Happy New Year—"Reflection and Promise" Deut 8

“Be careful to obey all the commands I am giving you today. Then you will live and multiply, and you will enter and occupy the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors. 2 Remember how the Lord your God led you through the wilderness for these forty years, humbling you and testing you to prove your character, and to find out whether or not you would obey his commands. 3 Yes, he humbled you by letting you go hungry and then feeding you with manna, a food previously unknown to you and your ancestors. He did it to teach you that people do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. 4 For all these forty years your clothes didn’t wear out, and your feet didn’t blister or swell. 5 Think about it: Just as a parent disciplines a child, the Lord your God disciplines you for your own good. 6 “So obey the commands of the Lord your God by walking in his ways and fearing him. 7 For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land of flowing streams and pools of water …18 Remember the Lord your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful, in order to fulfill the covenant he confirmed to your ancestors with an oath. 19 “But I assure you of this: If you ever forget the Lord your God and follow other gods, worshiping and bowing down to them, you will certainly be destroyed. 20 Just as the Lord has destroyed other nations in your path, you also will be destroyed if you refuse to obey the Lord your God. (Deut 8:1-20)

New Beginnings-Reflection and Promise

Today we begin a new year, common with each New year, we reflect on the past year and take stoke of our lives. We understand that our past holds wisdom of its own to lead us into greater hope or despair for the future.

In Deuteronomy 8 we likewise enter a story of beginnings. Israel is entering a new land promised to them over 40 years ago. This new season begins with a Command from the king, and then leads into a Promise about the future and finally it is crowned with Reflection about the past.

The Command God as king over His people Israel gives them a state of the union address as they enter into a new season, a new year so to speak. “Be careful to obey Me” (Deut 8:1, 6), He says—Why?

The Promise…”So that you will enter into the promise I have for you. So that you will enjoy the fullness of what I your good God and King has promised you and prepared for you. So that you will enjoy all what I have disciplined you to enjoy.” He says (Deut 8:1b, 7-11)—But how have you disciplined us, they might have asked?

The Reflection…”By allowing you to be in lack and having only God as your source. By provided for your need in ways you did not know I could. This discipline has allowed you to know through your experience that you are unable to live life solely by what you think you need. I have taught you that your life depends on me your God and I can take care of you” (Deut 8:2-5).

This beautiful address by God to His children seems to ring true to us today. As we reflect back at a year past—some of it full of joy and some of pain, we meet one solid command of God that should bring a great opportunity of starting again, of turning a new page.

The Command to obey God, comes with a Promise of good things. God knows how we were created, after all He created us in His image (Gen 1:27). He knows that we were created to experience peace, joy and true contentment and this comes only through our connection with Him (John 15:5). So His command is always tied to a promise of good things, which can only be realized through His leadership in our lives (Jer 29:11).

The Promise of great things (Deut 8:1)

Knowing our rebellious tendencies, as a good God and King He reminds us to reflect on His goodness to us (Ps 117). As we stand on the first day of a new year, I believe God expects us to reflect on His faithfulness, on how much He has grown our character. He expects us to reflect on How he has preserved us from the dangers that lurk by day and by night (Ps 91). He has kept us alive out of nothing we have done, but simply because of His grace. Our reflections will remind us that as much as we have desired to be in control of our lives, there has been much that happened to us outside of our control. Our reflections should bring up our need for more from our lives, our need to grow, our need to be more grateful, our need to be more loving and kind.Yes our reflection should bring us to God, to his ways and to His heart—our existence began from Him and by Him (Gen 1-2). 

As we begin a new year we see that our hope for a bright future comes from His command, "Obey me"—out of His command comes a promise of great things, derived only from His hand and from His heart (Rom 8:28). His command is a sign of love.

He loves you and wants to share this love with you (Ps 117:2), let us go into His love together as we anticipate great and beautiful things for this year.

Happy New Year—another beginning, another opportunity to begin with comfort from our God. 

Merry Christmas, We look back to His birth and look forward to His return

Twas the night before Jesus came

There seems to be no greater story that fascinates us like the story of the birth of Jesus Christ. How does God become man…in the most unlikely way. In so many ways I think His return will happen in just the same way.

Although prophesied for hundreds and thousands of years before— (Gen 3:15, Mic 5:2, Isa 7:4, 14, Hos 11:1, Isa 9:6, 2 Sam 7:12-13, Ps 45:6-7)

He was received only by a handful, because He came in the most unlikely way for a king. 

However when He comes back the second time, He will be more recognizable because He will come back with a royal shout…(1 Thes 4:16, Rev 7)

not as a baby but as a warrior and king…with the government on His shoulder…called wonderful counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father and the prince of peace (Isa 9:6)

I think the celebration of Christmas brings to life the beautiful assurance of another kingdom—the Messianic Kingdom when God comes again to earth and becomes king over all the earth and lives with us and causes all things to become new (Zeph 3:29). 

…and He will reign on earth 1000 years before He destroys Satan, death and his enemies once and for all, bringing a new heaven and new earth to us…the world becomes perfect again and we who had believed in Him before our death or before His second coming, live happily ever after with God, this is how the world ends, what a comfort as you celebrate Christmas, knowing that it only gets better for those who will dare to believe in this Baby in a manger (Rev 20, 21, 22)

Outside of the Bible itself, this little beautiful poem allows us to envision the reality of Emmanuel—God with us…this time not as a Baby to be our Savior, but as a Warrior to be our King—"Twas the night before Jesus".

'Twas The Night Before Jesus Came'

written by Unknown Author

'Twas the night before Jesus came and all through the house

Not a creature was praying, not one in the house.

Their Bibles were lain on the shelf without care

In hopes that Jesus would not come there.

The children were dressing to crawl into bed.
Not once ever kneeling or bowing a head.
And Mom in her rocker with baby on her lap
Was watching the Late Show while I took a nap.

When out of the East there arose such a clatter.
I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash!

When what to my wondering eyes should appear
But angels proclaiming that Jesus was here.
With a light like the sun sending forth a bright ray 
I knew in a moment this must be THE DAY!

The light of His face made me cover my head
 It was Jesus! returning just like He had said.
And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth,
 I cried when I saw Him in spite of myself.

In the Book of Life which He held in His hand
 Was written the name of every saved man.
 He spoke not a word as He searched for my name;
 When He said "it's not here" my head hung in shame.

The people whose names had been written with love 
He gathered to take to His Father above.
With those who were ready He rose without a sound.
While all the rest were left standing around.

I fell to my knees, but it was too late;
 I had waited too long and thus sealed my fate.
 I stood and I cried as they rose out of sight;
 Oh, if only I had been ready tonight.

In the words of this poem the meaning is clear;
 The coming of Jesus is drawing near.
 There's only one life and when comes the last call
 We'll find that the Bible was true after all! 

[Just like He came as a baby—Christmas being the Pre-show; Please make Him Lord of your life and be ready for His second coming—the final show].

Merry Christmas to you all from Comfortnotes