The Easy Things … by Alexia Morales

Today’s Passage – Deuteronomy 6 – 8 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read –  2 Corinthians 1 – 4; Proverbs 3; Psalms 11 – 15)

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – SSPsalm 119:105

Read the “0303 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

Read a previous post from today’s passage – “Remember Who Butters Your Bread,” and “Let’s Get Back to the Bible.”

“And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” (Deuteronomy 6:5)

“Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.” (Deuteronomy 6:12)

“And when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying What mean the testimonies, and the statutes, and the judgements, which the LORD our God hath commanded you? Then thou shalt say unto thy son, We were Pharaoh’s bondmen in Egypt; and the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand:” (Deuteronomy 6:20 – 21)

I once heard one of my teachers say “The Christian life isn’t hard, life is hard.” She then explained what she meant. She was saying, here on Earth we have problems. They’re hard, they hurt, and they’re not pleasant to go through. But at the end of the day, the struggles don’t affect how good God is, and how good He is to us. Oftentimes, we lose sight of his sweet and tender mercies, and the new blessings he has in each day. We forget who He is to us. I don’t know about you, but when I get my eyes off of my problems, being a Chrsitain is easy. It’s easy to fellowship with the Lord, because He’s my best friend, He always wants to listen, and He always cares. It’s easy to look back and testify that He’s a great God, because I’ve seen him work in the most hopeless situations.

In this passage, Moses is telling the children of Israel to do some pretty easy things, in comparison to what God has already done for them, and is going to do. They were slaves in Egypt under Pharaoh, and God heard their cry. He led them out of Egypt, and promised a land “that flowed with milk and honey”, which was Canaan. God wanted to bless his children, and Moses reminded them of some things they should do upon enjoying this Promised Land. In application to our life today, these same instructions seem pretty easy, but it’s the simple things that we often completely overlook. Don’t get overwhelmed each morning with all of life, remember there are some sweet and simple purposes in each day. Stay faithful to them, and God will do the rest.

1. The Great Commandment is to love the Lord with all you’ve got, (verses 4 and 5) if we don’t have that down, everything is wrong. But, if this area is where it should be, we will be seeking to do things that please the Lord, because we are constantly in communion and communication with Him. This is one of our purposes each day, to have fellowship with the Lord. He’s our best friend, and he wants to hear from us, and not just once a day. Be sure to show up.
2. “Beware lest thou forget”.. The children of Israel are cautioned not to forget where they came from when they enter that blessed Promised Land. I know where I’ve come from. I didn’t grow up in church. I got saved when I was 17, and past mistakes and hurt have brought quite some baggage. But, I wouldn’t trade it for the world. God has worked miracles in my life, He’s pulled me from some dark and low places, and I’ve seen his hand in it all. Don’t forget. Don’t grow discontent. That is the main tool the devil uses. Bring every thought into captivity, and line it up with God’s word. If it’s not pure or Holy, TRASH IT. Fix your mind on the things of God, and don’t forget His goodness.
3. Lastly, Moses challenges them to tell their children. To tell the younger generation of all the Lord has done. Where they’ve come from, and why they do what they do. Tell everyone where you’ve come from, and how the Lord changed your life. Be a witness, to the younger generation, and to all people.

Don’t forget these “easy” things, for they are some of the most important things.

“And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as he hath commanded us.” (Deuteronomy 6:25)