Day 75 – Deuteronomy 14-16

Talking Points

• God designed a system to set His people apart from the world around them, to protect them, and to take care of poverty among His people. Really, only God, in infinite wisdom, could devise such a plan that produces such a multifaceted result!
• The commands are very specific and precise. God lays out the terms in great detail. Once again, if it is not exact obedience, it is not true obedience.
• God’s people were to be obedient, faithful, generous, forgiving, and just. In His system, obedience is rewarded with success, protection, and blessing.

Thoughts

Over and over, we see God’s call to His people to be different — holy as He is holy. We are not to blend into the world, but rather visibly stand out. God’s people are to be an uncompromising people. The difficulty is that this call coexists with the world’s call to fit in. The effective lure of the world is to compromise, to look like everyone else. Remember the saying, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do”?

This call is evident in almost every area of daily life. Will we talk the way the world talks? What about what we watch and listen to? Will our goals and motivations look like theirs? What will we deem worthwhile or successful? And, then, the question becomes: where will we draw the line? How far are we really going to take this?

Such a difficult question — one which most people would honestly rather avoid. Is our walk with Christ marked by dos and don’ts? Do we follow a strict legal code that frowns on most everything? How do we decide? In today’s verses, we find a pretty good clue. The 14th chapter of Deuteronomy says that God’s people who can’t make it to the place of worship should do what they are going to do in the presence of God and rejoice. That is a great plumb line! Can you do what you are doing in the presence of God and be filled with joy? Can you watch what you are watching and praise God? Are you filled with joy before God treating people the way you are treating them? Because, here’s the truth: it is all done before God.

God, give us hearts that are pleasing in Your sight. Let us live in a way so that we can rejoice in Your presence.

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:14