I finished reading this Chapter, Deuteronomy 13, and as I was getting my first cup of coffee, I couldn’t help but pray how can I blog about this? What was the point?

Recently I have been experiencing how wonderful it is when I am gathered with people of like mind; community of those who love God and long to draw closer to Him whether in person or on our Zoom community. This morning I realized how much blessing has been poured into me by the Holy Spirit leading me to fellowship, to compassion, to love for God and love for others.

There isn’t much love or understanding in this Chapter of God’s mercy. I don’t mean from God. I mean from the warning He gave about others who would seek to turn anyone away from God to worship false gods because that path led to destruction in their lives. Then all Israel will hear and be afraid, and no one among you will do such an evil thing again. v. 11. God was instructing them to destroy utterly anyone or any town given over to worshipping false gods. Sounds harsh, right?

We know Israel failed in that. We know from watching our news in any country the evil that is done. Somehow realizing all the evil helps us understand God’s mercy toward us. He was trying to protect them just as He is protecting us now. It’s all about the heart. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:5-11.

No longer any false worshipping. Community with God the Father, Jesus our Lord and Savior and the Holy Spirit guiding and comforting us. Everything in its own season of time. Jesus, our Creator God, Who we read about in Deuteronomy 13, humbled Himself and became human to show us how to love the Father and He faithfully lived every word He taught. He did that for us. Why? To show the Father’s mercy. For all of us. He’s opening understanding through His Spirit and we can drink in the beauty of His love and mercy for everyone. We can be loved by Him and learn to love others as He helps us. All of that leading to one day no one among you will do such an evil thing again. No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more. Hebrews 8:11-12. Thank you, Lord, for so great a love! For such great mercy!