How to Resist Corruption
One of the most significant battles we will face in this life is the battle of the mind as we war within and try to defeat sin. But next to that chief battle is the need to be wise regarding the influence of people around us that can pull us away from devotion to God. God’s people need to recognize and resist corruption in order to carry out the mission they have from God. Moses provided a battle plan on how to resist corruption as he handed over the leadership to Joshua.
Bible Reading: Deut 31-32
Moses is handing over the leadership of God’s people to Joshua. Sometimes it is hard when God is moving us on to a new calling, and for Moses it was moving toward his death. What a sober moment.
There was comfort in the knowledge that God was going with them and before them, but His Holy presence also created a reverent fear. God was with them—they needed to be holy, too.
And as they traveled to the promised land, God gave warnings through Moses that still apply to us today. As we travel in this life and toward the calling of God in our lives, are we going with God? God is with us, but are we with Him?
How to Resist Corruptions—Remember
Moses shared a song with God’s people to help them remember. This song was chock full of lessons for them. My kids have teased me that when there was sin in the camp I would sing a song that spoke to that situation. I would make it up on the fly. Honestly, this happened automatically sometimes. But songs are powerful. They are more easily memorized, though Moses’ song was pretty lengthy. But here in Deuteronomy 31-32, Moses shares key principles that help us to resist corruption.
How to Resist Corruption — #1 Remember that God is with you.
Deuteronomy 31:8, “The Lord is the one who will go before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or abandon you. Do not be afraid or discouraged.”
- Sometimes it will be hard in our calling. Remember that God is with you. Don’t give in to the discouragement. Stand firm in God’s calling on your life.
How to Resist Corruption — #2 Don’t fear the people around you.
Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous; don’t be terrified or afraid of them. For the Lord your God is the one who will go with you; he will not leave you or abandon you.”
- When we give in to the fear of man, we become a people pleaser instead of making pleasing God our chief aim. We can begin to adopt their sinful practices. This is what God’s people were doing in the time of Moses.
How to Resist Corruption — #3 Keep the Word of God central in your life.
Deuteronomy 31:12-13, “Gather the people—men, women, dependents, and the resident aliens within your city gates—so that they may listen and learn to fear the Lord your God and be careful to follow all the words of this law. 13 Then their children who do not know the law will listen and learn to fear the Lord your God as long as you live in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.”
How to Resist Corruption — #4 Watch out for and resist corruption. Keep yourself pure.
Deuteronomy 31:29, “29 For I know that after my death you will become completely corrupt and turn from the path I have commanded you. Disaster will come to you in the future, because you will do what is evil in the Lord’s sight, angering him with what your hands have made.”
Worldliness causes corruption. We are not called to be worldly, but other-worldly. We need to guard against negative, sinful influences in our culture and in people in our lives.
How to Resist Corruption — #5 Remember what God has done for you.
Deuteronomy 32:3-7
“For I will proclaim the Lord’s name. Declare the greatness of our God! 4 The Rock—his work is perfect; all his ways are just. A faithful God, without bias, he is righteous and true. His people have acted corruptly toward him; this is their defect—they are not his children
but a devious and crooked generation. 6 Is this how you repay the Lord, you foolish and senseless people? Isn’t he your Father and Creator? Didn’t he make you and sustain you? 7 Remember the days of old; consider the years of past generations. Ask your father, and he will tell you, your elders, and they will teach you.”
When we consider the character of God and His kindness toward us—Truly – that we have been saved though we were just as corrupt as they were back then—we need to consider how any idol, any deviation from God’s perfect plan is not preferable and it in fact destroys us. Corruption ruins God’s people. Sin does not deliver the promises it makes.
Scripture of the Day: Deuteronomy 32:46-47
“…Take to heart all these words I am giving as a warning to you today, so that you may command your children to follow all the words of this law carefully. 47 For they are not meaningless words to you but they are your life, and by them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.”
God’s word is not meaningless. It is our very life. We dare not stray from it. His Word protects us from the world. May we live by it.
One last verse that stood out to me was in Deuteronomy 32:9, “But the Lord’s portion is his people, Jacob, his own inheritance.” Recently we talked about God being our portion. Friends, we are also His portion. We belong to Jesus. Let’s act like it. Let’s be godly, not worldly and escape the corruption of this world.
Application
- Be genuine believers who uphold God’s word.
- Don’t give in to the culture or corruption
- Guard against sinful influences in your life.
- Fear God, not man.
- Keep the word of God central in your life.
- Remember what God has done for you.
𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝘁 12 𝗽𝗺 𝗘𝗧.
Day #351: Deuteronomy 31-32
𝒱𝑒𝓇𝓈𝑒 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒟𝒶𝓎: Deuteronomy 32:46-47
“…Take to heart all these words I am giving as a warning to you today, so that you may command your children to follow all the words of this law carefully. 47 For they are not meaningless words to you but they are your life, and by them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.”
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