Author's Note: This article is part of a 21-day Series called, "YWAP Fast 2019." Each year, the YWAP Directors and countless other folks begin the New Year on a 21 Day Fast. We set aside extra time to honor God and seek His will for the New Year. The study follows the word “love” as it appears 280 times in 310 verses in the King James Bible. This series will eventually be written in book form as a model to teach future YWAP generations. We welcome your comments or questions. Jesus loves you and so do we.
Many things in life are worth repeating. "I love you" are words worth repeating many times, as often as possible. Some birds mate for life. The albatross is known as the most monogamous of birds. They may not say "I love you," but they show fidelity by returning to each other year after year.
You cannot travel to the Promised land unless you repeatedly put one foot in front of the other. I like to call it "Purposeful Repetition." Sometimes thins in our lives get repeated so we can learn the lesson a little better.
Several years ago at a Boy Scout Camp, we made all of the Scouts attend mid-week church services. There were several denominations to choose from. One boy complained about going, as most kids do! He was told it was mandatory, so he went. Afterward, he continued complaining, "That preacher said the same thing this year that he said last year!" I told him that was a good thing which made him complain more until I explained to him why, "It proves to me that you listened well last year and you listened well this year. That's what leaders do, even when they may not be happy with what they're doing, they remain teachable. I'm proud of you." The boy smiled, his complaining was over.
Repetition can get boring, but it can also give us comfort. Sometimes repetition will provide direction that leads to a more satisfying and exciting life.
You cannot travel to the Promised land unless you repeatedly put one foot in front of the other. I like to call it "Purposeful Repetition." Sometimes thins in our lives get repeated so we can learn the lesson a little better.
Several years ago at a Boy Scout Camp, we made all of the Scouts attend mid-week church services. There were several denominations to choose from. One boy complained about going, as most kids do! He was told it was mandatory, so he went. Afterward, he continued complaining, "That preacher said the same thing this year that he said last year!" I told him that was a good thing which made him complain more until I explained to him why, "It proves to me that you listened well last year and you listened well this year. That's what leaders do, even when they may not be happy with what they're doing, they remain teachable. I'm proud of you." The boy smiled, his complaining was over.
Repetition can get boring, but it can also give us comfort. Sometimes repetition will provide direction that leads to a more satisfying and exciting life.
DAY 17 WORD
“And it shall come to pass,
if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments
which I command you this day,
to love the Lord your God,
and to serve him
with all your heart and
with all your soul,”
Deuteronomy 11:13
if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments
which I command you this day,
to love the Lord your God,
and to serve him
with all your heart and
with all your soul,”
Deuteronomy 11:13
The Bible is full of repetition - mostly because people keep forgetting to repeat God's Love. God keeps repeating His commandments because folks tend to forget and follow the way of the self. A child has to be repeatedly reminded of the family boundaries and rules. Married folks should continually remind their spouses how much they love each other through their actions.
Today's Bible verse is another example of God's repetitive Love. When studying a Bible passage, it's best to examine the context closely. That means taking into consideration who the speaker was, who they're speaking to, the time in history, the culture and the deeper meaning of the words in Hebrew or Greek. It's also important to study the surrounding verses.
Once again in Deuteronomy 11:13, God is repeating His command to keep His commandments and to love Him. Moses is considered to be the Author of Deuteronomy. Jesus gave evidence of this authorship in Matthew 19:8 when he quoted Deuteronomy 21:1-4. Ironically, Jesus was answering a question from the Pharisees about divorce which could be called the rejection of fidelity.
Moses was leading the Israelites across the desert after leaving their lives of slavery in Egypt. They were on their way to the Promised Land flowing with milk and honey. When you read about their journey, you will see their repetitive nature of turning away from God. He freed them, He fed them and He lead them, but still, they turned away repeatedly. To me, Deuteronomy 11:13 has a flow to it that builds excitement and makes me want to read the next verse. "It shall come to pass" that peaks my curiosity and makes me wonder what "it" is.
The flow continues with an "if." I'm beginning to understand that if I follow God's commandments though loving and serving Him with everything I've got, something good will happen. Here's what we find in the next verse, "14 That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil." God is pretty much saying He'll give us what we need for the season we're in. Everything we need will be provided to us as we trust in Him. Sow in fidelity, reap in plenty.
God wants fidelity from us, but he knows our selfish nature. most folks think of infidelity as an act of cheating on a spouse in a sexual manner. It can be that, but more often it appears as faithfulness to a person, place or thing or God. Here are some definitions and synonyms for fidelity found in the Dictionary.
Ø faithfulness to a person, cause, or belief, demonstrated by continuing loyalty and support.
synonyms: loyalty, allegiance, obedience, constancy, staunchness, fastness
Ø sexual faithfulness to a spouse or partner.
synonyms: faithfulness, loyalty, constancy; devotedness, devotion, commitment, true-heartedness, trustworthiness, trustiness, honesty, dependability, reliability; monogamy;
Ø the degree of exactness with which something is copied or reproduced.
synonyms: accuracy, exactness, exactitude, precision, preciseness, correctness,
For the sake of repetition, let me copy, paste and repeat the latter definition of fidelity: {the degree of exactness with which something is copied or reproduced.} That reminds of some good wisdom found in Ephesians 5:25 "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;" So we are to repeat Christ's love in our actions toward other people. Love and fidelity are all about repeating the Love of God. Do it for Life.
Today's Bible verse is another example of God's repetitive Love. When studying a Bible passage, it's best to examine the context closely. That means taking into consideration who the speaker was, who they're speaking to, the time in history, the culture and the deeper meaning of the words in Hebrew or Greek. It's also important to study the surrounding verses.
Once again in Deuteronomy 11:13, God is repeating His command to keep His commandments and to love Him. Moses is considered to be the Author of Deuteronomy. Jesus gave evidence of this authorship in Matthew 19:8 when he quoted Deuteronomy 21:1-4. Ironically, Jesus was answering a question from the Pharisees about divorce which could be called the rejection of fidelity.
Moses was leading the Israelites across the desert after leaving their lives of slavery in Egypt. They were on their way to the Promised Land flowing with milk and honey. When you read about their journey, you will see their repetitive nature of turning away from God. He freed them, He fed them and He lead them, but still, they turned away repeatedly. To me, Deuteronomy 11:13 has a flow to it that builds excitement and makes me want to read the next verse. "It shall come to pass" that peaks my curiosity and makes me wonder what "it" is.
The flow continues with an "if." I'm beginning to understand that if I follow God's commandments though loving and serving Him with everything I've got, something good will happen. Here's what we find in the next verse, "14 That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil." God is pretty much saying He'll give us what we need for the season we're in. Everything we need will be provided to us as we trust in Him. Sow in fidelity, reap in plenty.
God wants fidelity from us, but he knows our selfish nature. most folks think of infidelity as an act of cheating on a spouse in a sexual manner. It can be that, but more often it appears as faithfulness to a person, place or thing or God. Here are some definitions and synonyms for fidelity found in the Dictionary.
Ø faithfulness to a person, cause, or belief, demonstrated by continuing loyalty and support.
synonyms: loyalty, allegiance, obedience, constancy, staunchness, fastness
Ø sexual faithfulness to a spouse or partner.
synonyms: faithfulness, loyalty, constancy; devotedness, devotion, commitment, true-heartedness, trustworthiness, trustiness, honesty, dependability, reliability; monogamy;
Ø the degree of exactness with which something is copied or reproduced.
synonyms: accuracy, exactness, exactitude, precision, preciseness, correctness,
For the sake of repetition, let me copy, paste and repeat the latter definition of fidelity: {the degree of exactness with which something is copied or reproduced.} That reminds of some good wisdom found in Ephesians 5:25 "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;" So we are to repeat Christ's love in our actions toward other people. Love and fidelity are all about repeating the Love of God. Do it for Life.
DAY 17 PRAYER
Thank You God for Your unwavering Love for us.
Your commands are all about a more excellent Way of Love.
Teach us O God to be lovers of your Word.
Grow in us a nature of stick-to-itiveness that never gives up on Love.
Please keep repeating Your affirmations of Love.
We need the repetition of Your overwhelming Love.
You made the sun to repeat its rising in the sky everyday.
May we remember everyday - Your Son rising into eternal glory.
In Jesus Name.
Amen.
Your commands are all about a more excellent Way of Love.
Teach us O God to be lovers of your Word.
Grow in us a nature of stick-to-itiveness that never gives up on Love.
Please keep repeating Your affirmations of Love.
We need the repetition of Your overwhelming Love.
You made the sun to repeat its rising in the sky everyday.
May we remember everyday - Your Son rising into eternal glory.
In Jesus Name.
Amen.
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