For years, I’ve made it a habit to underline and highlight parts of scripture I read. In Deuteronomy 12, I have highlighted three passages that are important for reflection and prayer.
You might find these passages speak to you, too.
I first highlighted a verse that speaks to allowing our lives to be determined by our own desires.
“You shall not act as we are acting here today, all of us according to our own desires” (Deuteronomy 12:8).
One of my friends once told me, “My own best thinking is out to kill me.” He struggled with addiction all his life and knew that his desires were destructive.
Peter captures the proper attitude toward being controlled by our desires.
Like obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires that you formerly had in ignorance.
Instead, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct, for it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:14-16).
It may be very difficult, but we have the ability to choose not to let our desires control our behavior. We can always ask God to help us live a Jesus-kind-of-life and be holy like His Son.
The Right Kind of Life
Imagine with me a YouTube channel that guaranteed a good life for you and your family with a money back guarantee. Would you be willing to take the presenter’s direction?
Better than a YouTube personality, God tells His followers that if we follow His guidance, life will go well for us and our children.
“Be careful to obey all these words that I command you, so that it may go well with you and with your children after you forever, because you will be doing what is good and right in the sight of the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 12:28).
What is tragic is that thousands of people take advice from YouTube influencers, but refuse to follow God’s basic directions for life.
If you are following my blog articles and our YouTube videos on the Bible by reading the Bible along with us, you can do something with God’s direction.
When you read a passage in the Bible that gets your attention, make a note about it. Then, devote your prayer time to that issue. Ask God to enable you to be victorious in this aspect of your life.
I recently read the words of a Catholic saint who recommended asking God for mercy every time a temptation arose that had the potential of leading him away from his relationship with the Lord.
What if you combined what you learn from the Bible with quick prayers for help in the midst of temptation? I think you will find this a far better prescription for a good life than a YouTube personality’s advice.
Imitate the Best – Not the Worst
Just as a piece of meat absorbs the flavors of its marinade, we are all influenced by the culture around us. This influence is unavoidable, but needs to be resisted. Below is God’s counsel to the Israelites.
“When the Lord your God has cut off before you the nations whom you are about to enter to dispossess them, when you have dispossessed them and live in their land,
Take care that you are not snared into imitating them, after they have been destroyed before you; do not inquire concerning their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods? I also want to do the same.’
You must not do the same for the Lord your God, because every abhorrent thing that the Lord hates they have done for their gods. They would even burn their sons and their daughters in the fire to their gods.
You must diligently observe everything that I command you; do not add to it or take anything from it” (Deuteronomy 12:29-31).
To me, the most pertinent aspect of these words is not to be snared into imitating the practices of the surrounding world. John shows us how to limit the influence of the world’s system on our spiritual lives.
Do not love the world or the things in the world. The love of the Father is not in those who love the world, for all that is in the world—the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride in riches—comes not from the Father but from the world (1 John 2:15-16).
I have found four applications of John’s wisdom.
(1) Make a conscious effort to love God above any influence from the world’s system.
(2) The “flesh” is that aspect of our lives that seeks to live independently of God. We will come closer to overcoming the flesh if we fill our lives with a deep and consistent relationship with God.
(3) One excellent way to avoid being influenced by our culture is to be careful with what we see. If we feel our spiritual life dimming while watching media, that’s a good sign to find something else to view.
(4) The utmost expression of pride is the man or woman who believes they know more than God. The accumulation of material possessions may add to our sense of pride.
As we live in a humble relationship with God, we will come closer to avoiding the kind of pride that quenches our life in the Spirit.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today.
Real Voices 