PrayerBits for Thursday

PrayerBits

A bite sized devotional program
produced by the West Side Presbyterian Church

Thursday

Scripture lesson: Deuteronomy 34:1-12 No Moses shrines

Time to reflect: “...no one know his burial place to this day.” Humans like to venerate the “saints.” But this is inappropriate and although we've invented Jesus' burial spot and have similar shrines for others, this is not what we are supposed to be doing. John Calvin and John Knox took pains to be buried anonymously so we wouldn't worship them instead of God.

 

Moving through the day: It is hard not having something tangible to worship or pray to, but these things “upstage” God – take our attention away from God. Consider if there are any such religious distractions for you.

 

Scripture:

Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah, across from Jericho. There the LORD showed him the whole land—from Gilead to Dan, all of Naphtali, the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the western sea, the Negev and the whole region from the Valley of Jericho, the City of Palms, as far as Zoar. Then the LORD said to him, "This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when I said, 'I will give it to your descendants.' I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it."

  And Moses the servant of the LORD died there in Moab, as the LORD had said. He buried him ^[in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, but to this day no one knows where his grave is. Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone. The Israelites grieved for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days, until the time of weeping and mourning was over.

  Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to him and did what the LORD had commanded Moses.

 Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, who did all those miraculous signs and wonders the LORD sent him to do in Egypt—to Pharaoh and to all his officials and to his whole land. For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.