View source for Template:DOD protected/February 21

{{DOD-February}}

Today we begin our reading of the fifth book of the [[Bible]], and the fifth book of [[Moses]], called "Deuteronomy." This book does not contain a new law, replacing the law already given. Rather, it is a second stating of the law.

There are several reasons why [[Moses]] restated the law. One was that there was now a new generation. The old generation, except for Caleb and Joshua, had perished in the wilderness, and the new generation needed to hear the law again. It was important that they know [[God]]'s [[Word]] afresh, because some of these people were twenty years of age and under when the nation fell under Kadesh-Barnea. Up to this time they had been unsettled; but now they were about to enter the Promised Land and become a settled nation. The best way for them to prepare for the future was by understanding the past. Those who could not remember the past may very likely be guilty of the same failures as their forefathers.

The nation was also on the threshold of having a new leader. [[Moses]] was going to die, and Joshua was to take over the leadership. [[Moses]] knew that the success of the nation depended upon its obedience to [[God]], and if the people understood the [[Word]] of [[God]] and truly loved the [[Lord]], they would follow Joshua and win the [[victory]]. [[Moses]] also warns them of new temptations and gives them the way of success.

In a spiritual sense, many [[Christians]] stand with [[Israel]] in Deuteronomy 1:1-3. They are redeemed from [[Egypt]], but they have not yet entered into their spiritual inheritance. They stand "on this side [[Jordan]]," instead of in the Promised Land of blessing. They need to hear [[God]]'s [[Word]] again, step out by [[faith]], and claim the complete inheritance which is in Christ.

It was not until I read, "The Normal [[Christian]] Life," by Watchman Nee, that I fully realized what [[God]] had given me as a Christian. [[God]] used that book to help me realize we should reckon ourselves dead to [[sin]] and alive through Christ. It is His [[Spirit]] living within us that gives us new life. With His [[Spirit]] completely controlling us, we have fullness of joy as [[Christians]] in this earthly walk.