KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Monday, March 12, 2018
Chapters: Deuteronomy 3-4
Message: When God Says No Again
Hello My Friend,
We read the Bible, and believe it to be true when Jesus says, “If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.”, we ask only to discover that God flat out says, “No!” We ask again and He says, “I said no!”. Then we ask one more time to hear, “Speak no more to me about this matter.” Sometimes it is easy to understand why God says no, there are some things that if we did get what we want would prove to be detrimental to us, there are some things that are just not in God’s will for us, but sometimes we are flat out denied something because we have disobeyed God. While we can never lose our salvation no matter how many times we disobey God, He will deny us some things if we do, and it is usually things we desire the most. What do we do when God says no? Get mad, walk away from Him, and do what we want anyway? We could, but that would only cause more problems. The best thing we can do is move on, find out what God really wants for us, and seek them. “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:” – I John 5:14.
We have seen it before, that one act of disobedience by Adam and Eve caused the fall of man, because of sin we are faced with death, pain and suffering, and really have to work to get the things we desire or even need. And let me tell you, when we are doing our best to live our lives by God’s standards it can be devastating when God tells us we cannot have something because we made one mistake. As Moses gives the final instructions to Israel before his death and their crossing over into the promised land he encourages Joshua to lead them as God was with him, but also recollects the time God told him that he could not go over into the promised land.
“And I commanded Joshua at that time, saying, Thine eyes have seen all that the LORD your God hath done unto these two kings: so shall the LORD do unto all the kingdoms whither thou passest. Ye shall not fear them: for the LORD your God he shall fight for you. And I besought the LORD at that time, saying, O Lord GOD, thou hast begun to shew thy servant thy greatness, and thy mighty hand: for what God is there in heaven or in earth, that can do according to thy works, and according to thy might? I pray thee, let me go over, and see the good land that is beyond Jordan, that goodly mountain, and Lebanon. But the LORD was wroth with me for your sakes, and would not hear me: and the LORD said unto me, Let it suffice thee; speak no more unto me of this matter. Get thee up into the top of Pisgah, and lift up thine eyes westward, and northward, and southward, and eastward, and behold it with thine eyes: for thou shalt not go over this Jordan. But charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him: for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which thou shalt see.” – Deuteronomy 3:21-28.
“for the LORD your God he shall fight for you.” If there is one thing we can be sure if it is that if we stand by Christ, He will stand by us. We must understand that God’s will for one person is not the same as another, sometimes He will allow one who constantly messes up to get the things they desire while denying another who only messes up occasionally. This is not a punishment, nor do we lose our salvation, this is what God says and it is something we have to live with because He will not give us something by taking the glory for the something He has done. We are to never compare our lives with others, and we are to never let the one thing that He denies us forget all that He has given us. We mess up, and we lose out on some things, but we still belong to Him, and He will fight for us and provide for us because He does love us and care for us. “Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. For mine own sake, even for mine: own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.” – Isaiah 48:10-11.
Now Moses gives them a review of the commands that God had given to their fathers, which were to be passed down through generations. These commands were to be used specifically in the promised land, Moses assures them that if they follow God’s commands they will have nothing to worry about, but also reminds them of what happened when their fathers disobeyed Him.
“Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you. Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. Your eyes have seen what the LORD did because of Baalpeor: for all the men that followed Baalpeor, the LORD thy God hath destroyed them from among you. But ye that did cleave unto the LORD your God are alive every one of you this day. Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for?” – Deuteronomy 4:1-7.
“for to do them, that ye may live,” There is only one way to God, Jesus Christ, and if we look to Him we live, but if we try to get to Him any other way we will die. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” – John 14:6.
There are some things in life that we are going to forfeit because we did not give God the glory when we did get things from Him, but it is not cause to dismiss God, we must learn to serve Him at all times, not just when we are receiving the things from Him. Before Moses completed his speech he reminded them that God will be with them if they followed His commands, he encourages them to remain faithful and teach their children the same.
“For ask now of the days that are past, which were before thee, since the day that God created man upon the earth, and ask from the one side of heaven unto the other, whether there hath been any such thing as this great thing is, or hath been heard like it? Did ever people hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as thou hast heard, and live? Or hath God assayed to go and take him a nation from the midst of another nation, by temptations, by signs, and by wonders, and by war, and by a mighty hand, and by a stretched out arm, and by great terrors, according to all that the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes? Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him. Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else. Thou shalt keep therefore his statutes, and his commandments, which I command thee this day, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days upon the earth, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, for ever.” – Deuteronomy 4:32-35,39-40.
“Unto thee it was shewed,” God does not reveal Himself to everyone, which is why this entire world has very few believers in it. Think about the world as we know it, and only one group knows and follows God? If there is only one thing that the Jews, Christians, and Muslims agree on it is that there is only one living God, where they differ is how to get to Him. Over the centuries God has changed how He dealt with sin, but redemption has never changed, blood is still needed for forgiveness, and faith is still needed for a relationship with Him. Today, God only reveals Himself to those who come to Him through His Son, if we do not know the Son we will not know the Father, and our days will be numbered. “All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.” – Matthew 11:27.
Jesus Christ Magnified: “But ye that did cleave unto the LORD your God are alive every one of you this day.” – Deuteronomy 4:4.
Today’s Prayer: God, You promise that if we ask anything believing that we will receive it, but that it also might be in Your will to give it to us. While it is Your desire to give us the things we ask sometimes You will deny it because it will bring harm or simply that we have disobeyed You. It is Your desire that we stay faithful to Your teachings. Scripture gives many examples of those who knew to do right, but chose to do wrong. The consequences of their wrong actions not only made them suffer, but us as well. Lord, give me Your power to avoid the traps that take me away from Your truths and living in Your Word. It is only by reading Your Word and applying its truth to my life that I even have a chance to fight the battles around me. Help me to be the Godly example that You want me to be for all who cross my path, and let me not get bitter or angry when You deny me, but let me learn to glorify You in all things. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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