FRIDAY, JULY 22
Scripture: Deuteronomy 4:5-13

Verses 5-13 says, “’Surely I have taught you statutes and judgments, just as the LORD my God commanded me, that you should act according to them in the land which you go to possess. Therefore be careful to observe them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes, and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.” ‘For what great nation is there that has God so near to it, as the LORD our God is to us, for whatever reason we may call upon Him? And what great nation is there that has such statutes and righteous judgments as are in all this law which I set before you this day? Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And teach them to your children and your grandchildren, especially concerning the day you stood before the LORD your God in Horeb, when the LORD said to me, “Gather the people to Me, and I will let them hear My words, that they may learn to fear Me all the days they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children.” ‘Then you came near and stood at the foot of the mountain, and the mountain burned with fire to the midst of heaven, with darkness, cloud, and thick darkness. And the LORD spoke to you out of the midst of the fire. You heard the sound of the words, but saw no form; you only heard a voice. So He declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to perform, the Ten Commandments; and He wrote them on two tablets of stone.” Moses reminds the people of the day that God assembled them and they heard with their own ears God’s righteous standard called the Ten Commandments. They knew God’s judicial code. They knew what God expected. They heard it with their own ears. How do we hear the Ten Commandments today? Do we hear it? Do we allow children to hear it? Or have we banned it from our schools and in some places, banned it from church? In many places, the church chooses not to judge righteous judgment. That is a choice that is made. When we attend a church where every message is on blessing, growth, development and never on the righteous standard of God, we have departed from the God of the Bible. Which standard will we choose?