Lee Strobel is a well known Christian author. One of the books he wrote is called, “The Case for Christ.” In this book he tells his own personal story of discovery that God is real and there is no other God. Strobel was an atheist. When his wife becomes a Christian, he sets out to show her that there is no God. Yet every evidence he uncovered only pointed to the truth that “the Lord, He is God.” As a result, Strobel also gave his life to Christ.
Moses Demands Obedience to God’s Commands
In Deuteronomy 4, Moses reminds Israel of God’s commandments and tells them to obey them. In the first two verses he tells them: “Now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the judgments which I teach you to observe, that you may live, and go in and possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers is giving you. You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.” He then reminds them of how those who chose to follow after the false god, Baal, were now dead and those those who chose to follow after God are still alive. Moses then tells them that he has taught them everything God had given to him.
The Benefits of Diligently Keeping God’s Commandments
In verses 6-9, Moses tells them the benefits to diligently keeping God’s commandments saying, “Therefore be careful to observe them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes, and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’ For what great nation is there that has God so near to it, as the Lord our God is to us, for whatever reason we may call upon Him? And what great nation is there that has such statutes and righteous judgments as are in all this law which I set before you this day? Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And teach them to your children and your grandchildren.”
The benefit to the nation of Israel for keeping God’s commandments is that the nation will have God near them and they can call on Him for any reason. But the nation had the responsibility to diligently keep them and not forget what they had already seen God do for them. If they did not, the risked departing from living the holy, set-apart lives God has called them to. Moses also told them to be sure they taught God’s commandments to their children and grandchildren. When we as parent fail to train up our children in the ways of God, they will depart from God and live like the world.
The Warning against Idolatry
In verses 15-40, Moses wans them about the dangers of idolatry. When God met them at Horeb, God did not take on any shape or figure, but came to them in a pillar of fire. In J.I. Packer’s book, Knowing God, Packer quotes Charles Hodge saying, “idolatry consists not only in the worship of false gods, but also in the worship of the true God by images.” Packer then explains: “In its Christian application, this means that we are not to make use of visual or pictorial representations of the triune God, or of any person of the Trinity, for the purposes of Christian worship. The commandment thus deals not with the object of our worship, but with the manner of it; what it tell us is that statues and pictures of the One whom we worship are not to be used as an aid to worshiping Him.”
In the Ten Commandments, God said, “Thou shalt not make any likeness of any thing” for use in worship. Packer further states, “It also rules out the use of pictures and statues of Jesus Christ as a man, although Jesus himself was and remains man; for all pictures and statues are necessarily made after the “likeness” of ideal manhood as we conceive it, and therefore come under the ban which the commandment imposes.” We do not come to know God through pictures and statues of him because no one has seen God on this earth. All the pictures and statues are what we conceive God and/or Jesus to be – not who He is.
God Chooses How He Will Make Himself Known
God wants us to know Him by experiencing Him. Moses told the people in verses 35-38, “To you it was shown, that you might know that the Lord Himself is God; there is none other besides Him. Out of heaven He let you hear His voice, that He might instruct you; on earth He showed you His great fire, and you heard His words out of the midst of the fire. And because He loved your fathers, therefore He chose their descendants after them; and He brought you out of Egypt with His Presence, with His mighty power, driving out from before you nations greater and mightier than you, to bring you in, to give you their land as an inheritance, as it is this day.”
God knows that if He reveals Himself to us in a visual way, then we will begin to worship images of Him rather than worshiping Him. So, He makes Himself known to us as we experience Him at work in our lives.
We each must determine in our heart that the Lord, He is God
Each one of us must come to a point in life where we consider in our heart and know that God is God. God wants us to know of his goodness, greatness, and glory. He wants us to experientially know Him. Everything in creation points to Him. Every blessing He gives us. Every time He speaks to us through His Word. And every answered prayer. When we experience healing, judgment, grace, or mercy, we are experiencing God. When we surrender our battles to Him and He fights for us, we experience Him. And when we need wisdom or guidance in life, we experience our Good Shepherd.
It all points to God. The way to get to know Him is through Bible study, prayer, and experiencing Him at work in your life. You can’t know a person you don’t spend much time with. You might know about them, but you can’t truly know them.
So, have you determined in your heart that the Lord Himself is God and there is no other?
Now you can enhance your Bible Reading with the Verse Mapping Template
Our Verse Mapping download is FREE and includes 6 pages: 3 pages of instructions for using the template and the 2 page template, plus the cover page. If you’re looking to go deeper into God’s Word, learn more about God and develop a stronger spiritual life, Verse Mapping will help you dig into the scriptures. As you apply God’s Word to your life, you will develop a more intimate knowledge and relationship with God.
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Download our Free 2021 Bible Memory Verse Plan
We’ve put together 52 memory verses for you to hide God’s Word in your heart! You can download the full document for free and then print a new verse each week and as many copies as you’d like. Each verse prints four times on a page so that you can then cut them into index size cards and place them in prominent places where you will see them frequently throughout the day to help you remember to memorize them. Just because you visited our site, they’re yours for free! Download today.
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Download our Free 2021 Daily Bible Reading Plan
With just 30-40 minutes per day, you can read the entire Bible in one year. The One-Year Bible Reading Plan consists of both Old Testament and New Testament readings for each day of the year. The Bible is God’s personal Word to you. What is He saying to you today? Open your Bible and find out!
One Year Bible Reading Plan
Download our Free Self-Care Wheel
The Self-Care Wheel provides ideas for practicing self-care in six dimensions of yourself: Spiritual, Physical, Emotional, Intellectual, Sensory, and Social. NOTE: You will need 11X14 paper to print the wheel.
Want to know more about self-care? Our Self-Care blog series targets people who serve in any ministry position and takes a Biblical approach to self-care.
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This week’s new Christian Tees design:
Micah 5:5
The prophet Micah, foretold about the birth of Jesus in Micah chapter 5, including that he would be born in Bethlehem. He also prophesied that Jesus would be our peace. In a chaotic world, it’s good to remember that Jesus is our peace. He has reconciled and redeemed us as he paid the penalty for our sin. Because he did, we have peace with God. But we can also have peace no matter what happens in the world around us. Jesus said in John 14:27, Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” Rest in the peace that Jesus offers to you.
Here are some of our favorite designs
Godfidence 
Anything is possible 
With my song I will praise Him 
All Things New 
Joy of the Lord 
Way Maker 
Walk by Faith 
Script Unstoppable God 
Print Unstoppable God 
Unstoppable Force 
Steps of a Good Man 
Something New 
Seek and Find 
Revive Us Again 
Resist the Devil 
Raise a Hallelujah 
Path of His Commands 
Prayer Warrior 
Beloved- Mr and Mrs 
Mr and Mrs – God’s Plan 
Man of God 
He Left 99 for Me 
Cast All Your Cares 
Giants 
Faith over Fear 
Faith Can Move Mountains 
Don’t Worry 
Don’t Quit 
Created to Praise 
All things are Possible 
What the Lord Requires 
Living for the world to see Jesus 
Face Masks now available! 
All things are possible 
Run with perseverance 
Revive us again, Lord
New in the Teespring Store: The Prayer of Blessing
We’ve added a new canvas print to the Teespring Store.
God instructed the Israelite priests to pray the prayer of blessing every day over the people. The prayer is found in Numbers 6:24-26. Hang the canvass in your home or carry the mug, tote bag, or water bottle and let the prayer of blessing impact all those who you meet throughout the day.
We’ve also put this design on a poster, coffee mug, a stainless steel water bottle, phone cases, and a few other products.
Need some music to get you through the day? Check out one of our Playlists on YouTube
You can also watch our animated devotionals on the YouTube Channel
God, Love and Marshmallow Wars by Julia M. Bruce
What’s Inside God, Love and Marshmallow Wars?
God, Love and Marshmallow Wars is a book that includes 365 daily activities and takes you on a guided journey through Biblical principles about Godly marriage that you can then apply to your marriage, as well as helping you talk through concepts that can help you develop a solid relationship. Inside you will find simple, quick activities that include:
- Scripture to memorize and meditate on.
- Conversation Starters.
- Concepts from the Bible on Godly marriages.
- Romance Builders.
- Relationship Builders.
- Personal reflections.
- Date ideas.
- Group date ideas for you and other Christian couples.
Available in hardback, paperback and ebook from Westbow Press Bookstore, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble. Click the icons below to purchase from your preferred bookstore. Now also available at WalMart online.
Bible Studies, Bibles, Books & More
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