For What?

Daily Reading: Deuteronomy 6

Scripture Focus: He brought us out from there, that he might bring us in and give us the land. (Deuteronomy 6.23)

Devotional Thought: Have you ever stopped to think, "Why did God save me?" We know the motive was his great love. Moses, in Deuteronomy 6 however, provides insight to the purpose of God in saving us...

• To bring us out. The children of Israel were 'God's family.' God had 'adopted' Abraham generations before the Exodus. Over the course of time, however, the Israelites became slaves in Egypt. God saw their misery and was moved with compassion. He stretched out his hand to deliver them from that miserable existence. We see Jesus delivering people from miserable lives in the New Testament: sin, disease, exclusion, hardheartedness, selfishness and pride. Jesus saves us because his heart is moved with compassion at our plight.

• To bring us in. Deliverance from misery is not enough for the great love of God! He desired to bring them into abiding fellowship with him and with the other members of the family. God put the temple worship in place and he created a national identity around that worship. He even 'scheduled’ regular 'family reunions'! Jesus says of us, "Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother" (Mark 3.35). In 70's parlance, Jesus saves us to make us part of the 'in crowd'!

• To give us new life. Centuries before God delivered the Israelites out of the old life, he prepared a new land - a land that Abraham had purchased and possessed, a land flowing with milk and honey, a land full of promise. The Israelites often grumbled about going back to Egypt, but God wouldn't allow that. He had a new life in a new land for them. Jesus saves us so we can live a new life of victory, joy, peace, hope, and love!

Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for saving me from a life of sin and adopting me into your family. Help me to live with all the victory, joy, peace, hope and love that you provide! Amen

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 13.1-6

1 How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? 2 How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

3 Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death, 4 lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,” lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.

5 But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. 6 I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me.