Wednesday 15 Mar 2023

March 15: Deuteronomy 4:5-9

Key Verse: Deuteronomy 4:6
Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’

Devotion:
When God told the people of Israel to go and possess the land, it was not just an off-hand remark to go and take over whatever they wanted. God wanted them to listen very carefully to the instructions He would give them so the local people would understand a bigger and greater power than mere humans was controlling this!

When we go ahead and do things for ourselves, we can make great strides in moving forward and doing amazing things when we put our minds to it – but if we are doing things for our own validation or our own profit, then all we will get out of it is some local acknowledgement and that is all. People will begin to see the real reason we did things and we will be known as the people who were greedy and wanted earthly things more than the needs of the people.

But when we go ahead and do things according to how God wants us to, then we will see much greater things happen than when we do things in our own strength. It is God who does the miracles and not us. It is God who performs the impossible and not us. It is God who has the wisdom to know the best way forward and not us! I know I have upset people in my past simply because I did things I knew I could do – but if I had listened to God I may well have come out with a very different outcome!

God wants us to listen – and to do that we need to stop what we are rushing forward for and to listen for His instructions. Yes that can be very difficult, especially when we see a way forward and when we think we know what is best. But God alone knows the very best way forward, and He does want what is best for everyone, not just you!

Points to Ponder:
How often do you listen to instructions?

How often do you wait on God?