<style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }</style>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">“<b>TWO
ARE BETTER THAN ONE” MINISTRIES</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>Jim
& Marie Watt</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>Tel:
253-517-9195 - Email: <a href="mailto:jmbetter@gmail.com">jmbetter@gmail.com</a></b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>Web:
<a href="http://www.2rbetter.org/">www.2rbetter.org</a></b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">January 5, 2012</p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><br></p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"></p>
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<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>APR
7 - DEUTERONOMY 27-30 - RENEWAL OF COVENANT</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><b>1.
27:9-10 (27:1-13) LAW: RENEWED AND MEMORIALIZED. “Then Moses and
the Levitical priests said to all Israel, 'Keep silence and hear, O
Israel: this day you have become the people of the LORD your God. <font style="font-size:8pt" size="1">10</font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2">
You shall therefore obey the voice of the LORD your God, keeping his
commandments and his statutes, which I command you today.'” </font></b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style>This
is like resurrection day for Israel: the day of their becoming Your
people Father, as Your Son on His resurrection! Now Israel is of age
as the new generation, </span></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><u><span style>a
Kingdom People</span></u></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>,
and responsible to obey! </span></span></font><b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><i><span style="text-decoration:none">Hallowed
be your :name.</span></i></font></b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none">2.
27:15 (27:14-26) LAW: CURSES FOR DISOBEDIENCE. “Cursed is the
man who makes a carved or cast metal image, an abomination to the
LORD, a thing made by the hands of a craftsman, and sets it up in
secret.” And all the people shall answer and say, “Amen.”
</span></font></b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><u><span style>Idolatry</span></u></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>
is the </span></span></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><u><span style>first</span></u></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>
and </span></span></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><u><span style>greatest</span></u></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>
curse of this portion. Images to worship are an </span></span></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><u><span style>abomination</span></u></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>
to You, Father! O may we hear this word, destroy our idols, and do
Your will on earth as it is in heaven. </span></span></font><b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><i><span style="text-decoration:none">Your
:kingdom come!</span></i></font></b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none">3.
28:12b-14 (28:1-14) LAW: BLESSINGS ON OBEDIENCE. “And you shall
lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. </span></font><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1"><span style="text-decoration:none">13</span></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none">
And the LORD will make you the head and not the tail, and you shall
only go up and not down, if you obey the commandments of the LORD
your God, which I command you today, being careful to do them, </span></font><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1"><span style="text-decoration:none">14</span></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none">
and if you do not turn aside from any of the words that I command you
today, to the right hand or to the left, to go after other gods to
serve them.” </span></font></b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>Here
we see Your blessings on obedience, Father: </span></span></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><u><span style>full
provision</span></u></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>
in all aspects! </span></span></font><b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><i><span style="text-decoration:none">Your
:will be done, As in heaven, so on earth!</span></i></font></b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none">4.
28:23 (28:15-68) LAW: CURSES INTENSIFIED. “And the heavens over
your head shall be bronze, and the earth under you shall be iron.”
</span></font></b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>How
terrible the fruit of disobedience! Here we see spelled out in
frightening detail all Your judgment, Father. O forgive us, that we
force You to bring such things upon us because of our rebellion and
self-will! </span></span></font><b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><i><span style="text-decoration:none">Our
:daily :bread Give us this day!</span></i></font></b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none">5.
29:12-13a (29:1-13) LAW OF THE COVENANT. “So that you may enter
into the sworn covenant of the LORD your God, which the LORD your God
is making with you today, </span></font><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1"><span style="text-decoration:none">13a</span></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none">
that he may establish you today as his people, and that he may be
your God.” </span></font></b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>This
is over and above the covenant of the law at Sinai, and as with the
Abrahamic Covenant, You confirmed this new one with the new
generation of Israel with an oath! May we </span></span></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><u><span style>always</span></u></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>
take You seriously, Father! </span></span></font><b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><i><span style="text-decoration:none">And
forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.</span></i></font></b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none">6.
29:29 (29:14-29) LAW: A WARNING AND MEMORIAL. “The secret things
belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong
to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of
this law.” </span></font></b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>Israel
must be without excuse if they forsake You Father, and run unto sin!
You have spelled it out so clearly. May we in our day </span></span></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><u><span style>not
forsake</span></u></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>
Your </span></span></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><u><span style>New
Covenant</span></u></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>!
</span></span></font><b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><i><span style="text-decoration:none">And
bring us not into temptation!</span></i></font></b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none">7.
30:14 (30:1-20) LAW: WORD OF CONFESSION. “But the word is very
near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do
it.” </span></font></b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>The
high confession here concerns the fulfillment of Jesus' coming at
Calvary and Pentecost, though there was a lesser fulfillment at the
time for Israel. </span></span></font><b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><i><span style="text-decoration:none">But
deliver us from the evil </span></i></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none">one!</span></font></b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<u><b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2">NOTE</font></b></u><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none"><b>:
29:1 (29:1-13) COVENANT WORDS IN ADDITION TO SINAI. “These are
the words of the covenant that the LORD commanded Moses to make with
the people of Israel in the land of Moab, besides the covenant that
he had made with them at Horeb.” </b></span></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>This
is an appropriate new covenant for the new generation, which
supersedes in promise the covenant made at Mount Sinai.</span></span></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>Some
Christian believers want nothing to do with the Old Testament. This
is wrong! We must remember that the complete New Testament was not
available to the church until about 90 A.D. Apostles, teachers,
pastors and parents </span></span></font><u><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style>all</span></font></u><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>
used the Old Testament in the beginning, because that was </span></span></font><u><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style>all</span></font></u><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>
they had! They knew how to rightly divide the Word of Truth. Because
of Acts 15 and soon, Galatians, they knew how to protect Gentile
believers from the legalism of OT law!</span></span></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>Was
this easy to do? Of course not! - and errors were made. And Judaizers
arose who tried to force Gentile men believers to be circumcised
before being fully accepted in the church at the beginning. Did God
know these problems would arise! Of course! Through </span></span></font><u><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style>many</span></font></u><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>
dangers, toils and snares we have already come1 But </span></span></font><u><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style>grace</span></font></u><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>
has brought us safe thus far - and </span></span></font><u><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style>grace</span></font></u><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>
</span></span></font><u><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style>will
bring</span></font></u><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>
us home!</span></span></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>See
27:15 above - A little girl in Spain was attending one of George
Muller's Christian Schools. Her knowledge of the Bible drew the
attention of a priest. He asked her, “How is it you know the Bible
so well?” She told him it was because she was attending this
special school.” “What do they teach you about the ten
commandments”, he asked. And she quoted to him the above verse. He
stopped her and said, “That's </span></span></font><u><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style>not</span></font></u><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>
the way we believe it!” But she responded - “But </span></span></font><u><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style>that's</span></font></u><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>
the way it reads in the Bible!”</span></span></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>Look
above at 28:12b-14. One teacher outlined a 7-fold weekly prayer based
on the major 7 compound-Names of Jehovah. </span></span></font><u><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style>This</span></font></u><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>
portion was made part of one of these 7 days. After several months of
reading this once a week, one wife said to her husband: “If you
read these versus once again, I'm going to scream!</span></span></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>Because
of this reaction, </span></span></font><u><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style>that
is why</span></font></u><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>
since 1985 I have been preparing this “Through the Bible in a Year”
Daily Devotional! I have however put down at the end of each day's
reading - one-seventh of the Lord's Prayer. Jesus said, After this
manner, </span></span></font><u><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style>Pray</span></font></u><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>!
It is good for us to daily pray a portion of the prayer Jesus gave
His disciples to pray. And </span></span></font><u><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style>we</span></font></u><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>
are descendants of these disciples, so it is for </span></span></font><u><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style>us</span></font></u><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>
too! </span></span></font>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>Consider
too 30:14 above. The apostle Paul quotes this verse in Romans 10. See
how wisely the apostle </span></span></font><u><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style>applies</span></font></u><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>
this Old Testament verse for New Testament believers!</span></span></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>And
now, our Psalm for the day: </span></span></font><b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none">97:11-12
(1-12) THE LORD REIGNS! “Light is sown for the righteous, and joy
for the upright in heart. </span></font><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1"><span style="text-decoration:none">12</span></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none">
Rejoice in the LORD O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy
name! </span></font></b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>Father,
You reign over the universe in awesome Majesty and Power! You execute
</span></span></font><u><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style>right</span></font></u><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>
judgment, and do right by Your saints. We rest in You completely.
</span></span></font><b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><i><span style="text-decoration:none">Hallowed
be your :name!</span></i></font></b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><br>
</p>
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