{"id":170,"date":"2021-10-06T15:21:27","date_gmt":"2021-10-06T15:21:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/deadmannotwalking.org\/?p=170"},"modified":"2021-10-06T15:21:33","modified_gmt":"2021-10-06T15:21:33","slug":"sanctified","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/deadmannotwalking.org\/?p=170","title":{"rendered":"Sanctified"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth . . . Know therefore that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments . . .  (Deuteronomy 7:6, 9, NASB)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through much of the book of Deuteronomy, Moses reviews with the Israelites their escape from slavery in Egypt, God’s commandments to them, and their future responsibilities as a nation.  This includes a reiteration of the Ten Commandments, as well as the many other commandments that God passed on to Moses (scholars have counted 613 commandments in the Old Testament).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Moses Receives the Ten Commandments, artist unknown.\u00a0 Found at My Jewish Learning,\u00a0myjewishlearning.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moses is an excellent role model for leadership.  Here at the east bank of the River Jordan, as the Hebrews prepare to cross into the Promised Land, he is still teaching the people the precepts of God.  This despite the Lord having told him he would not be crossing over with the people he had led for the past 40 years.  He must want to make sure everything will be in order before his change-of-command with Joshua!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here in Chapter 7, Moses reminds the people of their special status in God’s eyes.  God has given them favor as His people.  They must not waste time worshiping useless idols.  They must instead love and worship the Lord and keep His commandments.  To do so would result in blessings for generations to come.  To ignore, and to hate the Lord, would reap destruction on them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We know that over time the people forgot God.  It’s easy to criticize the Israelites for falling away and not heeding Moses’ teaching.  But one of the messages of the Bible is that had we been there we would’ve done the same.  In fact, most of us do the same today, not loving the Lord as we should, not doing what He wants us to do.  We should study these instances in the Bible, learn from them, and apply them to our own lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you’re a follower of Jesus, then “you are are a holy people to the Lord your God.”  You are sanctified, set apart for God’s purposes and for His glory.  The text reminds us that God will keep His promises to those who love Him.  We can prove we love Him by keeping His commandments.  He has promised us the hope of eternal life by accepting His gift of the Lord Jesus.  Where do you stand?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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