In Deuteronomy, Moses reiterated to Israel some of what God had shown and done for them. He also made it clear to them that as God was with them in the past, He could be with them in their future.
Although the proper context of the following verses was to God’s people, Israel, there is certainly application to those that are saved (Romans 10:9, John 3:3) people today.
“Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; 27 A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day: 28 And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.” Deuteronomy 11:26-28
Christians, as well as the people of Moses’ day, can receive a blessing from God. If one hears the commandments of God, be it from the reading of His Word or hearing it, and obeys what he hears, he can have God’s blessing on his life.
The choice is up to us what we do with God’s message. Do we get convicted about something as we read the Bible, or get that gnawing guilty feeling when we are reminded of our sin? Do we obey the Holy Spirit’s personal reminder to our conscience as a warning from Him and do our best to change our behavior to what is pleasing to our heavenly Father, or do we ignore it? Obeying conviction and doing our best to live a life approved by God is the way to get His blessing on our life. There may still be trials and difficulties in our lives, but one living for Him can have God’s blessing, protection, and guidance on his life.
Unfortunately, too many hear the commandments from God, and make wrong choices not to obey what they have been told to do. Excuses for not heeding the Holy Spirit’s tugging on our hearts can creep in and justify our not obeying what we are told.
It is easy to be convicted of our lying lips, but quickly write it off to, “Well, I had to lie or I would have gotten in trouble.” A temptation to justify not going to church because of work, or “being too tired from a week’s work,” hardens one’s conscience; so it is much easier to ignore what God’s Word instructs us to do. Refusing to tithe because “I hardly have enough to live on, let alone give to the cause of Christ” is one more act of disobedience that can bring God’s curse on your life or even His not helping and protecting you.
All Christians have similar opportunities to obey or disobey the still, quiet, convicting voice of God. The difference between a flourishing, growing Christian and a stagnant, disobedient Christian is that the one growing is the one that said “Yes” to what they were convicted of and did their best to obey. The one that may be “cursed” or have God’s helping and guiding hand removed from his life may be the one that ignored what he was told or shown to do by the convicting Holy Spirit.
Are you receiving the blessing of God on your life because of your obedience, or are you suffering because God’s hand is not guiding and helping you in your life? The choice is up to you. Whom do you choose to obey: God or your own will?
“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15
I am somewhat of a student of human nature, having supervised people for years and observed them. I find that resentment of authority, (rebellion) is one of the most pervasive things out there…….. and it is seldom repairable at the employer level. If you find someone that will not obey parents, will not follow directions at work….then I will show you someone that has almost zero chance of obeying their pastor and zero chance of obeying God. This curses them.
All of us probably have a little of that in us, but there are individuals, a lot of individuals, that confess Jesus with their lips, they purport to be a child of God, but there is no respect for the heavenly chain of authority or the authority of God. Actions speak louder than words! It is almost as if the whole thing is not real to them.
If heaven is real, if hell is real, if the Bible is real, if our experience is real, then our actions and lives have to be real as well.
Amen.
Interesting as I’m drinking a cup of coffee as I read this. The cup has a Bible verse on it-Joshua 24:15, also included in your devotion today.
I guess the Lord wanted you to hear it more than once! :>)
I pray I do as my Father wants .