Read Deuteronomy 24 -- 27
Highlights:
God speaks of His blessings at Mount Gerizim and His curses at Mount Ebal. The blessings result from obedience and faithfulness. The curses result from disobeying the Word of God! Take note of the Law of the offering of firstfruits.
God required that all of Israel's business transactions reflect His integrity and justice. Deception and dishonesty often have become the business principles of the world.
Thou shalt not have . . . divers measures . . . But thou shalt have a . . . just weight . . . that thy days may be lengthened. . . . For . . . all that do unrighteously, are an abomination unto the Lord thy God (Deut. 25:14-16).
Israel was taught to observe equity and honesty in all business transactions. A false balance is abomination to the Lord: but a just weight is His delight (Prov. 11:1). Questionable half-truths of anyone is abominable before God. Christianity goes beyond these rules. Jesus said: All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the Law and the Prophets (Matt. 7:12). The Christian must govern his daily transactions in a way that conforms to the character of his Heavenly Father. All misrepresentations, or taking advantage of others, are abhorred by the Lord. To refuse to pay our debts is dishonest.
Christians are to live by the law of love: Let love be without dissimulation (hypocrisy). Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Not slothful in business (Rom. 12:9-11).
Often the believer will be faced with innumerable disappointments, deceived by someone he trusts, or injured by others he has helped to benefit. But all these disappointments give the true Christian an opportunity to exercise the character and nature of God in the spirit of forgiving love and long-suffering. By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another (John 13:35. For this reason: Let us not love in word (only), neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth (I John 13:18).
Our Lord admonishes us to think of our neighbor as our equal and someone whom God loves and whom Jesus gave His life to save. He persuades us to consider our neighbor's best interest. We should ask ourselves: "If he were where I am, and I were where he is, how would I want him to treat me in this transaction?" We need to: Look not every man on his own things, but every man on the things of others (Phil. 2:4).
Thought for Today:
For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows (I Tim. 6:10).
Christ Revealed:
Through the deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt and Pharaoh (Deut. 26:8). Our Lord Jesus Christ . . . gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world (Gal. 1:3-4).
Word Studies:
24:3 hate dislike; 24:4 abomination detestable; 24:10 pledge to loan, security; 25:1 unto judgment to court; 25:13 divers different; 26:5 sojourned dwelled temporarily; 26:6 evil entreated us treated us harshly; bondage cruel slavery; 26:10 set offer; 26:14 in my mourning on distress, defiled ceremonially; hearkened listened; 26:18 peculiar people areasured possession; 26:19 holy consecrated; 27:11 charged commanded; 27:15 an abomination a detestable thing; 27:16 setteth light by disgraces, dishonors; 27:19 perverteth the judgment denies justice or the rights; 27:24 smiteth strikes, kills; 27:25 taketh reward accepts a bribe; 27:26 confirmeth not fails to live by word of this Law.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for International Broadcasts sponsored by Linda Stalter • Staff: Clarence Rathbone • Country: Zaire, Democratic Republic of the Congo (63 million) in south-central Africa • Major languages: French and Lingala • Limited religious freedom • 42% Roman Catholic; 28% Protestant; 12% magical practices, ancestor worship, and witchcraft; 1% Muslim • Prayer Suggestion: Be of one heart and mind with other Christians (I Cor. 1:10).
Optional Reading: Luke 24
Memory Verse for the Week:I Peter 1:22
