Pastor Vicki Harrison 10/14/21 Pastor Vicki Harrison 10/14/21

Deuteronomy 22

To read this text CLICK HERE

Deuteronomy 22:20-22, If, however, the charge is true and no proof of the young woman’s virginity can be found, she shall be brought to the door of her father’s house and there the men of her town shall stone her to death. She has done an outrageous thing in Israel by being promiscuous while still in her father’s house. You must purge the evil from among you. If a man is found sleeping with another man’s wife, both the man who slept with her and the woman must die. You must purge the evil from Israel.

This chapter falls under the heading, "purity laws." They are an elaboration of the seventh commandment regarding adultery. Again, I struggled with this chapter. At the time, women had very little control over what happened to them. They had almost no standing in society. They certainly had very little control over their sexuality. There seems to be little to no accommodation for this in the law.

What we do know is that the relationship between God and the Israelites was often referred to as a marriage-type relationship. When the Israelites worshiped other gods, it was seen as adultery and God detested this. Thus, there were strong consequences for those who engaged in what was considered the "great sin." Any sexual sin that threatened the marriage covenant was punished severely. Again, it pointed to this metaphor of staying pure in their relationship with God.

Let's pray...Holy God, There is much I don't understand about Old Testament law. There is much I struggle with in this chapter. But I lay it down at your feet and give it to you. I know that you are a good and loving God, a God who cares for all people. In Your Name, Amen.

Pastor Vicki Harrison 10/13/21 Pastor Vicki Harrison 10/13/21

Deuteronomy 21

To read this text CLICK HERE

Deuteronomy 21:15-16, If a man has two wives, and he loves one but not the other, and both bear him sons but the firstborn is the son of the wife he does not love, when he wills his property to his sons, he must not give the rights of the firstborn to the son of the wife he loves in preference to his actual firstborn, the son of the wife he does not love.

This is an unusual chapter which deals with how to atone for a murdered body found abandoned and then a mix of laws which we could loosely call treatment of wives and children. I have to admit, I had to reread some of this multiple times. Some of these guidelines seem to contradict other laws already put in place. It seems God allowed some clearly "unBiblical" behavior among his people as they learned what it meant to be his covenant people. Taking a wife in war, issues related to polygamy, and stoning a rebellious child, all leave a bad taste in my mouth. These don't seem like behaviors that a holy God would encourage.

I thought I would touch briefly on polygamy. In this chapter, the law gives guidelines as to how to treat one's firstborn, even if he is not the child of your favorite wife. Throughout the Old Testament, polygamy is tolerated but never encouraged. In fact, we often see the significant problems associated with marrying multiple wives. There are issues related to favoritism, envy, discrimination, and the breakdown of the family system. Think of Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar (Genesis 16); Jacob, Leah, and Rachel (Genesis 21); and Elkannah, Hannah, and Peninnah (I Samuel 1).

The intimacy of married life was intended for one man and one woman. Genesis 2:24 states, "That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh." This Scripture is reiterated in the Gospels and the book of Ephesians. The guidelines for New Testament leaders included having only one wife. Paul repeatedly speaks to the sanctity of marriage and the importance of mutual submission, something that is clearly impossible with multiple people involved.

Let's pray...God, Please bless our marriages. Help us remember our marriage covenant. Over the years, human beings have taken what you created and royally messed it up. Forgive us and help us seek a higher standard. Lord, less of me and more of you. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Pastor Vicki Harrison 10/12/21 Pastor Vicki Harrison 10/12/21

Deuteronomy 20

To read this text CLICK HERE

Deuteronomy 20:10-16, When you march up to attack a city, make its people an offer of peace. If they accept and open their gates, all the people in it shall be subject to forced labor and shall work for you. If they refuse to make peace and they engage you in battle, lay siege to that city. When the Lord your God delivers it into your hand, put to the sword all the men in it. As for the women, the children, the livestock and everything else in the city, you may take these as plunder for yourselves. And you may use the plunder the Lord your God gives you from your enemies. This is how you are to treat all the cities that are at a distance from you and do not belong to the nations nearby. However, in the cities of the nations the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance, do not leave alive anything that breathes.

This chapter piggybacks on the last one dealing with the issue of murder and death. Just as manslaughter was not considered "murder" under the ten commandments, neither was warfare. Moses gives very specific instructions how to handle their conquests as they make their way into the land God promised them. This was an instruction booklet for holy war. There were different instructions for how to treat the people of the cities far from Canaan and those who lived closer to the promised land. Those who resided further away could be given a peace offering and allowed to live, even if they were put in forced servitude. Those who lived closer to God's people were to be totally annihilated.

While I struggle with the harshness of this, it makes sense that the pagan people close by would be able to tempt the Israelites with their false gods. The Israelites would be able to intermarry with those who resided near them, bringing idolatry into their homes and families. God wanted to totally prevent this. The land of Canaan was for his people and his people alone. He wanted his people to stay in covenant with him.

Let's pray...God, Again, I struggle to understand but I trust that your ways are higher and better. Your plan is perfect. We trust you in all the things we fail to understand. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Pastor Vicki Harrison 10/11/21 Pastor Vicki Harrison 10/11/21

Deuteronomy 19

To read this passage CLICK HERE

Deuteronomy 19:4-7, This is the rule concerning anyone who kills a person and flees there for safety—anyone who kills a neighbor unintentionally, without malice aforethought. For instance, a man may go into the forest with his neighbor to cut wood, and as he swings his ax to fell a tree, the head may fly off and hit his neighbor and kill him. That man may flee to one of these cities and save his life. Otherwise, the avenger of blood might pursue him in a rage, overtake him if the distance is too great, and kill him even though he is not deserving of death, since he did it to his neighbor without malice aforethought. This is why I command you to set aside for yourselves three cities.

The first part of this chapter deals with what we would call manslaughter. Obviously, manslaughter, along with capital punishment and killing in wars, doesn't fall under the commandment, "Thou shall not kill." Only murder, when someone kills with deliberate malice, is covered under the commandment. In fact, special provisions are put in place for other kinds of life lost. Moses tells them to choose three cities which would be "cities of refuge." If someone killed another by accident, then they could flee to one of these cities and be granted protection until they came to trial. The priests were to establish and maintain these cities. Eventually, there ended up being six cities of refuge in total.

God knew the hearts of his people. He knew (knows) that we are vengeful people. In the case of manslaughter, God even made provisions for the safety of the offender so that no avenging family member would kill them before they could explain their case to the courts.

Let's pray...God, Forgive us for our hard and vengeful hearts. Help us to be more loving, more grace-filled, more kind. More of you, Jesus, and less of me. In Your Name, Amen.

Pastor Vicki Harrison 10/10/21 Pastor Vicki Harrison 10/10/21

Deuteronomy 18

To read this text CLICK HERE

Deuteronomy 18:18-20, I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him. I myself will call to account anyone who does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name. But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, is to be put to death.”

The people wanted leadership and God provided that in the form of kings, priests, and prophets. Today's text addresses the latter. Prophets were the only one of the three that were not inherited. Prophets were men and women raised up individually by God and empowered to communicate God's message to the people. Oftentimes, the prophet would bring a word of instruction or rebuke to the people. They weren't often liked but they were the mouthpiece of God. The cultures around them also had prophets but they were considered detestable in the eyes of God. The prophets of the one true God were a channel of revelation to whom the Lord spoke and who would then directly share that message to the people.

In our world, prophecy is considered a gift from Jesus to the church. Consider Ephesians 4:11-13, "So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."

There are still people who, through the power of the Holy Spirit, are given the gift of prophecy, just as there are individuals given the gift of shepherding and teaching. Even today, the church doesn't often want to hear what the prophets have to say because it is often a word of rebuke, of what the church needs to be doing but isn't. Just like in Biblical times, prophets tend to exist on the periphery of the church. And yet, they are so important! We are incomplete without prophets. We need to really listen to what we have to say.

Do you know someone who has the gift of prophecy? What has their role been in the church? How might we at New Hope be more open to listening to the prophets among us?

Let's pray...Dear God, We thank you for the prophets you send to us. Please give us discernment and wisdom in finding and listening to those you send. Help us be open to even the hard messages. We pray this all in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Pastor Vicki Harrison 10/9/21 Pastor Vicki Harrison 10/9/21

Deuteronomy 17

To read this text CLICK HERE

Deuteronomy 17:2-7, If a man or woman living among you in one of the towns the Lord gives you is found doing evil in the eyes of the Lord your God in violation of his covenant, and contrary to my command has worshiped other gods, bowing down to them or to the sun or the moon or the stars in the sky, and this has been brought to your attention, then you must investigate it thoroughly. If it is true and it has been proved that this detestable thing has been done in Israel, take the man or woman who has done this evil deed to your city gate and stone that person to death. On the testimony of two or three witnesses a person is to be put to death, but no one is to be put to death on the testimony of only one witness. The hands of the witnesses must be the first in putting that person to death, and then the hands of all the people. You must purge the evil from among you.

This is hard stuff, friends. So, if someone is found to be worshiping other gods, in the case mentioned it's the astral cult, then it is the community's responsibility to investigate it and bring that individual to justice. The requirement is that at least two witnesses see that yes, this person is in fact committing idolatry. Why so harsh? Because when someone worships another god or gods, then they are breaking covenant; they are essentially making the whole community break covenant with God and so it takes the whole community to help put things right.

As I read this, once again I'm reminded how thankful I am to be living under the New Covenant and not the Mosaic Covenant. Are we that different from the Israelites? Don't we also sin and put things before God? I'm not worshipping the sun and the stars but I do, without even thinking about it at times, prioritize other things before God. Let's be real. We need to be overwhelmingly thankful for the cross of Christ which makes it possible for us to be in relationship with a holy God. Because the reality is we are all sinners, we are all deserving of consequences. We need to overwhelmingly grateful for being able to go boldly before the throne of his grace and lay down our mess-ups, our needs, our problems, and our pains. Thank you so much, Jesus.

Let's pray...Lord Jesus, Forgive us for the many ways we sin and fall short. We may not worship the sun and stars, but we are worshiping things besides you. Help us to live our lives in a way that is fully dedicated to you, with you firmly at the center. We are so grateful, Jesus, for all you do and who you are. More of you, less of me. Amen.

Pastor Vicki Harrison 10/8/21 Pastor Vicki Harrison 10/8/21

Deuteronomy 16

To read this text CLICK HERE

Deuteronomy 16:13-15, Celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles for seven days after you have gathered the produce of your threshing floor and your winepress. Be joyful at your festival—you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levites, the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns. For seven days celebrate the festival to the Lord your God at the place the Lord will choose. For the Lord your God will bless you in all your harvest and in all the work of your hands, and your joy will be complete.

This chapter details the three festivals that commemorated the Hebrews' 40 year journey through the desert and eventually into the promised land. Today's focus verses highlight the Festival of Tabernacles, commonly called Sukkot. It was often considered the greatest of all feasts. It was to be celebrated in autumn, during the time of harvest. The word sukkot means "booths." Throughout this festival, the Jewish people built and dwelt in temporary shelters, just like the Hebrew people did while wandering in the desert. This joyous celebration is a reminder of God's deliverance, protection, provision, and faithfulness. Among the Jews, this festival also pointed to a time when God would again "tabernacle" among his people.

As Christians, we know that God "tabernacled" with his people through the person of Jesus Christ. Think of John 1:14, "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."

Fun fact: it was at the Festival of Tabernacles that Jesus revealed his messianic identity. The festival was often seen as a sign of messianic hope, especially in the water libation portion of the ceremony. During this part, the priests gathered a pitcher of water from the pool of Siloam and poured it on the Temple altar. The pouring of the water was representative of Israel's hope for future rain to produce good harvests. However, during Jesus' time, the people were spiritually dry and desolate. Living under Roman rule, this ceremony was less a cry for physical rain and more a cry that God would indeed pour out his spirit, the living water they so longed for. So picture this - it's right in the middle of this ceremony on the final day of the feast, that Jesus stands up says loudly for all to hear, "...Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” (John 7:37-38) What an amazing proclamation! The solution to their spiritual drought was found in him, the one who offered living water.

Do you feel spiritually dry right now, possibly disconnected from God and his people? Are you aware that the solution to your spiritual drought is also found in Jesus? He offers you living water, truly eternal hope, so you never need to be thirsty again.

Let's pray...Lord Jesus, thank you for living water. Thank you for filling us with your hope, renewing us, and allowing rivers of hope and love to flow within us. Help us share that same hope with those around us in ways that make a difference for a dry and desolate world. In Your Name, Amen.

Pastor Vicki Harrison 10/7/21 Pastor Vicki Harrison 10/7/21

Deuteronomy 15

To read this text CLICK HERE

Deuteronomy 15:7-8, If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them. Rather, be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need.

Moses states that there should not be poverty among them (v. 4) and yet this chapter is filled with information about borrowing, lending, and when to forgive debts. It even discusses freeing servants who have sold themselves into voluntary servitude. There seems to be a gulf between what is desired or asked for (no poverty) and the reality (intense poverty to the point people sell themselves). So while there should not be poverty among them, because God has poured blessings into their lives and the land, poverty seems to exist nonetheless. Today's focus verses address this. They give instructions to the more affluent about how to handle the issue of the poor. It's pretty clear - don't be hard-hearted but rather be generous and lend them what they need.

Despite all these instructions, there isn't much indication that the Iand of Israel did a good job caring for their poor. In fact, it was often their oppression of the poor and failure to care for the most vulnerable of society that repeatedly angered God. The judges often warned about caring for the weak. The Psalms and Proverbs are filled with Scripture that speaks to not oppressing the poor. This was obviously an issue.

We are called to care for the poor. How have you made this a reality in your own life?

Let’s pray…Almighty Lord, You are creator and Lord of all. You care for every person and we know that every life is precious in your sight. Lord, help us remember that as well. Every single human life has value and we, as your people, are to care for all people. Lord, break our hearts for what breaks yours. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

New Hope Daily SOAP: Deuteronomy 15

Pastor Vicki Harrison

To read this text, go to: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%2015&version=NIV

We are called to care for the poor. How have you made this a reality in your own life?

Pastor Vicki Harrison 10/6/21 Pastor Vicki Harrison 10/6/21

Deuteronomy 14

To read this text CLICK HERE

Deuteronomy 14:1-2, You are the children of the Lord your God. Do not cut yourselves or shave the front of your heads for the dead, for you are a people holy to the Lord your God. Out of all the peoples on the face of the earth, the Lord has chosen you to be his treasured possession.

Most of this chapter details the food laws and tithing. But the focus verses for today really give an excellent introduction for the why behind these things. Why are there specific rules regarding which foods the Israelites could eat? Well, because they are the children of God, a holy people, and God chose them to be set apart from the other people groups of the world. The separation between pure and impure animals simply is a reflection of the separation that God's people have with the rest of the world. God is clearly forming a unique people.

We've discussed this whole idea of holiness before but it certainly bears repeating. Holiness means being unique and set apart. Something that is holy is cut off from other things, in a class of its own. But that which is holy is also morally pure. One of the defining characteristics of God is his holiness. God is both totally pure and without sin and also like nobody else, in a class separate from all other classes. God called on the Israelites to become a holy people, set apart from all the people groups of the world. It says in Lev. 19:2, "...Be holy because I, the Lord God, am holy." They were to look differently, act differently, and be morally pure. Obviously, the Israelites were not going to be without sin because they were human beings but they were to make every attempt to avoid sin and atone for their sins regularly.

So where does that leave us? In the New Testament, the Greek word for holy is hagios and it comes from the same root word as saint or sanctified. Just as Jesus Christ is holy, we as his followers are also to seek holiness. I Peter 1:14-16 reads, "As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” In New Testament language, being holy is also to be set apart but not to be separate, to be in the world but not of it. Our lives are to be characterized by holiness: we are to look different from the culture around us, we are to seek moral purity, and work toward sanctification. To be sanctified is to become more and more like Jesus. One might even go so far as to say that to become holy is to become like Jesus.

Do you think of your life as holy? Why or why not?

Let's pray...Lord Jesus, I want to look more like you. I don't want to blend into my culture but truly be a reflection of you in all I do. Forgive me for when I fall short. In Your Name, Amen.

Pastor Vicki Harrison 10/5/21 Pastor Vicki Harrison 10/5/21

Deuteronomy 13

To read this text CLICK HERE

Deuteronomy 13:6-8 If your very own brother, or your son or daughter, or the wife you love, or your closest friend secretly entices you, saying, “Let us go and worship other gods” (gods that neither you nor your ancestors have known, gods of the peoples around you, whether near or far, from one end of the land to the other), do not yield to them or listen to them. Show them no pity. Do not spare them or shield them.

This chapter presents several scenarios about what to do if strangers, loved ones, or whole communities tried to tempt them to worship other gods. No matter who does the tempting, the answer is always the same. Don't do it and get rid of the culprit, even if it is a loved one. No one is allowed to tempt them to worship false gods. The consequences for doing so should be swift and severe.

God clearly knows his people. He knows they will be tempted to worship false idols. If we look at the course of Biblical history, idolatry was eventually the undoing of the Israelites. Most of us have a hard time imagining bowing down to a medal statue representing a god or a golden altar to some false deity. And yet, we have to be very careful here. Our false gods are less obvious but still present. Far be it from us to think we are somehow better than the Israelites. After all, we worship money, power, technology, sports, our children's activities, our own hobbies, and our own families, among many other things. Anything at all that we put before God is an idol and if we are honest, we put a lot before God.

What kinds of things are you tempted to put before God? How can you reprioritize your life to right this wrong?

Let's pray...Holy God, We are sorry. We have been disobedient. We have put earthly things before you over and over again. Guide and direct us, Lord. Help us right our wrongs and be more fully devoted to you. Lord, we are so grateful for your love, compassion, and forgiveness. More of you, Jesus, and less of me. In Your Name, Amen.

Pastor Vicki Harrison 10/4/21 Pastor Vicki Harrison 10/4/21

Deuteronomy 12

To read this text CLICK HERE

Deuteronomy 12:4-7, You must not worship the Lord your God in their way. But you are to seek the place the Lord your God will choose from among all your tribes to put his Name there for his dwelling. To that place you must go; there bring your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, what you have vowed to give and your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks. There, in the presence of the Lord your God, you and your families shall eat and shall rejoice in everything you have put your hand to, because the Lord your God has blessed you.

After commanding the removal and destruction of idols, we now move on to where and how God must be worshiped. The worship of the one true God was to look very different from the worship of pagan idols. It was to be in a place chosen by God himself. It was to be in one place alone and there God would take up residence. This would be God's tabernacle, his temple, among his people.

Throughout the Old Testament, God dwells in a specific place. His presence is found in the tabernacle and then eventually the temple in Jerusalem. Obviously, God is omnipotent and can be everywhere all at once. But for his people, that specific place was holy. It was a beautiful picture of God's presence among them. When Jesus came, he became the temple. He was the very presence of God. Once Jesus ascended to heaven, the Holy Spirit was given to the church. Now, the presence of God resided within the people. If you have said yes to Jesus, then the Spirit of the Living God lives within you!

I find it amazing and spectacular how God continues to do a new thing among his people. Now, we can definitely say that the presence of God is here with us. We don't have to go to a specific building. God's presence is closer than our very breath. There is no place we can go where God's presence is not.

Let's pray...Lord Jesus, We thank you and give you praise. You are with us on the mountains and in the valleys. You are with us right now as we read this devotional. No matter where we are, you are there. Thank you for your ever steady and faithful presence. We love you. Amen.

Pastor Vicki Harrison 10/3/21 Pastor Vicki Harrison 10/3/21

Deuteronomy 11

To read this text CLICK HERE

Deuteronomy 11:22-24, If you carefully observe all these commands I am giving you to follow—to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him and to hold fast to him— then the Lord will drive out all these nations before you, and you will dispossess nations larger and stronger than you. Every place where you set your foot will be yours: Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the Euphrates River to the Mediterranean Sea. No one will be able to stand against you. The Lord your God, as he promised you, will put the terror and fear of you on the whole land, wherever you go.

Heartfelt obedience would be required for the people of God to drive out the people groups currently residing in the promised land. Simply going through the motions, engaging in religious ceremony, and professing faith would not be enough. They needed to seek relationship with God through love, obedience, and steadfastness. When they did this, all the land would be theirs.

Obviously, our circumstances are different. Obviously, we live on the other side of the cross under a new covenant. But as people, are we all that different? Don't we also simply go through the motions sometimes, professing religious faith but not really loving God? How often do we engage in religious ritual without connection and obedience to a holy God? After thousands of years, God is still seeking an intimate relationship with us, one that is marked with love, obedience, and steadfastness. He wants to be the center of our lives.

Take some time today and think about the Israelites, just as they are on the cusp of entering the promised land. How are you different from them? How are you similar?

Let's pray...Almighty God, You are holy and perfect, wise and loving. Thank you for loving us and seeking us even when we are hard to love. Help us keep you as the center of our lives. God, I don't want to simply go through the motions; I want to have a deep, abiding relationship with you. More of you, Jesus, and less of me. In Your Name, Amen.

Pastor Vicki Harrison 10/2/21 Pastor Vicki Harrison 10/2/21

Deuteronomy 10

To read this text CLICK HERE

Deuteronomy 10:14-18, To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it. Yet the Lord set his affection on your ancestors and loved them, and he chose you, their descendants, above all the nations—as it is today. Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer. For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing.

What does God ask of his people? He asks them to be obedient. The Lord of all, the one who put the stars in the sky and put the planets into motion, is the same God who chose Israel to be his people. He has chosen to reveal himself to a particular group of people, the Israelites. There wasn't anything particularly special about the people. After all, they were people like you and me. They messed up and sinned over and over again. Their brokenness was evident. But God chose this group of people to call his own. The one who created the entire cosmos was the one who showed up among this stiff-necked people.

Today's focus verses give us a little glimpse into the heart of God. Though he is Lord of Lords, all powerful and all knowing, he is also the God who cares about the orphans, the widows, and the oppressed. He has chosen a particular group of people to form into a holy nation. Though they are a mess and he often gets frustrated with them, he continues to be faithful.

How have you seen the faithfulness of God in your own life?

Let's pray...Almighty God, Thank you for your faithfulness. Thank you for loving us, for providing for us, and for walking with us through life. Help us to be more faithful toward you and to demonstrate your love toward others. In Your Name, Amen.

Pastor Vicki Harrison 10/1/21 Pastor Vicki Harrison 10/1/21

Deuteronomy 9

To read this text CLICK HERE

Deuteronomy 9:4-6, After the Lord your God has driven them out before you, do not say to yourself, “The Lord has brought me here to take possession of this land because of my righteousness.” No, it is on account of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord is going to drive them out before you. It is not because of your righteousness or your integrity that you are going in to take possession of their land; but on account of the wickedness of these nations, the Lord your God will drive them out before you, to accomplish what he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Understand, then, that it is not because of your righteousness that the Lord your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stiff-necked people.

This chapter begins with strong declarations about taking the land from the pagan peoples who are currently residing there. God makes it clear that he is not allowing his people to be victorious in battle because they are good and righteous. Absolutely not! God is allowing the Israelites to take possession of the land because the other people groups are so wicked and depraved. God makes it clear that the Israelites also are far from perfect, as they are a stiff-necked people. To drive this point home, the people are reminded of when they made the golden calf idol and Moses had to beg for mercy because of their sinfulness.

I looked up the definition of stiff-necked. It means stubborn or haughty. The Israelites were certainly stubborn and prideful. God wanted them to know that they weren't getting this beautiful promised land because of anything they earned or achieved. They had integrity issues of their own. This really struck me today. I think about how stubborn and prideful I can be, how I can look down my nose at others and be downright obnoxious at times. And yet, God forgave me and saved me, not because of anything I did, but rather because of who he is. He is a good and loving God who offered me grace even though I don't deserve it. He offers you grace too. None of us deserve it, yet he offers it, freely and completely.

Have you said YES to God's generous and free offer of grace today?

Let's pray...Dear Lord Jesus, Thank you so much for loving me despite myself. Thank you for offering good things, good blessings, and amazing grace, to me even though I did nothing to deserve it. Help us get over ourselves and focus on you and you alone. In Your Name, Amen.

Pastor Vicki Harrison 9/30/21 Pastor Vicki Harrison 9/30/21

Deuteronomy 8

To read this text CLICK HERE

Deuteronomy 8:17-18, You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.

There is a clear connection between covenant and blessing. If the people of God follow God's commands and hold up their end of the covenant, then God will bless them. This chapter focuses on that blessing. God blessed the people in the desert and he will bless them in the promised land. However, there is also a stern warning found in the focus verses for today. As the time passes and the people experience the goodness of the land, they may be tempted to forget that God is the one who provided it for them, that God is the source of their blessing.

How often do we forget that God is the source of our blessing? We fall into the trap of believing that what we have is the source of our own hard work and effort. While we may have worked hard, God is the one who gave us the opportunity and the ability to work, to earn money, and to provide for our families. Really, everything we have has been given to us by God. Take some time to give thanks to God today.

Let's pray...Dear Lord, Thank you for all you have provided for us. Thank you for the ability to learn, to work, and to help provide for others. Thank you for being the source of all good things. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Pastor Vicki Harrison 9/29/21 Pastor Vicki Harrison 9/29/21

Deuteronomy 7

To read this text CLICK HERE

Deuteronomy 7:1-6, When the Lord your God brings you into the land you are entering to possess and drives out before you many nations—the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites, seven nations larger and stronger than you— and when the Lord your God has delivered them over to you and you have defeated them, then you must destroy them totally.] Make no treaty with them, and show them no mercy. Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons, for they will turn your children away from following me to serve other gods, and the Lord’s anger will burn against you and will quickly destroy you. This is what you are to do to them: Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones, cut down their Asherah poles and burn their idols in the fire. For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.

As the Israelites made their way into Canaan, the promised land, they were to totally and completely annihilate the people who resided there. These were people who could lead God's people into moral decay. The indigenous people of Canaan worshipped many gods and did things that were detestable in the eyes of God. God wanted his people, who he called to be holy, to have nothing to do with the pagan peoples living in the land.

I'll be honest. I struggle with this concept of total destruction of the people, including the women and children. I know intellectually why God instructed them all to be killed. Later on, we see the result of not totally annihilating the people. In some areas, the Israelites did spare women and children and even intermarried with them. As a result, idolatry seeped into their homes and lives. Old habits die hard. I am certainly glad we live on the other side of the cross, in a time when forgiveness and grace are always available and God seeks relationship with all people.

Let's pray...God, Your ways are better and higher than our ways. There are many things we don't understand. What I do know is that I'm thankful for your love, grace, and willingness to accept me with all my flaws and brokenness. Help me to continue to seek a life characterized by holiness. In Your Name, Amen.

Pastor Vicki Harrison 9/28/21 Pastor Vicki Harrison 9/28/21

Deuteronomy 6

To read this text CLICK HERE

Deuteronomy 6:4-9, Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

This is the Shema, essentially the heart of the law. It recognizes the uniqueness and oneness of God. There aren't many gods but only one true God. God calls his people to love him and obey him with every part of their being. He called the ancient Israelites to this this and he calls us to do this as well. Jesus took the Shema and added an important element. In Matthew 12:30-31, Jesus says this: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Yes, we love God with our whole being but we also love others. In fact, love of God is demonstrated by love of others. As Christians, we cannot separate the two.

The Shema is a prayer that Jewish families for thousands of years have said daily and it is often the earliest prayer that Jewish children are taught. It is repeated over and over again to ensure that the next generation will know it and live it. While I don't think we need to write the commands of Jesus on our foreheads, how do we ensure the next generation will know who they are in Jesus? Even if you don't have children or your children or older, all of God's people, the whole church, bears responsibility for teaching and guiding the next generation.

Pray about how God may be calling you to mentor, teach, or bless the younger generation. Are you called to volunteer in children's ministry? Maybe there is a child in your own life to which God is leading you to disciple and teach. Maybe you currently have younger children or teenagers. How is learning about Christ woven throughout your family's daily routine?

Let's pray...God, We want you to be the first thought in the morning and the last thought before we fall asleep. Help us love you and others in a way that is genuine and real. Help us teach others about your love and pass the fundamentals of the faith to the next generation. In Your Name, Amen.

Pastor Vicki Harrison 9/27/21 Pastor Vicki Harrison 9/27/21

Deuteronomy 5

To read this text CLICK HERE

Deuteronomy 5:32-33, So be careful to do what the Lord your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.

Finally, Moses communicates the decrees by which the people are to live while in the promised land. These ten commandments are basically the same commands given to their fathers and mothers thirty-eight years prior. The first five commandments pertain to humanity's relationship with God. The next five commands are about how humans must treat one another. They are now being reinforced to the next generation, to the ones who will actually enter the land of Canaan.

As Christ-followers, the ten commandments no longer form the basis of our covenant relationship with God. But they are essential guidelines for living a life that honors God. These are commands that help us flourish and grow as people. These are guardrails for life. Certainly, they also set us apart from the culture; by living according to these laws, we demonstrate a different way of life that points to the Kingdom of God. While we do live on the other side of the cross, these are not commands that are obsolete. Jesus commanded us to love God and love others. It seems the ten commandments play an important role in getting us there.

Let's pray...God, Thank you for the beauty of your law. Thank you for providing boundaries and guardrails for our lives so that we can do life in a way that helps us flourish and also points others to Jesus. When we fail, please forgive us, but also help get us on the right path. In your name, Amen.

Pastor Vicki Harrison 9/26/21 Pastor Vicki Harrison 9/26/21

Deuteronomy 4

To read this text CLICK HERE

Deuteronomy 4:1-2, Now, Israel, hear the decrees and laws I am about to teach you. Follow them so that you may live and may go in and take possession of the land the Lord, the God of your ancestors, is giving you. Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you.

Now that the historical review has ended, chapter 4 marks the beginning of the instruction of the rules and laws the people of God were to follow. There is definitely a conditional nature to these instructions. If the Israelites follow them, God will provide and take them into the promised land. If they do not follow them, then the opposite will be true. In this chapter, most of the instruction has to do with idolatry. God's people are only to worship him and him alone. Moses' words in verse 40 provide a concise summary of the teaching up until this point, Keep his decrees and commands, which I am giving you today, so that it may go well with you and your children after you and that you may live long in the land the Lord your God gives you for all time.

Let's pray...Lord, Help us even today keep your decrees. Help us follow you and you alone. How easy it is for us to get distracted. Help us refocus so that you are center of our lives. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Pastor Vicki Harrison 9/25/21 Pastor Vicki Harrison 9/25/21

Deuteronomy 3

To read this text CLICK HERE

Deuteronomy 3:26-29, But because of you the Lord was angry with me and would not listen to me. “That is enough,” the Lord said. “Do not speak to me anymore about this matter. Go up to the top of Pisgah and look west and north and south and east. Look at the land with your own eyes, since you are not going to cross this Jordan. But commission Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he will lead this people across and will cause them to inherit the land that you will see.” So we stayed in the valley near Beth Peor.

Moses revisits once more the act that prevented him from entering the promised land. God has had enough. God tells Moses to go to the top of Mr. Pisgah. From this point, the entire land of Canaan is visible. God could sense Moses' anguish and in his grace, allowed Moses to at least see the promised land. While Moses could lay eyes on the land, it would still be Joshua who would lead the people into the land. God tells Moses to commission Joshua to the task. He would be the successor.

I can only imagine the pain and guilt Moses must have been experiencing. He spent forty years doing what he could to lead a disobedient people. While he fell short, it had to have been incredibly difficult to not see the journey to the end.

Let's pray...God, We don't always understand your ways but we know that they are higher than ours. Lord, I pray that we can stay focused on you and grow in our walk. When we get distracted, we pray that you lead us back to the path. Lord, help us finish this journey strong in the faith. In Jesus' Name, Amen.