College & Career: October- December 2019

By R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation

College and Career is the young adult quarterly directed toward students and young adults as they venture into the world of higher education and work. This quarterly is designed for young adults and stresses the issues and concerns of young Christians. The lessons are both challenging and rewarding, and they present practical approaches towards cur

• Language: English
• Publisher: R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation
• Release date: Sep 1, 2019
• ISBN: 9781681675510

Book preview

Focal Scripture: Deuteronomy 4:1–8, 12–13 • Background Scripture: Deuteronomy 4:1–14; 5:1–21

LET’S GET STARTED . . .

As followers of Jesus Christ, we desire to live for Him. One of the key elements to maintaining an intimate walk with Jesus is obedience. In today’s lesson, we will learn about the importance of obedience. Moses received the Ten Commandments from God at Mount Sinai. God spoke His commands and then wrote them on tablets of stone. He commanded Moses to teach His commands. Moses urged the Israelites to obey God, and to teach their children to obey God. In Deuteronomy 4 we learn the blessings of obedience and the consequences of disobedience. When we obey God, we inherit the pleasure of His companionship and all of the blessings He has for us.

REMEMBER THIS . . .

. . . That ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.

(Deuteronomy 4:2b, KJV)

What You’ll Need . . .

God’s Promises Bible, Deuteronomy 4:1–8, 12–13; Boyd’s Commentary for the Sunday School

Get into the Lesson . . .

1. LEAVE IT JUST AS IT IS

(DEUTERONOMY 4:1–4)

God delivered the children of Israel from 400 years of slavery and living in Egypt. During their Egyptian bondage, they adopted many of the practices of worshiping pagan gods. It was important for them to learn who God is, and the conditions for a right relationship with Him. Throughout their journey to the Promised Land of Canaan, many held on to the pagan worship of idols. As a result, those who were disobedient by worshiping Baal, died in the desert. Today’s modern-day culture values personal freedoms to indulge carnal desires without regard for God’s standards for righteousness. God is clear about His requirements for a right relationship with Him. Be holy for I am holy (1 Peter 1:16, NIV). Our greatest expression of love for God is our obedience. It is always better to be obedient to God than to do our own thing. Obedience is better than sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22). Poor choices often cost us more than we are willing to pay. God’s desire is complete surrender to Him. Those who surrender to Christ will enjoy the pleasure of His companionship in a right relationship with the Lord.

Many of the children of Israel died on the way to the Promised Land because they did not believe God enough to obey Him. They died without taking possession of their promise! How catastrophic it was to die in the wilderness just a few miles from a land flowing with milk and honey. There is a price that we pay when we disobey. Often times we trade temporary gratification for long-term fulfillment. We can be so close to the fulfillment of the promises of God, and yet be so far from receiving it because of disobedience. During the journey to the Promised Land, a new generation rose up. They witnessed the death of the previous generation who died before getting to the Promised Land. Those who died forfeited the blessed life of freedom because of their disobedience. Moses urged the people who were still alive because they obeyed God to continue obeying the law of God. He warned them that God’s law is not to be played with, changed, distorted, or even put in our own words. Moses would agree with the phrase used much today, God said it, that settles it. Essentially, Moses emphasized the importance of obeying God and doing exactly what He says. In order for this new generation to cross over into the Promised Land and take possession of it, they needed to be careful to do all that God wanted them to do. Moses urged them to just obey the commands of the Lord your God (4:2). This word is still true for us today. Do not add to God’s word; do not take away from God’s word. Hear it. Receive it. Do it. Moses took the time to teach the new generation of believers how to have a good relationship with God, so that they could enter and occupy the Promised Land. Moses’ warning teaches us that obedience helps us to inherit the promises of God and enjoy His presence.

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2. OBEYING GOD OPENS DOORS

(DEUTERONOMY 4:5–8)