Deuteronomy 11:18-21, 26-28 (NRSV)
Read Deuteronomy 11:18-21, 26-28 on biblegateway.com
Verse 18You shall put these words of mine in your heart and soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and fix them as an emblem on your forehead. Verse 19Teach them to your children, talking about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. Verse 20Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, Verse 21so that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land that the Lord swore to your ancestors to give them, as long as the heavens are above the earth.
Verse 26See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: Verse 27the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I am commanding you today; Verse 28and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn from the way that I am commanding you today, to follow other gods that you have not known.
Devotion
After reading Deuteronomy 10:15 a person may respond with, “how odd of God to choose the Jews.” Do you think it is so odd (or frivolous) for you to understand that God chooses you and sends a message that you are forever precious to God? If we are repeatedly told by someone that we are precious and beautiful, we might allow those words of assurance to motivate us toward positive attitudes and activities.
In Deuteronomy 11 Moses speaks for the good Lord and challenges “the chosen ones” in words like these: “remember how precious you are to God and to one another. May your words and actions be your way of showing that the Lord’s message to you has been heard and accepted.” You have a great heritage, a great future and a great relationship to your God.
Prayer
Our Great God, we face many decisions each day. Keep your Spirit coming to us to remind us how much we are sustained and supported by you. May these reminders encourage us to new ways of caring and helping others. Amen.