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| Let's Make a Deal |
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Have you ever made a deal with God? Have you ever made a vow with Him? What is the difference?
In our Beth Moore bible study that we are doing this summer at our church, we have one week to go and we will be finished. It has been an interesting study thus far. This past week we talked about vows and how important they are to keep.
In the following scripture, you can read of a story about making vows…
9:14 So the men partook of their provisions, and did not ask direction from the LORD. 9:15 And Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them, to let them live; and the leaders of the congregation swore to them. 9:16 At the end of three days after they had made a covenant with them, they heard that they were their neighbors, and that they dwelt among them. 9:17 And the people of Israel set out and reached their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, Chephi'rah, Be-er'oth, and Kir'iath-je'arim. 9:18 But the people of Israel did not kill them, because the leaders of the congregation had sworn to them by the LORD, the God of Israel. Then all the congregation murmured against the leaders. 9:19 But all the leaders said to all the congregation, "We have sworn to them by the LORD, the God of Israel, and now we may not touch them. 9:20 This we will do to them, and let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we swore to them." 9:21 And the leaders said to them, "Let them live." So they became hewers of wood and drawers of water for all the congregation, as the leaders had said of them.
When we take a vow and God is our witness to it, then we should do our best to keep that vow. As Beth Moore says, "We don't live in a society which supports the seriousness of long-term vows, but we live under the heavenly authority Who does."
During our discussion time yesterday for this bible study, one lady told of a very good friend of hers. This lady's husband was not a Christian. Apparently she asked God to help him become a Christian, and told God that she would "do anything" in order for that to happen. It wasn't too long after this that she was diagnosed with cancer, and shortly after that her husband accepted Jesus. This lady died this past week, but she went knowing her husband was saved. Did she make a vow to God, or did she make a deal with Him? Or was it just a coincidence that she got cancer and her husband was saved?
I was always taught that we shouldn't try to bargain with God, or in other words, make a deal with Him. "God if you will just (insert your wish here), I will do whatever you want me to do." God might just take us up on the request! Will we really be prepared to do whatever it is He wants us to do in order to give us that "thing" that we so desperately want?
This woman was ready to give her life in order for her husband to be saved. How many of us would be willing to do that? How many of us would be willing to give up our erternity in Heaven so that someone else could be saved? Thankfully, God does not ask us to give up our time in Heaven to save others. But if that were the case, would you be able to?
15:13 Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Can we make deals with God? Is it even wise to do so? And when we make a vow, how do we keep it? The most often made vow is that of marriage, made before God and man, and yet, there are so many that don't keep those vows. Pray that God will help you keep the vows that you make. If you have made vows, then ask God to help you keep them. When vows are broken, repent and recommit to God.
For myself, I take seriously my vow of marriage, and my committment to the Lord. It wasn't always that way, and I regret that now, but I don't intend to let it become unimportant ever again. These two things are the most important things to me, and they are what life is about. God help me to keep my vows and my committments.
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Val |
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August 16, 2007 at 9:15am |
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| Awesome blog, once again friend!!! |
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Deb |
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August 16, 2007 at 10:16am |
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| Thanks Val, and it is so great to have you back on MyChurch and commenting! Missed you girl! |
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Val |
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August 16, 2007 at 10:55am |
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| Thanks! It's good to be back with my brothers and sisters in Christ! Amen!!! |
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Deb,
We may make deals with God, but he doesn't make deals with us nor does he enter into them. He knows human nature too well. No, the arrangements God enters into with us are pretty one-sided affairs -- entirely in our favor (praise Him!). (See Gen.15) Vows are promises. They vary in seriousness. Marriage vows are sacred, but the vow one makes to quit smoking isn't expected to be followed through.
Good thoughts. I hope your Beth Moore study was profitable.
God bless,
~mike |
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Sue |
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August 16, 2007 at 9:03pm |
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| Amen Sister! |
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Deb |
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August 17, 2007 at 8:44am |
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Mike, thanks for your comments! Yes, the Beth Moore study has been very enlightening! I think she is a great teacher of the bible.
Sue, I guess that means you agree? :) |
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I loved the quote, ""We don't live in a society which supports the seriousness of long-term vows, but we live under the heavenly authority Who does."
Excellent Blog Post! |
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Deb |
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August 18, 2007 at 5:24am |
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| Thanks Pastor Tim! I thought that was a good quote too. The heavenly authority is the one that counts! |
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