Power for Living
Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 33:1-5, 26-29
"Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord?"
Deuteronomy 33:29
Positive thinking has transformed the lives of men and women in all stations of life. Its power lies in the ordinary ability of people to take control of their situations. Once you learn about this basic wisdom, it seems obvious that negative thoughts deplete personal energy. But then wisdom is always obvious to the wise, isn't it?
You'd think positive thinking might have been tremendously helpful to Israel, a pea-sized nation in the midst of vast, powerful empires that used their own brand of positive thinking to intimidate others. For example, the field commander of the great Assyrian army once wrote to the king of Judah, "Has the god of any nation ever delivered his land from the hand of the king of Assyria?" (2 Kings 18:33). But then an angel of the Lord visited the Assyrian camp and put to death 185,000 soldiers (19:35). All it took was for King Hezekiah of Judah to place the letter of positive Assyrian thinking before the Lord (19:14).
God's people are nothing special, except for their Lord and the power of his blessing. That's what is needed. "Blessed are you, O Israel!" declares Moses. "Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord?"
Do you want power for living? Seek the blessing of the God who sent the Lord Jesus Christ. It's positively transforming-and the wisest thing to do.
Thank you, Lord, for blessing your people. As we live amid the pressures of worldly powers, help us to be wise, seeking the transforming power of your Holy Spirit. In Christ, Amen.
About the author — Arie C. Leder
Dr. Arie C. Leder is the Martin J. Wyngaarden Senior Professor of Old Testament Studies at Calvin Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He previously served as pastor at Ebenezer Christian Reformed Church, Trenton, Ontario, and with Christian Reformed World Missions in Latin America. He teaches courses on the Pentateuch and on historical books of the Old Testament.
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