March 20th

Deuteronomy 29:2-31:29

Moses gave his final words of instruction to the people of Israel. At 120 years old, he still had a great deal of fervor and passion in his heart, but it was time to pass the baton to Joshua. Thus, we read of Joshua’s commissioning before the Lord at the tent of meeting. But the question is, what would Moses say to the people of Israel, if he knew that his days on earth were over and that he would not get to cross the Jordan River into Canaan?

First, Moses implored them to “be strong and courageous when fighting against the various Canaanite tribes. He reminded them that it was God who was going before them to defeat their enemies, so they should not be afraid (31:3-8). Second, Moses instructed Israel “to assemble every seventh year, to hear the words of the law read aloud, so that every person may hear and know the laws of God, and so that they may fear Him and be careful to observe all of His words” (31:9-13).

Moses’ words to Israel are a good strategy for living the Christian life today. First and foremost, God and His Word should be the foundation on which we build our lives, on which we pledge our success, on which we determine the direction of our future. The Scriptures should be the lens through which we view everything. Thus, we are to take “every thought captive” to what the Bible says.

Second, in light of the confidence we have in God and His Word, we are to face life with all its worries, its “giants,” and its trials with the strength and courage that only the Lord can provide. We should neither fear nor be dismayed, knowing that the Lord our God is always with us and is always for us.

Be strong and courageous! That is a fantastic one-two punch! We become strong through God’s Word and His Spirit who indwells us and, because of our faith and confidence in Him, we are courageous. If God is for us, then who can be against us? His enemies will not succeed.

Daily Reflection

How are you doing with getting into the Word and letting the Word get into you? Are you, on a regular basis, reminding yourself of who God is, what He’s done, and what He expects of you? Explain.

What “giants” cause you to fret and worry? Are you facing them with strength and courage? Why or why not?

If you rely upon your own strength, your own wisdom, or other sources, you will grow weak and lose confidence to face your circumstances. Only the Lord can provide what you need to live a life of victory. “Do not fear, for I am with you. Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. Surely I will help you. Surely, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10 NASB).

BiAY.org | Day 79 — 286 Days to Go