Living It Out: Daily Bible Reading Plan Oct 4—Deuteronomy 1-3 4—Daily Bible Study

TUESDAY — God’s Perseverance Big Point: God perseveres on our behalf in order to bring us to where He wants us to be.

Perseverance is that quality which enables you to keep on moving towards your goal in spite of every obstacle, difficulty, doubt, discouragement and opposi- tion. A person who perseveres does not stop till he or she reaches their goal. Have you ever pondered that God not only tells us in His Word to persevere, but that He actually is persevering Himself? When we are born again, we receive the promised indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit that is God’s guarantee that He who began a good work in us will complete it (Philippians 1:6). In order for us to lose our salvation after receiving the promised Holy Spirit, God would have to break His promise or renege on His “guarantee,” which He can- not do. Therefore, the believer is eternally secure because God is eternally faithful.

READ…What does the Bible say? Philippians 1:6 (New International Version) Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

2 Thessalonians 3:5 (New International Version) May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.

1 Timothy 1:16 (New International Version) But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.

THINK…Find the answers Read Philippians 1:6. If you are a Christ-follower, what assurance does this verse have for you?

Jesus persevered through a demanding schedule. In the midst of healing multi- tudes, casting away demons and performing other miracles, he found time to spend with God in prayer, and also to teach the disciples. It was a calling that would have frightened us—yet He kept on moving ahead to reach the goal of the cross. Why did Jesus push through in order to accomplish God’s will for humanity?

In 1 Timothy 1:16, why does Jesus show patience toward us even when we sin?

5—Daily Bible Study

LIVE…What will you do now? God’s Perseverance… Review today’s introductory story. What do you under- F.B. Myer years ago stand about God’s perseverance and how that impacts wrote, "We go into the your life as a Christ-follower? artist's studio and find there unfinished pictures covering large canvas and Sometimes our sin can be such a heavy burden that suggesting great designs but which have been left we feel unworthy of Christ’s love and forgiveness. If either because the genius this reflects how you feel, write down what you are was not competent to feeling or thinking right now. Prepare yourself to take complete the work or be- your concerns to God, reread 1 Timothy 1:16 as you cause paralysis laid the do so. hand low in death.

But as we go into God's great workshop we find PRAY…God, What do you want me to nothing that bears the mark of haste or insuffi- know & do? ciency of power to finish, Spend some time with God and talk to Him about your and we are sure that the struggles, your doubts, and your fears. Ask Him to work which His grace has help you persevere and go forward knowing that He is begun, the arm of His with you and helping you along the way. strength, will complete."

DAILY BIBLE READING COMMENTARY: Deuteronomy 1-3 Deuteronomy is the "Upper Desert Discourse", a series of farewell speeches by , much like the Upper Room Discourse was Jesus' farewell speech to his dis- ciples. Deuteronomy completes the books of Moses. The Jewish people have called it Mishneh Hattorah, which means "Repetition of the Law". The Greek translation of the Old Testament (the Septuagint) named the book, To Deuteronomion Touto, which means "This Second Law". The English title is derived from the Greek word Deuteronomion. The key word in this book is "remember.” 1:2 "eleven-day journey from Horeb to Kadesh Barnea by way of Mount Seir. An eleven day journey was about 140 miles or 233 km. Horeb is another name for Si- nai. Mount Seir is synonymous with Edom. 1:6 "Negev" or some translations "Negeb" means "desert" or "south". Refers to the valley between Dead Sea and Gulf of Aqaba. (To get a feel for the terrain of Israel check out Google Earth. It will help with the many references to valleys, moun- tains and hill country.) 1:28 and 2:11 "Anakites" and "Rephaites". A race referred to in Genesis 14:5, Numbers 13:33 and four times in Deuteronomy. King of Bashan was a Rephaite. His bed was 13 feet long and 6 feet wide and made of iron, a rarity. 1:34-46 Moses clarifies for that this was their second chance. Forty years earlier their parents and grandparents rebelled against God. 1:39 "...and your children, who as yet do not know good from bad.” This is a fig- ure of speech called a “merism” (suggesting a whole by referring to its extreme opposites). Another example is Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil in the Gar- den of Eden. A young child is characterized by lack of knowledge. 2:9 "descendants of Lot" Lot fathered two sons, and (Genesis 19:30 -38). 3:17 "the Salt Sea" Another name for the Dead Sea.