Acknowledge That The LORD Is God

For ask now about former ages, long before your own, ever since the day that God created human beings on the earth; ask from one end of heaven to the other; has anything so great as this ever happened or has its like ever been heard of? Has any people ever heard the voice of a god speaking out of a fire, as you have heard, and lived? Or has any god ever attempted to go and take a nation for himself from the midst of another nation, by trials, by signs and wonders, by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and by terrifying displays of power, as the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your very eyes? To you it was shown so that you would acknowledge that the LORD is God; there is no other besides him. From heaven he made you hear his voice to discipline you. On earth he showed you his great fire, while you heard his words coming out of the fire. And because he loved your ancestors, he chose their descendants after them. He brought you out of Egypt with his own presence, by his great power, driving out before you nations greater and mightier than yourselves, to bring you in, giving you their land for a possession, as it is still today. So acknowledge today and take to heart that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other. Keep his statutes and his commandments, which I am commanding you today for your own well-being and that of your descendants after you, so that you may long remain in the land that the LORD your God is giving you for all time.

Deuteronomy 4:32-40

God never threatens and the devil never warns. Threats are sometimes used to get people to do what is in our best interest. Warnings are given to get people to do what is in their best interest. In other words, threats seek to preserve power whereas warnings serve to protect people from danger.

In loving relationships, people warn one another of the inevitable consequences of foolish behavior. In unhealthy relationships, people threaten each other with punishment if they fail to live up to unreasonable demands.

As we interact with others, it is good to consider the nature of our counsel and commands. Do we use ultimatums to preserve our own well-being. Or do we lovingly warn others to keep them from harm?

Warnings are an expression of love;

threats are an expression of control.

Our Daily Bread – February 20, 2008