor man a meal at McDonalds and the Holy Spirit convicts you of giving more, consider a gift to missions at your church for the poor. Alot of churches have food pantry's, benevolence funds, clothing drives; all for the purpose of helping the poor and needy. God clearly said, "11 For the poor shall never cease out of the land:" You will forever have an opportunity to give. Jesus served so many poor, hungry, and needy. If we are to be like Him, we must do the same.
Thanksgiving is coming in just 3 weeks or so. . .what a wonderful time to share the bounty of God's blessings. But don't confine it to just "Thanksgiving", make your giving, sharing an everyday thought in your life. The Lord will bless over and over what you give. Remember to give in HIS name, for we could not give unless we have already been blessed ourselves! Thank You, Lord, for every blessing from You!
Lord, help us to be wise, studied up, aware, and faithful to You. Amen.
With love and prayers,
LKMilam
May we be faithful to be your Philippians 2:16 Missionaries.
Philippians 2:16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
Tom and Linda Milam
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