DEUTERONOMY

My mother arrived from Tennessee yesterday and it was a joy to have her over.  My children and grandchildren were here to fellowship with all of us during the afternoon.  It was a real blessing!  I'm looking forward to having time with her this week.  Today, I'm in Deuteronomy and here are a few thoughts: 1) ELEVEN DAYS!  Deut. 1:2 says:  "(There are eleven days' journey from Horeb by the way of mount Seir unto Kadesh-barnea.)  From the 10 commandments to the border of the promised land was eleven days!  They wandered in the wilderness for forty years, and yet at the start of their journey, they were but eleven days away!  Wow!  How sad to know that people get so close to God's Will for their lives and miss it by days or a few miles.  So close... and yet so far!  In Exodus, the people were at the bitter waters of Marah, and yet ten miles away they camped again at Elim where there was good water and 70 palm trees.  An Oasis in the Desert!  Don't just get close to God's Will.... get in the middle of it and go with it! 2) AMERICA- Deut. 4:7 "For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for?"  America could say the same thing, but we are indeed straying from the God who has made us great. 3) FIRE AND MERCY?  Can God be both?  Yes, God's Word says He can. In Deut. 4:24 "For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God."  but in verse 31 of the same chapter, we read:  "(For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;)".  Fire and Mercy.  Fire on those who rebel against Him, and Mercy on us poor souls who love Him, but fail all the time.  Praise God for His Mercy upon us! 4) WALK IN OBEDIENCE- Deut. 5:33  "Ye shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your God hath commanded you,"  To walk with God means to walk in obedience to His commandments.  What ever God says to us, we take as a commandment, not a Heavenly suggestion!  Let us purpose today to walk in the ways of God to the very best of our ability, asking God for divine help to do so.  LORD, I love you today, and I want to so live my life that it reflects that great love that I have for you.  You are a real blessing to my life Lord, and the reason for my existence.  Let me take joy in fellowshipping with you today and thinking of you will bring delight to my mind.  Thank you Jesus, I love you! Have a blessed day in the LORD.   Pastor Mike Mutchler