In Deuteronomy 3-4, we see that the Lord delivers, but He also instructs. It’s not just about God showing up for us in battles or challenging situations. He also wants us to keep His word and pass it on to future generations. Moses emphasized this by consistently reminding the people to diligently teach their children who God is and what He has done.
At the core of it, the passage from Deuteronomy reminds us that God’s deliverance is more than celebrating the big wins; it’s about living according to His instructions even after the victory comes. This mirrors the purpose of Christ’s death; he died for us so we could live for him.
On the other hand, Acts 15:3-21 shows how the early church was moving away from religion and rigid rules toward grace and freedom in Christ. After they had recorded the salvation among the Gentiles, some sects of former Pharisees in the Church wanted to enforce the law of circumcision.
However, the Apostles rose to refute this to prevent adding extra burden on those who receive the gospel. As the traditions didn’t serve God’s new direction. This is a reminder that God isn’t interested in making faith difficult. Instead, He invites us into a relationship based on love, not endless rules.
Prayer: Lord help me to always live for you.
Today’s reading
Deuteronomy 3-4
Then we turned and went up the road to Bashan; and Og king of Bashan came out against us, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei.
And the Lord said to me, ‘Do not fear him, for I have delivered him and all his people and his land into your hand; you shall do to him as you did to Sihon, king of the Amorites, who dwelt at Heshbon.’
“So the Lord our God also delivered into our hands Og king of Bashan, with all his people, and we attacked him until he had no survivors remaining.
Acts 15: 3-21
So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren.
And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them.
But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”