Throughout the book of Deuteronomy and especially as Moses summed up the last 40 years, he reminded the Israelites again and again that God was to be worshipped and obeyed. They were to have no other gods in their lives. We don’t think of ourselves as having gods in our lives, but we may find ourselves with a variety of “things” that affect our priorities. Does God — the God of the Bible — really have first priority in our hearts and in our daily lives? Moses warned them against following any of the “rituals” or practices of the people who could be living next door. It can be so easy to copy the thinking of those who may not know our Lord or who may actually scorn him.

The Israelites in their own journey to freedom repeatedly questioned the integrity of God and doubted his love and power. How well do we trust him to guide us, accept his position of, yes, ownership of us as his special children and understand that he truly desires, yes, plans for, much good for us even right now? How well do we converse with him in our daily lives? Do we seek out his guidance in our choice of careers, friends, attitudes and plans? Is he lord of our finances? Do our political or community values truly reflect the God we claim to worship? He is truly a personal God and wants to be personal with us —What a God he is!

Lord Jesus, help me to let you be my Lord in all of life, in a much more personal way.

Laura Putnam

Extended Scripture: Deuteronomy 11–13 (NIV)