Deuteronomy 1-12: God's Heart

If you ever want to be awestruck by the Word of God, read the first twelve chapters of Deuteronomy.

I've told my small group guys this before, and they ought to know it well, and you should too. The first twelve chapters of Deuteronomy have to be my absolute favorite collective twelve chapters in the entirety of the Bible. Through them, you see so much of the heart of God through the words of Moses that (I would argue) is hard to see anywhere else in scritpture. The first few chapters summarize the entire history of Israel, where one can clearly see God's heart for the redemption of his people. The remainder of the chapters capture the heart of God's longing for Israel to obey his commands, both so that he may be glorified, but also so that they may be blessed and not cursed. Ultimately, this comes from remembering God, and not forgetting about him or what he has done for the nation of Israel. I could rant about this for a while. However, I'd much rather you spent your time reading Deuteronomy 1-12 than reading my rants. So, seriously. Just read it: Deuteronomy 1-12. Just take an hour or so out of your week and read it all in one sitting. When you're done, feel free to call me and tell me of the new revelations about God's heart that you've had. If you haven't had any new revelations, read it again, because you missed something.

Anywho...I should probably write a devotion now.

Deuteronomy 4:23-24.. "Take care, lest you forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which he made with you, and make a carved image, the form of anything that the LORD your God has forbidden you. For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God."

Here's the cold, hard truth: God wants ALL of us. Did you get that? No? Alright, let me say it again: God wants ALL of us. God does not want a part of us, or even the majority of us--he wants it ALL. He will not accept 99%. It's all or nothing. Either you are for him or you are against him.

But, why? Why does God want all of us? Growing up, I always thought that God was a bit power-hungry. Why does he want all of me? Why can't he just have most of it, and I can keep the parts of me that I like? Eventually the revelation came to me that God did not want all of me only that he may benefit, but that I may benefit as well. Why does God want our entire lives? Certainly for his glory--yes and amen! But he also wants all of our lives because he wants us to experience the goodness of life with him. God doesn't want to see us living in sin--he has something better for us. God does not want us to be slaves in Egypt, he wants us to be free men in the Promised Land. Yes, God is jealous for his own glory above all else, but he is not a power-hungry God looking out fully and entirely for himself, but rather a loving, self-sacrificing (quite literally...see the New Testament, specifically Christ's crucifixion) God who desires to see us enjoy the pleasures of himself.

So, have you given your ALL to God? If not, why not? Do you not know that giving your ALL to God is better than living in your sin? If not, I encourage you to realize this, and to give your all to the one who has given His All for you.