WHO DO YOU SHOW THE GREATEST ALLIANCE TO?-A MEMORIAL DAY DEVOTION

Deuteronomy 10:12-22 NASB

12 “Now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require from you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 and to keep the Lord’s commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good? 14 Behold, to the Lord your God belong heaven and the highest heavens, the earth and all that is in it. 15 Yet on your fathers did the Lord set His affection to love them, and He chose their descendants after them, even you above all peoples, as it is this day. 16 So circumcise your heart, and stiffen your neck no longer. 17 For the Lord your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God who does not show partiality nor take a bribe. 18 He executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and shows His love for the alien by giving him food and clothing. 19 So show your love for the alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt. 20 You shall fear the Lord your God; you shall serve Him and cling to Him, and you shall swear by His name. 21 He is your praise and He is your God, who has done these great and awesome things for you which your eyes have seen. 22 Your fathers went down to Egypt seventy persons in all, and now the Lord your God has made you as numerous as the stars of heaven.

My three year son taught me a very interesting lesson the other day. When he was two and a half he discovered the 1967 version of Spiderman. Then about two months ago he discovered Batman. Then a month ago he discovered Superman. As I was wondering through Wal-Mart the other day L spotted a cheap, but colorful cup with Spiderman on it, so I bought it. When we got home I washed it and presented it to him receiving a negative response that he no longer liked him. My mom had told me the same thing happened with some Spiderman plates she bought for him.  In that situation he informed her that Superman was his favorite. About thirty minutes. after the cup incident he was sitting watching Spiderman talking about how he was his favorite. It was a conflict of alliances.

As we read through Deuteronomy 10:12-22 we see that no such conflict was to exist with alliances in regard to Yawhew, the God of eternity.  There are several things in this passage which show the form of dedication that Yahweh expected from the Hebrews:  Speaking to them He uses the word require (v.12); He also states in verse 13 that He wants them to respect Him, walk with Him, love Him, and serve Him with all their being (existence) ; verse 14 brings out that they were to "keep" His commandments for their own good; they were implored in verse 16 to circumcise their hearts and warned not to stiffen their attitudes toward God's commandments; this nation of people were expected to cling to God according to verse 20; and in verses 21-22 they were expected to praise Him for all His goodness.

The reasons were given for this:  In verse 15 God states His love for them and choice of them; and He declares Himself as total LORD over all and greatness over everything in verse 17.

The question comes to beg for those of us today as to where our alliances belong. Do they belong to political parties?  Do they belong to some ridged ideology that shows no Biblical truth to it?  Are we given to the past unwilling to change?  Or so bent on the future we are unwilling to see the benefits of the past?

Today as we have remembered those who have fallen let's not forget the One who has given us life. Let's not forget how He sacrificed His life for us and then rose from the dead. Let's cling to Him.

Please contact me with for any speaking engagements you might be interested in having me speak.

His Servant Together With You,

Steven Swaim
President and Founder, Be Devoted Ministries

HELP NEEDED IN DISASTER RELIEF

Just a reminder; with all the disasters going on around us make sure you are careful about where you give money. Three basic groups who are safe to give to are the Red Cross, Texas Baptist Men, and Carter Blood Center. The Red Cross needs hard cold cash not supplies. Many groups like Walmart will donate or sell on a very low end supplies to the Red Cross. They know best what to get and how to get it. The Texas Baptist Men will go in and help some with relief recovery but also act as a place to supply warm meals for those who are working. They also supply needed counseling to those who request it. Last the Carter Blood Centers need your blood. At a moment like these blood shortages can happen quickly. So if you want to help contact one of these groups.

Remember when giving financially you will be helping not only Moore, Oklahoma but the residents of Shawnee, Oklahoma who were hit the night before by several twisters.  Also the people of Granbury and Cleburne, Texas are still in need of help from the tornado that hit last week. That is not to forget the good folks in West, Texas who are still suffering from the fertilizer plant explosion a month ago.

As always your prayers are needed. Below are the websites to go to to help out.

http://www.redcross.org
Text $10 donation to the Red Cross at 90999
Call with donations at 1-800-Red-Cross (1-800-733-27677)

http://www.texasbaptistmen.org/Donations

Thank you for your help,

Steven Swaim
President and Founder, Be Devoted Ministries

HOW SERIOUS DO YOU TAKE GOD?

"Moreover you shall make the tabernacle...the work of a skillful workman."

Exodus 26:1 (NASB)

As I'm reading through the book of Exodus chapters 22-31 three things struck me as God was giving Moses instructions about building the tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant. First He expected the very best. The very best from them; the very best of them; and the very best materials were to be used.  In fact this is true of everything that God would say to them from the sacrificing of the sheep to the way they would deal with each other.  While reading through these chapters I noticed that He always tells Moses what materials to use and how it is to be handled, what is to be used, how big it should be, and who should handle it.   God expected the very best of and from them on every level. In fact that has never changed.  God still expects us to give our very best.  The other thing was that they were to take it seriously. They were not to do it half-heartedly or as they wanted done. Finally they were to follow instructions. There was a way God wanted it done. Let ask you some questions:  How do you respond to God in your life?  Do you give Him your very best? Or do you give Him whatever is left over?  That's one good reason for going to church the first day of the week, we give Him all of us upfront. Then do you take Him seriously?  I mean how important is your life before God?  Last do you take time to read His word everyday and put it into action?  You see God expects the very best from us because through Jesus Christ's death on the cross and His resurrection He gave His very best for us.

Let me know what you think.

AS A REMINDER I DO ACCEPT SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS.  GET IN CONTACT WITH ME AT StevenSwaim@BeDevotedMinistries.com TO MAKE ALL NECESSARY ARRANGEMENTS.  WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU.

His Servant Together With You,

Steven Swaim

President and Founder, Be Devoted Ministries

All verses quoted are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB)