“If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be.” – Deuteronomy 15:7-8

When God brought His people into the Promised Land, His desire was that in that place there would be no poverty. It was a good land and He was a good God. If the people obeyed His Law, He would bless all their efforts. However, knowing that we live in a fallen world and are fallen people, He made provision for the poor. That provision was through His people. In recognition of the blessings and riches God had given them, they were to always be tender hearted and generous in caring for those in need. They weren’t supposed to let their concern for their own wealth and long-term finances keep them from caring for their brothers and sisters.

Some things have changed since then. We aren’t ethnic Israel. We don’t live in the earthly Promised Land. Nonetheless, God’s heart hasn’t changed. He still cares about the poor, regardless of why they’re poor. He still expects His people to care for the poor with generosity and without too much concern about who “deserves” what. Because He deals so graciously with His people, we never have room to argue about who “deserves” what. God continues to pour out blessings and riches on His people and expects us to steward those treasures for His glory and in keeping with His heart.

Jesus spoke often of the poor and clearly expects His followers to care for them. While He’s quite clear that poverty will not end until He returns, He still expects us to lovingly and sacrificially care for the poor. Take a few moments to reflect on your heart toward the poor and how you’re caring for them. If something needs to change, let God’s Spirit work that change in you. #FollowJesus

“If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, ‘Let us go after other gods,’ which you have not known, ‘and let us serve them,’ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. For the Lord your God is testing you, to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.” – Deuteronomy 13:1-3

We live in a time when an increasing number of prominent people who say they’re Christians also claim to be prophets, receiving words and visions from God. God can absolutely talk to anyone with whom He desires. However, as a follower of Jesus, YOU MUST BE VERY CAREFUL about who you listen to! Most of these “prophets” are hearing from their own ego, the world, or the devil!

Most of them are simply false prophets. Don’t let yourself get excited about what they’re saying now until you’ve reviewed their prior statements. Don’t share and repost without doing your homework first. Check their track record (especially in late 2020 and early 2021). If they were EVER wrong about anything, NEVER listen to their so called words of prophecy. The Bible is VERY clear on this point! In Old Testament Israel God’s people were commanded to stone such false prophets to death. We don’t need to do that, but we do need to never listen to those individuals again. EVER.

However, if their word or vision has always come true (or was so vague they could argue it always came true), you still need to be careful! The Bible is clear that you still have homework to do! If their word of prophesy is more about grabbing earthly power than drawing closer to Jesus, you’re being tested and must reject their prophecy! If their prophecy encourages the people of God to act in ways contrary to the character of Christ, the command of Christ, or the commands of our New Covenant in Christ (the New Testament), DO NOT LISTEN. If their prophecy doesn’t call on the Spirit-filled people of God to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control), DO NOT LISTEN.

Always give more attention to God’s word than to the latest excitement from a so-called prophet. Spend time in God’s word, for yourself, every single day to grow in Christ and protect yourself from false prophets who would lead you after false gods in the name of Jesus. If you run across someone claiming to be a prophet, be extremely careful, do lots of homework, and test every word they say against the heart, character, and commands of Christ. #FollowJesus

“Who fed you in the wilderness with manna that your fathers did not know, that he might humble you and test you, to do you good in the end.” – Deuteronomy 8:16

Standing at the end of their 40 year journey through the desert, Moses here reminds a new generation of Israelites of God’s overwhelming and undeserved goodness toward them. God kept them in the desert because of their parents’ sin but He fed them miraculously and used their time there to form their character and identity as a nation under Him. Israel spent a LONG time in the desert, but it was for their greater good.

Many people of faith spend long seasons in the desert. Perhaps you already have or perhaps you’re there right now. The desert is where God feels distant or opposed to you, day after day, week after week. In the desert it feels like you move from one bad situation to the next, over and over again. You can’t tell when the desert is going to end but you sure wish it would. The desert tests your faith like nothing else. Will you still believe in God, His power, and His goodness when you’re in the desert?

Time in the desert is intentional and it’s meant for your greater good. There are two key truths to hold onto whenever you find yourself in the desert as a follower of Jesus. The first is that you aren’t actually alone, even if you feel like it. You’ve been sealed by the Holy Spirit and united with Christ. He’s always with you. God is always present and listening, so don’t let your feelings convince you otherwise. The second is that the desert really is for your greater good. Trust in that when the desert seems painful and endless.

While a season in the desert could be punishment for sin, it’s generally given as a blessing. In the desert, our faith is matured, deepened, and tested. We must dig deeper into Scripture than ever before and let it humble us. Nobody enjoys being in the desert, but God gives us the desert for our greater good. At the end of our time in the desert, if we’ve walked in faith, we will know God more fully and personally. God uses the desert to shape us for ministry to others, to be able to testify to His wisdom, goodness, and presence in hard circumstances, and to comfort others as we have been comforted. Don’t fear the desert. Don’t hate the desert. Trust God in the desert. #FollowJesus

“For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.” – Deuteronomy 7:6

What was once true only for a single ethnic people (Israel) is now absolutely true for you, if Jesus is your Lord (see 1 Peter 2:9-10). Followers of Jesus are united into the beautiful, treasured, beloved, holy, special family of God! If you’ve trusted in Christ’s death on the cross and resurrection to atone for your sins, then you’ve already been chosen to be treasured by God!

What a beautiful and encouraging thought! Let this truth soak into your soul right now… Whatever others may say or think… whatever labels the world might apply to you… in Christ, you are treasured by the Creator of the Universe. You are holy to the Lord. To be holy to the Lord doesn’t just describe a pattern of “churchy” behavior once or twice a week. It describes being set apart, devoted, and fully dedicated to God.

This reality carries with it significant responsibility. God had chosen you, treasured you, and included you in His people. In Christ, your sins are forgiven and you’re made new in Jesus Christ. Now God calls you to live like it. Followers of Jesus are to be set apart for God. We must be distinctly different, in a good way, from those who don’t follow Jesus. It should be obvious to God, to our neighbors, our coworkers, and our families that we have been transformed by Jesus Christ. We must seek to obey the commands and imitate the example of Jesus not to save ourselves but because we’ve already been saved, set apart, and treasured by God.

We must live lives that really are devoted and dedicated to God. Not as an afterthought. Not as a part-time gig as time permits. Not as one priority among many. Devotion to God should be THE driving priority and principle of our lives. God first, everything else second. King Jesus as the center of our lives, not our careers, families, countries, or amusements. Are you living like you’re holy to the Lord? #FollowJesus

“And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, ‘This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.’” – Acts 17:2-3

Paul was only in Thessalonica for a very brief time. Nonetheless, the churches he planted there flourished. Even he was surprised when he learned how well they were doing. How was this possible? How could a church planted and discipled for just a few short weeks grow and flourish? By being rooted in the truth of Christ and empowered the Holy Spirit!

Our instincts tell us that starting a church is a long human endeavor. We reason that we must be involved for an extremely long time to protect a young church from error. This instinct discourages us from starting new churches to reach the millions around us who are far from God. The reality is that plenty of churches with long histories and enormous human knowledge fall into theological error, weaken, and die. Far more important than any human efforts is the work of the Holy Spirit. We must remember this in an era when many churches in America are struggling.

The church is the bride of Christ. It’s His love and Spirit that empowers churches to survive and thrive, not ours. Human effort is important but it can’t replace a focus on the presence and power of Christ. Let the churches of Jesus Christ remain grounded in this truth Paul taught. Jesus is the Christ. He is the Messiah, the Anointed One, the Savior of the World. He came, He lived, He died, He rose from the dead to atone for the sins of the world. Let every church recommit to love for and submission to the Lordship of Jesus. Then let’s see all the Holy Spirit will do to bless, nourish, nurture, strengthen, and mature Christ’s churches. #FollowJesus