Deuteronomy 4:20, "But the LORD hath taken you, and brought you forth out of the iron furnace, even out of Egypt, to be unto him a people of inheritance, as ye are this day."

This verse presents the blessing of deliverance. The children of Israel had been in bondage for 430 years in Egypt until the LORD chose to bring them out under the hand of His power and the leadership of Moses, the man of God. The blessing of their deliverance is described as follows:

• First, they were delivered out of the iron furnace of Egypt. It was tough living in Egypt, they were in bondage, and worked and labored under the hands of some very harsh task masters. You and I have the blessing of having been delivered out of the kingdom of darkness with Satan himself being a hard task master.

• Next we see they became a people of inheritance. You cannot become a person of inheritance without a relationship of some sort with some one who loves are cares for you. People don't just give an inheritance to anyone. When you and I got saved we became God's children, and this put us in the place of inheritance. Romans 8:16-17, "The spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."

Today's verse is a great blessing to all, not just the children of Israel, because it not only speaks of the blessing they experienced with the LORD in their day, but it also exemplifies what we have experienced in our life time.

I thank God that I am saved, which makes me His child, and because I am His child, I have been both delivered from the kingdom of darkness and I am now an heir of God, and joint-heir with Jesus Himself.

Your Friend and HIS,
Pastor Abbott

QUESTIONS TO PONDER

1.  Have you been delivered from the furnace of hell fire?  How do you know?

2. Whose kingdom are you living in?  God's kingdom or Satan's?  Does your life reflect what your profess?

3. What are your greatest thoughts when you think of the inheritance you have in Christ Jesus?

4. Will you do your best this week to share the glorious gospel of Christ with someone who is lost?