“He Calls Them Each by Name”

May 2, 2024

May 2, 2024

Read Deuteronomy 16, Psalm 147, Acts 25

Our world is big, and we are approaching the 8 billion mark of people on the planet. In the metro Atlanta county that I live in there are almost a million people who live in the county. If you ask Siri or Alexa, they will tell you that there around 200 billion trillion stars in the universe give or take couple. That’s a 2 x 1023 power. That makes the one million or even the 8 billion seem a little smaller. Then in Psalm 147 you read this: “He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. 5 Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit” vv. 4-5. If God knows where the stars are and what each of their names are shouldn’t that encourage us? After all, we are his crowning creation. It was humanity that was called “very good” when everything else was just “good.” The next time we start to feel like no one sees us or that no one knows what we are going through, remember that God does. God sees us and knows us by name too. What else do you see in these chapters? What words, phrases, or themes stick out to you?
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Posted by John Weldon

“Canceling Debt”

May 1, 2024

May 1, 2024

Read Deuteronomy 15, Psalm 146, Acts 24

If you have ever had any type of debt (car payment, credit card, or student loans) you know how good it feels to pay it off and be released from the financial burden. In the Old Testament God enacted a law to put a limit on loaning money and forgiving it after a period. “At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts. 2 This is how it is to be done: Every creditor shall cancel the loan he has made to his fellow Israelite. He shall not require payment from his fellow Israelite or brother, because the LORD’s time for cancelling debts has been proclaimed” vv. 1-2. Think about the outworkings of this principle today. God allowed for debts to be forgiven so that the people wouldn’t be held to a debt for a long period of time. He knew the hearts of the people to want to enslave our own brothers and sisters in a crippling debt for long periods of time. Think about all the banks and businesses that loan money today and charge an unreal amount of interest and keep people enslaved to their greed. The best news of all about debt is that Jesus Christ paid our ultimate debt of sin “once and for all” it was canceled o the cross for you and me.

What else do you see in these chapters? What stands out to you?
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Posted by John Weldon

“Gracious and Compassionate”

April 30, 2024

April 30, 2024

Read Deuteronomy 14, Psalm 145, Acts 23

Many people often claim that the God of the Old Testament is not the same character as the God of the New Testament. This is false. This comes from a lack of understanding about the text and most likely from not a complete reading of the Old and New Testaments. In Psalm 145 we find this description of God from David, “The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. 9 The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made” vv. 8-9. One of the things I am amazed at is the forgiving and relenting nature of God when people would repent and turn back to Him. God would graciously forgive them and remove his judgment. Even the wicked kings like Ahab and Manasseh experienced God’s forgiveness when they repented.

What else stands out to you in these verses and chapters? Add your thoughts below.

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Posted by John Weldon

“A Divided Family”

April 29, 2024

April 29, 2024

Read Deuteronomy 13, Psalm 144, Acts 22

Do you have a close family or are they a little bit on the continuous side? There are many stories in the Bible of families that were very dysfunctional to say the least. Jacob and his twelve sons and David and his son Absolom are a few that come to mind. In Deuteronomy 13 we read some shocking words from Moses and the Lord. “If your very own brother, or your son or daughter, or the wife you love, or your closest friend secretly entices you, saying, “Let us go and worship other gods” (gods that neither you nor your fathers have known, 7 gods of the peoples around you, whether near or far, from one end of the land to the other), 8 do not yield to him or listen to him. Show him no pity. Do not spare him or shield him. 9 You must certainly put him to death. Your hand must be the first in putting him to death, and then the hands of all the people” vv. 6-9. We must remember that this was in the Old Testament and under the Old Covenant that we are not bound today to follow. But we should take note from this passage of how serious God took those who would worship and also entice others to worship the false gods of the other nations. It would be morally better for one person to die rather than for one person to mislead many others to join in and fall away from worshiping God. What else do you see in these chapters? What words, phrases, or themes stand out to you?
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Posted by John Weldon

“Israelite Rage Room?”

April 28, 2024

April 28, 2024

Read Deuteronomy 12, Psalm 143, Acts 21

Did you know that they have places that you can go and let out your pent up rage? These rage rooms are designed to be a fun and strangely therapeutic way to release some frustration in your life. You go and put on the proper safety equipment and goggles and then you enter the room and smash until you are rage free… or until your wallet can’t afford the things you are breaking. That’s right you pay for your experience by the things you destroy.

We read in Deuteronomy 12 about the original order from the Lord for Israel to smash and destroy the idols and other objects of worship from the nations around them as they entered into Canaan. “These are the decrees and laws you must be careful to follow in the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you to possess—as long as you live in the land. 2 Destroy completely all the places on the high mountains and on the hills and under every spreading tree where the nations you are dispossessing worship their gods. 3 Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones and burn their Asherah poles in the fire; cut down the idols of their gods and wipe out their names from those places” vv. 1-3. That sounds like the ultimate thrill for a man, but this would be harder than Israel knew. The reason God wanted them to destroy these things was for their own protection and to keep them from wandering away from the Lord, tempted by the practices of the other religions.

God warned them to be fully obedient to his commands. “Be careful not to be ensnared by enquiring about their gods, saying, “How do these nations serve their gods? We will do the same.” 31 You must not worship the LORD your God in their way, because in worshipping their gods, they do all kinds of detestable things the LORD hates. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire as sacrifices to their gods. 32 See that you do all I command you; do not add to it or take away from it” vv. 30-32.

What do you need to smash and destroy in your life that is keeping you from completely following the Lord?

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Posted by John Weldon

“Compelled”

April 27, 2024

April 27, 2024

Read Deuteronomy 11, Psalm 142, Acts 20

What compels you most? Is it a goal, a role model or personal friend that encourages you? Is it the Lord? Paul was the apostle who was volun-told to serve Jesus as a missionary to the Gentiles. God had called him on the road to Damascus and he surrendered to a life of service. Paul faced many hardships and difficult situations in his serve to God. ““And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. 24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace” – Acts 20:22-24. Paul was compelled by the Holy Spirit, he was driven to serve the Lord in obedience and at whatever cost may come. Most people today will jump ship at the first sign of trouble or hardship. We must take a play from the life of Paul and be compelled by the Spirit to serve the Lord no matter what.

What else do you see in these chapters? Write you thoughts below.

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Posted by John Weldon

“When Jesus Messes with Your Money”

April 26, 2024

April 26, 2024

Read Deuteronomy 10, Psalm 140-141, Acts 19

I have learned in life that many people often vote in politics or make decisions based on what the bottom line is with their money. “Candidate A” wants to raise or lower my taxes or “Candidate B” wants to give my profession a raise for examples. Having good finances is important but it’s not the most important thing we should make our decisions on when it comes to politics or laws being passed.

We find a case of this in Acts 19 when Paul came to Ephesus. In Ephesus many of the people had a living from the temple of Artemis and the things connected to it. They worshiped this god of Artemis which was some how likely connected to a meteor that had fallen in the past and the people viewed it as some type of godly act. They made shrines and other objects people could take and use. “A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in no little business for the craftsmen. 25 He called them together, along with the workmen in related trades, and said: “Men, you know we receive a good income from this business” vv. 24-25. The people were threatened by the work of Paul and his companions. If more and more people became believers in Christ, they would lose their business and livelihood. What comes first in our lives? Is it obedience to the Lord or is it something personally important to us?

One more final thought. It is so easy for us to read through the book of Acts quickly and get the fast summary of what Paul and the other disciples went though and where they went. But don’t let this seem like a 1-2 week mission trip for them. Verse 10 really puts it in perspective for us. “This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.” Paul stayed in Ephesus for two years ministering to the Jews and the Greeks there. This speaks about his faithfulness and his level of commitment to share the gospel. Can we say we have the same level? What else do you see in these chapters? What words, phrases, or themes stand out to you?
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Posted by John Weldon

“From Conception”

April 25, 2024

April 25, 2024

Read Deuteronomy 9, Psalm 138-139, Acts 18

Psalm 139 is one of my favorite psalms. It is written by David and it takes a personal touch from the very description from conception. “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well” vv. 13-14. If there’s ever an argument for life in the womb this is a great text.

What else do you see in these chapters? What repeated words, verses, or themes stand out to you?
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Posted by John Weldon

“Spiritual Food”

April 24, 2024

April 24, 2024

Read Deuteronomy 8, Psalm 136-137, Acts 17

What’s your favorite food? Growing up mine was tacos. I could eat 4-5 as a kid easily. We all need a good diet of food to remain healthy and be able to have the energy to do the things we do each day. Have you ever thought about the concept of having spiritual food to provide you with the ability to serve the Lord and walk in your relationship with the Lord? Our spiritual food is like real food. We need a variety of different types to have a balanced diet of spiritual nourishment to live for the Lord. Here in Deuteronomy 8 Moses reminded the Israelites that while they lived on the Manna in the desert for forty years, they also were feed by something else more importantly. “He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD” v. 3. The Word of God is the main way we get our nourishment as spiritual food but there are other spiritual disciplines we can practice too! Practicing spiritual like prayer, fasting, witnessing, serving the church, Scripture memorization and meditation, Sabbath rest, worship are just a few of the things we can do to feed our soul and maintain the energy to do follow Christ.

Jesus said something like Moses said when he had finished his interaction with the woman at the well in Samaria. The disciples returned bringing food for Jesus but Jesus was no longer hungry, He had been filled up by something else. “Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.” 32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.” 33 Then his disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought him food?” 34 “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work” vv. 31-34. Jesus had been spiritual filled by serving the Lord and ministering to the Samaritan woman.

What else do you see in these chapters? What words, phrases, or themes stand out to you?
Add your thoughts below.

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Posted by John Weldon

“When God says ‘No’”

April 23, 2024

April 23, 2024

Read Deuteronomy 7, Psalm 134-135, Acts 16

When we pray God hears our prayers, but whether he answers them with a yes or no or not yet is another story. In Acts 16 Paul and Silas begin their mission trip and start be revisiting some of the areas that Paul and Barnabas had visited previously. The Scripture says that Paul had want to go to an area, but “having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia” v. 6. We find the Holy Spirit had said “no.” We are not given a reason for why God did not want the, to preach in the province of Asia but maybe the reason was their own protection or that God had a desire for them to work elsewhere. They meet Lydia in Philippi, and she became a follower of Jesus. Then they would find themselves in prison there for healing a slave girl who had a demon. This might seem like bad news, but it was in prison that Paul and Silas were able to share the gospel with the Philippian jailer. He and his whole household came to faith because of Paul’s imprisonment. When we are looking for God to use us in a certain area and then it seems that God has shut the door be ready to see where God maybe working in a soon coming open door.  

What else do you see in these chapters? What words, phrases, or ideas stand out to you?
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Posted by John Weldon

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