A Word of Encouragement

February 23, 2026

PA086 - To the Very Edge

Grace, Hope & Peace, Friend;

As Moses was preparing the children of Israel to enter the promised land without him - God had banned him from entering himself (Numbers 20:12) - he recounted their experiences, from the time they were freed from slavery in Egypt, in the book of Deuteronomy.

After recounting his second trip up Mount Sinai to receive a replacement copy of the ten commandments, he wrote,

And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of 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, and to keep the Lord’s commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good?
	Deuteronomy 10:12-13

Obedience and love that is what God wants from us.

Everything that has ever existed or will ever exist belongs to God (Vs.14)

Yet the Lord set His affection on your fathers, to love them, and He chose their descendants after them, you over all the other peoples, as it is this day.
	Deuteronomy 10:15

Like the children of Israel, God loves us and set us free from slavery to Satan. (Romans 8:2 & John 8:31-32) So if the Son sets you free, you really will be free. (John 8:36) And Moses' advice to the children was,

Circumcise your heart, and do not stiffen your neck any longer
	Deuteronomy 10:16

Or, as the International Children's Bible puts it; Give yourselves to serving the Lord. Do not be stubborn any longer.

Moses' warning to the children of Israel - found later in Deuteronomy - can be applied to us too:

If your heart turns away and you will not obey, but allow yourself to be led astray and you worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you today that you will certainly perish. You will not prolong your days in the land where you are crossing the Jordan to enter and take possession of it.
	Deuteronomy 30:17-18

If we stubbornly refuse to love and obey Him, we cannot expect God to continue blessing us. He will discipline us to draw us back to Himself. Why? Because He loves us and knows that is what is best for us! (Jeremiah 29:11)

Avi HaRachamim - Father of mercies - Cleanse my heart to love and obey You.

Cleanse your hearts and stop being so stubborn! (Deuteronomy 30:16 (NET))