Welcome to Day 120 of the “Manna for the Mind” devotional! This series is about taking scripture passages (typically 1-3 verses) and building our understanding of their teachings through their context and connecting scripture. I believe that doing this helps us understand how to be the type of human that God created us to be.
Today’s passage is Deuteronomy 13:4, which discusses how we must serve God.
| AMP | NLT | VOICE |
| 4 You shall walk after the Lord your God and you shall fear [and worship] Him [with awe-filled reverence and profound respect], and you shall keep His commandments and you shall listen to His voice, and you shall serve Him, and cling to Him. | 4 Serve only the Lord your God and fear him alone. Obey his commands, listen to his voice, and cling to him. | 4 Remain loyal to Him! Fear Him and obey His commands. Listen to His voice. Worship Him alone. Be fervently devoted to Him. |
This verse of Deuteronomy comes from a passage warning against idolatry. The author encourages his audience to refrain from committing to following those who claim future signs or miracles that will occur if they follow their Gods. This test shows if you will follow God and love him with all your heart and soul. These false teachers who do this should be put to death because they are intentionally encouraging rebellion against God. The rationale for this is that it will remove the evil among you.
What does this mean for us? We need to be aware of the things that claim the same, or very similar, promises that God does only if we continue to follow them and put them above God. Committing to following something, whether a person, concept, or company, that offers the same promises God offers is intentionally rebelling against God. God is the ultimate provider for all things, and the promises God offers us will be followed through, but we must commit to them and believe they will happen. If we don’t believe in them and have faith that God will follow through, then we will have a half-hearted belief system as Christians. We must commit all our lives to God and trust that God will fulfill those promises.
One of the things that often comes with following God, especially with Old Testament readings, is the “Fear of the Lord.”
| AMP | NLT | VOICE |
| 20 You shall fear [and worship] the Lord your God [with awe-filled reverence and profound respect]; you shall serve Him and cling to Him [hold tightly to Him, be united with Him], and you shall swear [oaths] by His name. | 20 You must fear the Lord your God and worship him and cling to him. Your oaths must be in his name alone. | 20 So fear the Eternal your God; serve Him, and be devoted to Him. Show your loyalty by swearing oaths only in His name. |
“Your oaths must be in his name alone” means God should have his people’s allegiance. Fearing God is something I’ve often heard described as a healthy respect for God. As the AMP translation describes, “awe-filled reverence and found respect.” It’s understanding what God can do and reacting in a way of the highest respect. We should not fear God because of the punishments he can deal with, but we should be in awe of the vastness of his power, grace, and mercy. It feels like a weak selling argument, but I need to study this term more to strengthen my knowledge.
Father God, we thank you for the promises you offer to us. We know your promises will be fulfilled; we just need to trust in you for when and how they come. Following and fearing you walk hand in hand, and we can sit in respect and faith with our actions, words, and thoughts that you are the almighty way forward. It’s in your name, we pray. Amen.
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