Deuteronomy 13-15

Deuteronomy 13 is about how passionate for purity we should be. God says that if we discover any false prophets that we should put them to death. I don't think that this is something that God expects from us now, but I think that he does expect us to not be around people who are trying to preach something besides Jesus as truth. How will we know if it is a false prophet? He just showed us a miraculous sign, after all. If he says "Let us follow other gods." I have recently been made aware of someone in my office who is a Mormon. This seems to me the classic example of something that kind of looks Christian, but adds to it and tries to entice people to worship other gods, so to speak. In response to this, I've been trying to do some google research on the beliefs of the Mormons. I'm going to try looking in some places besides the internet, but in the meantime I'll just pray often.

Deuteronomy 15 shows God's passion for taking care of the people around us. He talks about how important it is to take care of the poor.

Deuteronomy 15:10-11 Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.

I've had to really examine my own attitudes toward the poor. Having rental property I do run into poor people. They tell me all kinds of stories of why they can't pay rent. They try to deceive me and take advantage of me and it doesn't feel good. I don't want to be generous with them because then they've won, I've taught them how to take advantage. The Bible says not to think of it that way. Don't worry so much if you're being taken advantage of. Our responsibility is to take care of the poor. They know when they ask for a loan and it's almost the year of Jubilee that they won't be required to repay. The poor of that day also knew how to work the system. God didn't say to try to teach them a lesson in hard work, he says in verse 7 and 8"Do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother. Rather be openhanded and freely lend him whatever he needs." and then in verse 10 "Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to."

God knows that this person won't repay you, but what you're doing is good so He will repay you.

People above money - Lord open my eyes around me to people in need and help me not to be tightfisted with them.