Awesome. Thanks, Josh. Greetings from Korea everyone! Miss you all~
On 2013. 11. 18., at 오전 11:50, Josh Song <josh@songgroupinc.com> wrote:
Hello everyone. We missed some of you today but wanted to make sure to share today's awesome message with you. Enjoy!
A blessed life - (Deuteronomy 27:11-19 NIV)
On the same day Moses commanded the people: When you have crossed the Jordan, these tribes shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph and Benjamin. And these tribes shall stand on Mount Ebal to pronounce curses: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan and Naphtali. The Levites shall recite to all the people of Israel in a loud voice: “Cursed is anyone who makes an idol—a thing detestable to the Lord, the work of skilled hands—and sets it up in secret.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!” “Cursed is anyone who dishonors their father or mother.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!” “Cursed is anyone who moves their neighbor’s boundary stone.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!” “Cursed is anyone who leads the blind astray on the road.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!” “Cursed is anyone who withholds justice from the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!” (Deuteronomy 27:11-19 NIV)
You may be asking why we just read these blessings and curses but I want to remind you of how forgetful Gods chosen people (Israelites) were. They received God's promise of a land which would flow with abundance and that their children would number as many as the grains of sand.
But isn't that also very true about us? God has given us so many things and promised us the greatest of gifts which is eternal life and yet we are also very forgetful of these gifts.
Why do you think this happens? For Israelites, they forgot about God's
blessings because of something called 'choice'. Let me explain...
Even though God gave Adam and Eve the Garden of Eden, a paradise where they didn't have to worry about anything, they were given the choice to eat of the fruit of the tree in the center of the garden. The Israelites were given the promised land but given the choice to follow the commandments given to them by God through Moses.
In the same way, we have been given the opportunity to choose to receive Jesus Christ as our Savior.
However, in all three circumstances, it is very easy for us to make the wrong choices. Adam made the wrong choice by eating of the fruit from the forbidden tree, the Israelites made the wrong choice by making idols, and we make the wrong choice by trying to follow the things of this world over our Savior.
This is the reason why God gives us these reminders. So that we can actively acknowledge what it is that God wants us to do.
God wants us to:
1) Not make idols. This includes money, power, fame, anything that puts itself above God as our priority. God needs to be our #1 priority.
2) Honor our parents. Respect them as we will one day be parents.
3) Don't want things that belong to others. This is also called coveting something that belongs to another person. Be content and happy with what you have.
4) Be kind and honest to your neighbors. This basically means to treat others as you want to be treated.
This all seems simples but as we all know, WE FORGET all too easily.
So let's take this time to remind ourselves....again:)
Have a blessed week everyone!
Joshua Song
<Day One Entry.pdf>
