Blessings of the Covenant

Scripture Reading for today's devotion is found in Deut 28:1-14.

How exactly are "blessings" connected with obedience? Is God a cosmic vending machine - insert obedience, receive blessing? Is this what this passage trying to teach us? Exchange Obedience for Blessings?

As some of us ask such questions in our hearts, I am sure there will be some who feel that something just does not sound right..., isn't it? Can blessings be bought? Is God a cosmic vending machine? Surely NOT, right?

Well, I learn from a great teacher... The answer many a times, it is true & not true... While God is not a vending machine, His word is always true... I believe the word is true where if we obey all the Lord's command, we will experience great blessings in our lives...

The issue is, is it enough for us to know this "truth"? History tells us again & again that the Israelites did not experience the full blessings of God as described in this passage although the Israelites knew this "truth" since the time the book of Deuteronomy was written... What is the issue then?

My personal belief is this, by our own strength, we will NEVER be able to become RIGHTEOUS by obeying all the commands of the Lord... While we know OBEDIENCE will brings blessings, I believe the real secret to applying this "truth" is to ask God to help us to be OBEDIENT to His commands and not try to be obedient in order to receive God blessings!

My own meditation of today's scripture reading is this: Put on God's Robe of Righteousness which is found in Jesus Christ alone, who died for us on the cross to pay for our sins. Instead of asking God for His Blessings, we should first ask God to help us to be OBEDIENT to Him. What we need is not just the knowledge of "how to be obedient?" What we need is Jesus' help to keep us obedient. What we need is the constant guidance from the Holy Spirit to keep us from sinning against our God. What we need is God!

Let us seek the Lord with all our hearts, all our minds & all our souls. Seek first the Lord's kingdom and all these shall be added unto us... Put God first before everything and we shall find that the Lord's blessings will never cease to follow us all the days of our lives.