I have to be perfectly honest, I have had a hard time writing devotional thoughts around the book of Deuteronomy! I know that every word in the Bible is pertinent, but this has been a slow one for me. I just know the Lord will reward each of us for our diligence in soaking up His Holy Word.

Chapter 28 is a good reminder for us as New Testament believers. Please note that, as followers of Christ, we do not live under the same laws stated in Deuteronomy. But, these laws serve us well to help us always remember what kind of God we serve.

He is perfectly holy, unprecedentedly pure, and completely set apart from His awesome creation. He is above everything and everyone.

These laws in Deuteronomy were given to make the Israelites pure before their Lord. Because God is everything stated above and more, He requires everything in His presence to be pure as well. With out these laws, the Israelites were considered unclean and not presentable before God. Can you imagine trying to remember all the details laid out in the chapters of Deuteronomy! I would think that it was next to impossible for anyone in those days to remain pure and holy ALL the time!

This is why the work of Christ on the Cross is such good news for us! He makes us clean, pure and holy before the Lord. It is by His blood that we are allowed into the presence and before the throne of the King.

Now, this is not to say that we can be disobedient and go with out recourse. The Lord deals with each of our disobedience as He sees fit. But, once we have accepted Christ, all it takes is asking for forgiveness for the slate to be wiped clean. With a repentant heart ready to make changes, God forgives and forgets.

Be sure to thank Christ today for purifying you by His blood so that you are pure and in the presence of the one and only God.