1. This week's Quiet Times: April 9-13, 2012
THE MOST EXCELLENT WAY
MONDAY
Praise the Lord for what He has been
teaching us through His Word!! This
week we will examine the two greatest
commandments as described by Jesus.
Examine Matthew 22:34-40 and Mark
12:28-34. Jesus quotes Deut.6:5 and
Lev. 19:18 and is the first to combine
these two texts to summarize the law
into the two greatest commandments!
He also mentions something we are to
use to fully love the Lord that the text in
Deut. 6 does not mention. What is it?
What does this tell you about how to love the Lord? Read and apply Galatians
5:13-15 today. Do something for your neighbor to show love - something that
you would like done to you today. Praise God for the opportunities that He gives
to us!!!
TUESDAY
Today we are going to read Deut. 6-7. There are so many awesome and amazing
lessons to learn in these passages! As you read chapter 6 ask yourself: “how is a
child of God to show the proper fear of the Lord?” What did the Lord tell them to
teach their children in verses 20-25? Do you see how this testimony applies to
you and your need to share the Gospel? The lessons in chapter 7 may not be as
easy to see, but as you read, contemplate how God has called us to be different
from those in the world. How is this connected to what we read in James 4:1-10?
We are to be set apart from the world through our obedience to God. Why are we
to do this according to Deut.7: 6-11? What is our motivation today? Make a
poster with 2Corinthians 5:14-15 and hang it somewhere you can see it! Share
with someone else how the Lord delivered you! Share His love and deliverance
with as many as possible.
WEDNESDAY
Read Deut. 8-10 today. As you read the text, notice what the Lord stresses to His
children. In verses 1 through 5, why was it important for God’s children to be
tested the way they were? Does this remind you of what we read in Hebrews
12? Do you see how beneficial it is to be disciplined (loved) by the Lord? How is

2. your attitude when you are disciplined? Take note of how God tells the Israelites
to remember their blessings. What will happen to them if they forget the Lord?
Have you noticed as you read these chapters how many times the Lord tells them
to remember Him? In chapter 9 why was God going to give the Israelites this
great promised land? What kind of attitude was the Lord warning them about in
verse 4? (Read Titus 3 and see that this applies to us as well). In Deut. 10:12ff,
can you see the two greatest commandments? Who are we to love above all
else? How are we to treat others around us? Why? Meditate on verses 12 and
13 throughout the day and impress them on your heart.
THURSDAY
Read Deut. 11. What is God calling His children to do? Notice how the elements
of loving, fearing and obeying God are repeated again and again? God says to His
people in verse 26, “see I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse...”
Describe what the blessing is and what the curse of God is? Remember from last
week what happened to Israel as a nation when they forgot the love and power of
God (Numbers 13-14)? Israel did not obey (love) the Lord therefore they broke
faith, they did not obey the two greatest commandments and it devastated them
as a nation. Pray to the Lord to constantly open your eyes to see His blessings in
your life. Be prepared to see wonderful things that you may not have seen before
and be prepared as God reminds you of His love for you!!
FRIDAY
What happens to a church that does not love the Lord with all their inner being?
What happens if we forget our first love? Read Revelation 2:1-7 and see. The
church at Ephesus had some great qualities. What were they? What happened to
them? What was the Spirit convicting them of? What was going to be their
outcome if they did not repent? What would be their blessing if they listened and
what would be their curse if they did not? Now read Ephesians 3:14-20. Knowing
what the Ephesians were being convicted of in Revelation 2, you can appreciate
why Paul prayed for them the way he did. Look at Rev.2:17-19 in particular. What
did they need to grow in their understanding of? Pray as Paul did: that we, as a
church, will grow continuously in our understanding and appreciation of God’s
awesome love for each and every one of us!!