Scripture Reading(s)
Deuteronomy 30:9-14
30:9 and the LORD your God will make you abundantly prosperous in all your undertakings, in the fruit of your body, in the fruit of your livestock, and in the fruit of your soil. For the LORD will again take delight in prospering you, just as he delighted in prospering your ancestors,
30:10 when you obey the LORD your God by observing his commandments and decrees that are written in this book of the law, because you turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
30:11 Surely, this commandment that I am commanding you today is not too hard for you, nor is it too far away.
30:12 It is not in heaven, that you should say, “Who will go up to heaven for us, and get it for us so that we may hear it and observe it?”
30:13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, “Who will cross to the other side of the sea for us, and get it for us so that we may hear it and observe it?”
30:14 No, the word is very near to you; it is in your mouth and in your heart for you to observe.
Reflections
God call us as Christians to live a life of obedience and submission to Him. The reason why God calls us to this is because when we choose to obey Him, God as it says in verse 9 “delights in prospering you”.
In this passage, God’s people were being given a chance to follow after the one who loves and cares for them and takes delight in blessing them. Obedience earns us the privilege of receiving God’s blessings and love in our lives.
This passage is a promise to God’s people about their future. Following in obedience after Him will keep them from harm and will allow for them to fully experience what it means to have an intimate relationship with a loving heavenly father.
It also points to the truth that walking in obedience with Him will also allow for us to be shinning lights to the people around us. People will look and see Christ living in us. They will notice that there is a difference. They will wonder at why our lives are filled with joy, peace and a desire to treat others with love.
God’s ultimate desire for His people is that they live a life of obedience to Him and in turn will experience His true blessings in our lives. He wants the best for us and wants to show us that life following after Him, may not be easy but His word promises that He will constantly sustain us and never let us fall.
when you obey the LORD your God by observing his commandments and decrees that are written in this book of the law, because you turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
The “when” statement in Deuteronomy is the condition for the beginning of the passage where God was telling His people that He will bless them and cause them to prosper. This is why Jesus said that the law and the prophets could be summed up in two commands.
While we are not burdened by the body of laws that the Jews were we are still expected to honor God with our lives. For living a life that is righteous and holy we can expect to be blessed by the Lord. Though, it should be said that God never promised to make us rich. Being rich and being blessed are not the same thing. But there is peace and soundness of mind when one abides in Christ. No money can ever buy that.
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