The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Deuteronomy 13:1-4,
"If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a sign or wonder, and if the sign or wonder spoken of takes place, and the prophet says, 'Let us follow other gods' (gods you have not known) 'and let us worship them,' you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The Lord your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul. It is the Lord your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him."
The Lord tells Israel that he alone is to be recognized as God. None other. He provides severe consequences that are to be carried out against those who would mislead them to follow another.
Does God oppose religious freedom, then, since he threatens those who would worship another? Not at all. As a matter of fact, he will allow opportunities for the Israelites to choose another to be their "god" in order to test their hearts, to reveal if they desire him or another. That is the ultimate in freedom. We read in Joshua 24:15, "If serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."
We all have a choice to make. We have the freedom of that choice, but that choice will bear consequences, whether good or bad.
That does not mean God is tolerant of those who would choose another god to follow. In fact, it turns out God is very intolerant of any desire on mankind's part to follow a false god. All who choose poorly will pay a hefty price. Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6. I can't think of a more intolerant statement.
As I say, we all have a choice to make. "As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
"If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a sign or wonder, and if the sign or wonder spoken of takes place, and the prophet says, 'Let us follow other gods' (gods you have not known) 'and let us worship them,' you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The Lord your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul. It is the Lord your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him."
The Lord tells Israel that he alone is to be recognized as God. None other. He provides severe consequences that are to be carried out against those who would mislead them to follow another.
Does God oppose religious freedom, then, since he threatens those who would worship another? Not at all. As a matter of fact, he will allow opportunities for the Israelites to choose another to be their "god" in order to test their hearts, to reveal if they desire him or another. That is the ultimate in freedom. We read in Joshua 24:15, "If serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."
We all have a choice to make. We have the freedom of that choice, but that choice will bear consequences, whether good or bad.
That does not mean God is tolerant of those who would choose another god to follow. In fact, it turns out God is very intolerant of any desire on mankind's part to follow a false god. All who choose poorly will pay a hefty price. Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6. I can't think of a more intolerant statement.
As I say, we all have a choice to make. "As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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