Tag: blessings
Consequence of Breaking God’s Law
Scripture reading for July 22: Deuteronomy 28:15,22-23 “But if you will not obey the voice of the Lord your God or be careful to do all His commandments and His statutes that I command you today, then all these curses shall come upon you and overtake you. . . . . .The Lord will strike you with wasting disease and with fever, inflammation and fiery heat, and with drought and with plight and with mildew. They shall pursue you until you perish.”
God’s people were to be blessed and kept from sickness and disease by the presence of their Lord in their midst. God required them to listen to Him and obey His commands and their lives would be blessed and they would avoid the curses that would result from living in disobedience.
Deuteronomy 28 was part of the Old Covenant of Law under Moses. God clearly stated that His people would be blessed by carefully following His instructions. The blessings would run after them and overtake them. He also clearly warned them that there would be definite consequences called curses that would also pursue them if they lived in rebellion to His commandments. God had made provision for inadvertent sins in that animal sacrifices could be offered to obtain forgiveness and mercy for the one who broke God’s command without knowledge or accidentally.
Jesus Christ came to pay our penalty for breaking God’s laws. He completely kept God’s laws and was the only man to ever live a sinless life. He took the curse of the broken law for us on the cross and paid sin’s penalty of death in our place. (Colossians 2:13-15) Peter declares “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2:24)
Prayer: Father God, thank You for the blessings of Your salvation which provides us with forgiveness of sins and healing for our bodies. May we by faith experience Your blessings running after us and overtaking us! Amen.
Hearing or listening?
Scripture reading for July 3th: Proverbs 1-4
I have personally read Proverbs dozens of times over the last forty years. For many years I read the entire book of Proverbs each month as a daily discipline. Even though I have read or heard Proverbs many times, I am still impressed at how they speak to us about our daily lives. Wisdom is a bubbling brook!
Hearing and listening can be two different things. Almost everyone can hear what is being said but listening in order to learn and apply truth is a different process requiring humility and a teachable spirit. As we begin the book of Proverbs, take a moment to check your hearing and listening abilities. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you new insights about successful living and decision making.
Solomon was David’s son through his wife Bathsheba. Solomon was visited by God and given an opportunity to ask for anything he desired. He asked for wisdom to rule God’s people. God was pleased and the proverbs are some of the written record of the wisdom God blessed Solomon with. Solomon wanted to pass that wisdom on to his sons (and us). The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord. (Proverbs 1:7) There are those who either don’t want wisdom and Solomon gives them names like ‘simple’, ‘fool’, and ‘mocker’. (Proverbs 1:7, 22) Thankfully, those names are not descriptive of any of us!
Wisdom’s blessings include knowledge and discretion to the young as well as guidance. (Proverbs 1:4-5) It brings safety to those who listen and they have rest and no fear of harm. (Proverbs 1:33) A person who listens to wisdom understands the fear of the Lord and finds knowledge of God. (Proverbs 2:5) You will be kept safe from wicked men who are on crooked paths leading to destruction. (Proverbs 2:12-15) You will also avoid the adulterous woman and her path that leads to death. (Proverbs 2:16-19) Listening and keeping wisdom brings long life and prosperity. (Proverbs 3:2) Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her and they will be richly blessed! (Proverbs 3:18)
Wisdom is to be prized above any other treasure. (Proverbs 3:13-15) We must lay hold of wisdom by taking hold of the words given by the Father. (Proverbs 4:1-5) We must hold onto instructions of wisdom and guard them. Wisdom is our life and health to our whole body! (Proverbs 4:22) Wisdom is to reside in our heart! (Proverbs 4:23) Wisdom sounds a lot like Jesus Christ, in Whom is hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge! (Colossians 2:2-3)
The pure pathway to blessing
Scripture reading for April 12th: Matthew 5, Psalm 73, Proverbs 11
Matthew 5:2-9 “And He opened His mouth and taught them saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. . .”
Great crowds gathered in Galilee to hear Jesus teach and preach and demonstrate the Father’s heart of love to the hurting and sinners. The ‘sermon on the mount’ is where this series of ‘blessing’ is taken from. Here Jesus gives simple truths after the manner of the wisdom of Solomon in Proverbs. The blessed life comes to those poor in spirit, knowing and admitting to need of God’s mercy. It comes to those who show mercy because they have found mercy. It comes to the humble and peacemakers in the form of a new identity and eternal inheritance. Purity of heart catches God’s attention and brings blessings and guidance and an outflow of giving that models our Father’s heart!
Psalm 73:1, 23-24 “Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.” . . .”Nevertheless, I am continually with You; You hold my right hand. You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory.”
Prayer: Father God, You have revealed Your amazing love and heart to bless to me and my family! Your desire is that all families of the earth enjoy this blessedness that comes from faith in Your Son, Jesus Christ. Through Him, the Way to heaven, eternal life and inheritance is revealed. Open doors for me to share this great treasure and see others blessed and cleansed by the Water of Life in Jesus Christ.
Proverbs 11:24-25 “One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.”
Winning the lost at all costs!
Scripture reading for September 6th: 2nd Kings 18-19, 2nd Chronicles 32, Psalm 67, 1st Corinthians 9
1st Corinthians 9: 20-24 “To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the Gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings. Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.”
Paul was countering false teachers who offered flashy credentials and were eager to get money from the people. Paul wanted to serve His Lord Jesus by offering the Gospel free of charge, although he had the right to get sustenance from preaching and teaching God’s Word. He wanted to have no one stumble or reject the message because they thought he was doing his ministry for money. Paul set his heart to win as many as possible to Christ by identifying with them in their cultural situation. To Jews, he spoke from the Law of God and went to the synagogue and temple. He related to the Gentiles with God’s truth in a way that they could receive it. He wasn’t a con artist or a play actor, but he sincerely tried to relate so that he could present the Gospel and bring the opportunity for eternal life. He preached to win the lost!
Psalm 67:1-2 “May God be gracious to us and bless us and make His face to shine upon us, that Your way may be known on earth, Your saving power among all nations. Let the peoples praise You, O God; leat all the peoples praise You!”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for the privilege of sharing the Gospel message with lost people and encouraging Your people with the Truth of Your eternal Word. You have shined Your face on us and been gracious to us through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Fill me with the Holy Spirit that I may be focused on winning the lost each day as You lead and direct me. I want others to share the blessings of the Gospel.
2nd Chronicles 32:7-8 “”Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him, for there are more with us than with him. With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people took confidence from the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.”
Receiving the blessing!
Scripture reading for January 14th: Genesis 26-27, Mark 10
Mark 10:13-16 “And they were bringing children to Him that He might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, He was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to Me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And He took them in His arms and blessed them, laying His hands upon them.”
Everyone wants the blessing of God and longs for His approval and loving touch! In Jesus’ day, the disciples argued who was the greatest and Jesus took a child and held it in His arms. In this passage, the disciples were discouraging people from bringing their children to Jesus for a blessing. They rebuked them for wasting Jesus’ time on those who they deemed ‘unimportant’. This aroused Jesus and He rebuked the disciples for their hindrance of the children. Jesus explained that the attitude of children and their parents to seek God’s blessing and touch was what the kingdom of heaven was all about. He took them in His arms and blessed them by placing His hands on them! The touch of God is the greatest blessing! God wants to bless His children with His indwelling presence, of much more value than the world’s treasures!
Mark 10:23 “And Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” And the disciples were amazed at His Words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.””
Faith confession: Father God, as a child myself, I desire Your blessing and Your touch on my children and grandchildren. Help me to bring them to You in prayer and to instruct them on the importance of Your blessing through Jesus Christ our Lord. Draw my children and grandchildren to desire and personally lay hold of Your blessing of eternal salvation through faith. Reveal to me any way that I may be hindering them.
Genesis 27:26-29 “Then his father Isaac said to him, “Come near and kiss me, my son.” So he came near and kissed him. And Isaac smelled the smell of his garments and blessed him and said, “See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field that the Lord has blessed! May God give you of the dew of heaven and the fatness of the earth and plenty of grain and wine. Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may your mother’s sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be everyone who blesses you.”
A servant to all for the Gospel!
Scripture reading for September 6th: 1st Corinthians 9
Key Scriptures: 1st Corinthians 9:19-23 “For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the Gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.”
Paul went into detail concerning his own life of serving all people for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul clearly understood the importance of winning souls for Christ as his priority. He had a right to receive offerings and get support from the church, but limited his right and worked with his own hands to provide for his needs that he might not cause any to stumble. He lived under the law although freed from law-keeping that he might win Jews. He did not keep the Jewish law around Gentiles but lived under the law of Christ (love God and love people) in order to win them. Around those with weak consciences he became weak (although strong) to win them. He desired all men to be saved and share in the blessings of eternal life in Christ. He did this out of love and Christ’s call on his life to preach.
1st Corinthians 9:16-17 “For if I preach the Gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel! For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will I am still entrusted with a stewardship.”
Faith confession and prayer: Father, thank You for Your call to me to preach the Gospel. I willingly accept that call and want to freely share the Good News of Jesus Christ. Help me through the Holy Spirit to be a servant to all people that I might win some and enjoy sharing with them the blessings of eternal life with You forever and ever. As a steward, may I be found faithful.
1st Corinthians 9:26-27 “So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”
God’s faithful blessings and provision!
Scripture reading for March 26th: Deuteronomy 27-31, Luke 12
Key Scriptures: Luke 12:27-31 “Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not seek what you are to eat, and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you.”
Jesus called His disciples attention to the birds and the lilies of the field. God takes care of each of these, clothing them and feeding them. Man is much more valuable than these! God’s people should not worry about their daily needs, God knows about them and promises to supply! God’s people should seek His kingdom and all their needs will be met! God’s provision will run after them and overtake them!
Faith confession and prayer: Father, I trust You to meet all my needs for food, clothing and shelter as I pass through this life. I have set my heart to seek first Your kingdom, knowing Your blessing will follow after me! Give me open doors today to share Your kingdom and righteousness.
Deuteronomy 28:1-2 “And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all His commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God.”
A Father’s blessings!
Scripture reading for January 17th: Genesis 48-50
Have you ever been at the bedside of a loved one who was soon to enter eternity? Joseph or someone in the family took down Jacob’s last words to each family member. He gave a special blessing to Joseph’s two sons, Ephriam and Manasseh. He then spoke prophetic words over the other sons. (Genesis 49:9-20)
The blessing of Joseph’s sons effectively made Joseph the first-born. Israel blessed Joseph and adopted the boys. In this way, Joseph would get the double portion. ( The first-born was to get a double portion of the inheritance.) The other brothers had tried to kill Joseph and cut him out, but God re-established his place and doubled the inheritance! Israel also chose Ephraim over Manasseh. The younger over the older. All blessing and God’s reward comes not from birth order but Divine order!
Judah also received a word in Genesis 49:8-12. Judah was told that his brothers would praise him. (His name means “praise”.) His hand would be on the neck of his enemies and his father’s sons would bow down to him. He was called a “lion’s cub”. Jesus was the offspring of Judah in the genealogy of Matthew 1:3. He is known as the “Lion of Judah” (Revelation 5:5) He triumphed over all God’s enemies! (Colossians 3:15) He is King of Kings and rules over nations! (Revelation 15:3-4)
Israel made Joseph swear to take his bones back to the promised land of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Israel). He believed in God returning to that land. He wanted to be buried there in order to receive his future inheritance. Israel got his wish and awaits the resurrection in the near future
“You are a lion’s cub, O Judah; you return from the prey, my son. Like a lion he crouches and lies down, like a lioness–who dares to rouse him? The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs and the obedience of the nations is his.” Genesis 49:9-10.
A Look, A Word, A Blessing–check out!
Scripture reading for March 1st: Deuteronomy 31-34
I have often told the Lord that I would like to leave this world like Moses, strong and vigorous to the last! I am a person who likes action and wants to be busy doing God’s will. When my time comes to leave earth, I want to take one last look, and be gone! I want to have a successor who will carry on the work. I want to fight one last battle, give one last prophetic word, bless my church and family, and check out! That’s how Moses, the man of God ended his time on earth!
In Deuteronomy 31, we have the transfer of power and anointing from Moses to Joshua. Joshua had been faithful as a helper to Moses. He was by his side continuously. He went up on the mountain with Moses. He was one of the twelve spies and had a “good report” as a man of faith. Joshua was picked by the Lord to succeed Moses. (Deuteronomy 31:14, 23)
In Deuteronomy 32, Moses composed a song that would be a witness for the people. God revealed to Moses that the people would rebel and suffer God’s punishment. This song commends the greatness of God, as the Rock of Israel. (Deuteronomy 32:3-4) It spells out again the curses that would come when they disobeyed the covenant. (Deuteronomy 32:20-26) The song promised compassion and healing for those who returned to the Lord and those who remain faithful. (Deuteronomy 32:36-43) Music has a way of getting into hearts and helping memory.
Deuteronomy 33 recorded the prophetic blessings on Israel and the tribes by Moses. These blessing tell of God’s love for His people. (Deuteronomy 33:3-5) The blessings in this chapter are filled with imagery from the recent wanderings. There is one that I regularly claim: “Most blessed of sons is Asher: let him bathe his feet in oil. The bolts of your gates will be iron and bronze, and your strength will equal your days.” (Deuteronomy 33:24-25) May that be true of you and me!
Moses ended his journey by climbing Mt. Nebo and getting a look at the promised land. After that, God buried him! (Deuteronomy 34:1-7) He was strong and vigorous and full of life to the last and he ever lives in God’s presence! In Scripture, he is last seen here on earth talking to Jesus Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration! (Matthew 17:1-3) I can’t wait to meet him someday!