Living Carefully
“Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today” – Deuteronomy 8:1
This morning while reading Scripture, I had one of those times when I intended to read an entire chapter, but couldn’t get out of the first verse. In fact, I didn’t even finish the first verse. All I saw was, Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today. And what struck me hard was the word “today.”
Yes, I know that this chapter is referring to all the commands that God gave the children of Israel. However, there are still those commands that God is giving me for today which apply only for today.
I’ve often found that God will bring a sense to my spirit that something significant is going to happen and I need to be ready for it. Sometimes, He indicates that I need to be ready to encourage someone. And sure enough, He will bring someone across my path that needs just such a word.
Other times, I’ll have a sense that I’ll need to show an extra amount of patience or love. One time I was called to minister at a small church. Before I arrived there, I sensed God speak to my spirit. “Jim, be careful with these people, for they are the least of these.” And I knew exactly what God was saying. He was warning me that these people were the like those in Matthew 25 – hungry, thirsty, sick and in prison. They were the type of people our society overlooks, for we’re too busy following the next American Idol or whatever beautiful or handsome person is the talk of the week. I knew I could have harmed them with my words if I wasn’t careful, and God was telling me that the way I treated them would be the way I treated Him. It is God’s word today that I am still conscious of keeping.
However, there is another aspect of the word “today” that bothers me. Sometimes I tend to choose which commandments I’m going to obey today and which ones I’ll put off until a more convenient time. Patience can be one of those commands. I know I’m not supposed to lose my cool with that person who is really getting under my skin, but at this point, I’d rather ask forgiveness than permission. And after the incident is over, is it any wonder God remains silent?
This passage reminds me that I need to live more carefully than I ever have before. As I grow older and my area of influence in people’s lives grows wider, I must remind myself to put away childish things. What the Lord tolerated from Jim a few years ago is not something He tolerates today. Today He is commanding me to obey all His commandments, not just some of them. The blessings promised by God are contingent on my acceptance of all of His Word, necessitating I view Scripture as if all of it is a single, integrated command. For there is only one God and one Word, who is Christ, “the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). Today I have heard have heard His voice, and I will not harden my heart (Psalm 95:8).
Thinking Out Loud 
Amen. The road is getting narrower the higher I climb. Do I choose self over intimacy with Him? Sometimes. Ick.
Thank you – Beth
What a good post, one I need to reflect on. Truly I have never looked at it this way, what is God giving me “today?” Yes, it is true we are to obey all His commands daily, but I do believe in thinking about this, there is something He gives to each and every one of us daily to do, be it from the smallest to the biggest.
I told God this morning, “I could spend all day with you God.” Maybe I was stating out loud what He is wanting me to do, today.
I think I will spend this day thinking about and holding dear to my heart, all the things God has done for me. How He has enriched and blessed my life.
Thank you again, God Bless, Sandy
Sandy,
Thanks for your encouraging word. Remembering what God has done is the best way to increase our faith in what He is going to do.
Blessings,
Jim
Hey Jim. What do you think about “quench the Spirit”?
Archie,
I do not mean to be the ignorant here and I probably am, but I have never heard that term in my life. What is “quench the Spirit?” Could you please give me some Scripture on it? I would like to read it as I was completely dumbfounded when I read that phrase. Not saying it is not true, I just have no idea what it means.
Thanks so much, Sandy
Arch,
I think it happens all the time, even in Pentecostal settings.
Sandy,
Archie is referring to 1 Thessalonians 5:19, where the KJV says, “Quench not the Spirit.” The NIV says, “Do not put out the Spirit’s fire,” and the NLT says “Do not stifle the Holy Spirit.” Many believe that Paul is warning against a mechanical attitude toward worship that discourages the expression of the gifts of the Spirit in the local assembly, which is hinted at in verse 20. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 1:7, “Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.” I believe that all the spiritual gifts the early Church had, including the ascension or ministry gifts of Eph. 4, are still at work in the Church today. Not allowing those gifts to work, or prohibiting people from using those gifts for God’s glory, is a way of “quenching the Spirit” who desires to move among us in a variety of ways for the glory of God.
I hope this helps.
Jim
Thanks Jim that helped a whole lot. When you stated “Do not put out the Spirit’s fire” I knew then what you meant. That one I have heard.
I do agree that I think we do it all the time. I know I have done it in my own life. Most of it was due to me not letting Him work through maybe at that particular moment if that makes any sense?
Maybe it was because I became shy at doing something or I had to think, “Is this really the Holy Spirit or my own thinking.” A lot of times in that question if I am not sure I think to myself, “Better to wait and let the Lord confirm it is Him, then act and it not be?” In my waiting sometimes I miss a chance to do what I was called to do at the moment. By the way what do you think about that? When we become unsure of, “Is it God or is it me?” Then it turns out to be God and I do nothing. I am bad about that, for I fear if I do something and it is not of God, then I have hurt God, and being Catholic that brings up all kinds of things I have to do:>) if you know what I mean. It is truly not just about that, I do not ever want to get ahead of God.
Just a question. Thanks for your help, Sandy
Sandy,
“I fear if I do something and it is not of God, then I have hurt God.” Yeah, I understand. However, I learned many years ago that my sins were not omnipotent. Thomas Merton wrote about God being more pleased with our desire to obey Him than in our actual ability to do so. There are times to wait on God and discern His directions, especially when the stakes are high if you missed Him, such as moving to a different city, taking a new job or a new spouse! At other times, God has given us general directions that He wants us to obey, even if we don’t know where it will lead. Ultimately, God wants you to walk closely to Him. It’s all about relationship. Fortunately, God knows our decisions before we’ve even made them, so He’s never disappointed when we make a mistake, nor does He love us more when we accurately follow His steps.
Blessings,
Jim