“And you shall make response before the LORD your God, ‘A wandering Aramean was my father. And he went down into Egypt and sojourned there, few in number, and there he became a nation, great, mighty, and populous. Deuteronomy 26:5 (ESV)
When we give to the Lord out of the harvest, which for many of us would be our wages from our employment rather than food from our fields, we should do so in response and recognition of Gods goodness and faithfulness in blessing us to have something to give. We should give sacrificially (not out of what is left) and joyfully (not out of mere duty).
And you shall rejoice in all the good that the LORD your God has given to you and to your house, you, and the Levite, and the sojourner who is among you. Deuteronomy 26:11 (ESV)
When we give to the Lord it really should be springing up out of a heart of gratitude and joy. We should give to the Lord gladly and get joy from giving to him. 2 Corinthians 9:7 says Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
“ ‘Cursed be anyone who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’ Deuteronomy 27:26 (ESV)
The people showed their agreement, recognition and understanding of the curses proclaimed for sin, rebellion and disobedience. Amen essentially means surely or truly so by saying Amen, the people said yes Lord we agree. We should say amen to the warnings and promises of Gods word today. Jesus is our great Amen, making all God’s promises sure. See 2 Corinthians 1:20 and Revelation 3:14
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? (2 Corinthians 6:14, ESV)
This is an important verse the we need to take heed to, it is not saying that we should have no association with unbelievers at all but it is saying binding relationships say in Marriage and other ares of life like worship and business will not work between believers and unbelievers and so should not be pursued. We should not compromise.
M J Harris (2008, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary) makes the following useful paraphrase “Do not form any relationship, whether temporary or permanent, with unbelievers that would lead to a compromise of Christian standards or would jeopardize consistency of Christian witness. And why such separation? Because the unbeliever does not share the Christian’s standards, sympathies, or goals.”
Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God. 2 Corinthians 7:1 (ESV)
Each of us has personal responsibility before God in light of all the promises of his word and the fact that our bodies have become Gods temple. We need to actively pursue our own sanctification, we should not drift into compromise.
God makes us holy in Jesus (1 Corinthians 1:30, 2 Thessalonians 2:13) but then we must complete and maintain that holiness as we walk with the Lord each day (1 Corinthians 7:34, 1 Thessalonians 4:1–8, Romans 6:19). One day God will bring holiness to full completion for us (1 Thessalonians 3:13).
I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.” Psalm 40:8 (ESV)
This speaks of messiah (in fact the whole psalm does too), see John 4:34. This also applies to us as believers, we should say this too that we delight to do God’s will, we should find joy in doing his will, we must even delight in doing his will it should not be drudgery.
The practical way to do this is to have his law in our hearts, he is the one who writes it on our hearts but we grow, sustain and cultivate it by reading, studying and meditating upon his word.
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