Those Little Foxes . . .

 

 

READ Deuteronomy 30–34

At night when the television program is boring, or when waiting in the car, or sometimes when nothing is pressing, I pick up my phone or laptop and play a game. I tell myself that I like to win so play until I do, usually not very long. This morning I weighed ‘winning’ against ‘time wasted’ and decided to take that game off my devices and use the time in better ways.

Today’s readings gave more insight into the importance of this decision. First, if I use anything to replace what the Lord can do for me, it becomes an idol and relying on an idol is a serious disobedience. The reading says:

“And when all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before you, and you call them to mind among all the nations where the Lord your God has driven you, and return to the Lord your God, you and your children, and obey his voice in all that I command you today, with all your heart and with all your soul, then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have mercy on you, and he will gather you again from all the peoples where the Lord your God has scattered you. If your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there the Lord your God will gather you, and from there he will take you. And the Lord your God will bring you into the land that your fathers possessed, that you may possess it. And he will make you more prosperous and numerous than your fathers. And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live. (Deuteronomy 30:1–6)

This principle is clear; obey God and He will answer my prayers — in my case for relatives who as yet do not know or love Him. Fiddle around with something that replaces the blessing of God on my sense of well-being and He will hold back blessing until He deals with my foolishness. I know that grace isn’t a reward for obedience, but I also know that disobedience can easily block grace. These next verses describe how God gives grace so I have the ability to obey:

“For this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend to heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it. (Deuteronomy 30:11–14)

God puts His will in my heart and the desire to do it. Ignoring it or disobeying it means that I will miss the blessing He wanted me to receive while He disciplines me for my negligence. Yes, I am free to play games, but as Paul wrote,

“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything. (1 Corinthians 6:12) and “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. (1 Corinthians 10:23)

This could be about time-wasting, but the context of the reading indicates that obedience to what might seem inconsequential could have far-reaching implications.

“I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.” (Deuteronomy 30:19–20)

The passage is about children, but the principle could cover other family members. Two more verses speak to the power of God regarding their lives and the connection of my obedience to His blessing on my unsaved family members:

“See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god beside me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand . . . . Take to heart all the words by which I am warning you today, that you may command them to your children, that they may be careful to do all the words of this law. (Deuteronomy 32:39; 46)

Practical application: dump the game and give that time, energy and need for ‘winning’ to the Lord so He is honored. Who knows if this seemingly simple thing is blocking me from a blessing He wants to pour out! If nothing else, the time could be better spent in prayer.