February 22, 2012 0 comments

Posted in: Devotion

Silence: Find a quiet place, remove potential distractions, clear your mind of other thoughts, and ask God to speak to you as you read and contemplate this passage:

 

Reflective Reading: Read Deuteronomy 10:12 and Matthew 7:24-27 thoughtfully:

 Deuteronomy 10:12

 ¹² And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul,

Matthew 7:24-27

    ²⁴ “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. ²⁶ But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. ²⁷ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Meditation: Reflect on these Old and New Testament writings that describe the continuum from hearing/fearing to practicing/serving. What is God speaking to you through this exchange? What is the challenge given in both passages?

 

Oration: From your reading and prayer, verbalize or write in the space below your response to what God is speaking to you from this passage:

 

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Contemplation: Over the next day, contemplate these passages and what God is saying to you. Think on these topics:

• In this passage in the book of Deuteronomy, Moses’ call to obedience is both passive - fear/love - and active – serve.
• Jesus’ words recorded by Matthew state that both the wise man and the foolish man have heard God’s Word – that the difference is putting God’s Word “into practice”.
• Based on these passages, can ‘belief’ be a passive activity or must it be put “into practice”?
• Would you say that you have an active/serving belief in God?
• What actions might this passage be directing you to begin?
• Reflect back on, or reread the week 3 devotions.  Has God shown you opportunities for greater service in the ministries here at First Baptist?