Monday Reflection \u2013 November 29, 2021
God\u2019s Conditionality<\/p>\n\n\n
If you will only obey the\u00a0Lord your God: Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.\u00a0Deuteronomy 28:1,6<\/p>\n\n\n
Life is generally conditional. In whatever sphere of life we find ourselves, conditions exist. So we tell our children that if they study hard and do what is required, they will excel in their studies and ultimately be successful in life. Many companies tell workers that if they do their job and meet or exceed expectations, they will be rewarded, whether by keeping their job, get bonuses and\/or get a promotion. Admittedly, we also know that in many parts of society, including politics and business, many times if persons know some important person or rather they know them or they have some connections, then such persons get benefits and priviledges that are not accorded to the regular person. The conditionality of life is a living reality.<\/p>\n\n\n
Such conditionality of life is also relevant in our walk with the Lord. While God graciously dispenses His grace, mercy and love to us, evident in His provisions, protection etc., there are some blessings reserved for those who follow God. In the context of today\u2019s Watchword, Moses continues to provide guidance to the Israelites as they prepare to enter the long-awaited Promised Land. Moses begins chapter 28 with the conditional word \u2018if\u2019 that looms large. Moses exhorts\u00a0the nation regarding the matter of choice. The idea behind the\u00a0choice\u00a0is that God was determined to reveal Himself to the world through Israel. He would do this either by making them so blessed that the world would know only God could have blessed them so; or by making them so cursed that only God could have cursed them and cause them to still survive. The choice was up to Israel.<\/p>\n\n\n
In our own lives, God desires to reveal Himself to and through us. We\u00a0experience times and seasons of apparent fullness and lack, opportunity and trial. Somehow, there seems to be a choice that is up to us, something or someone is beckoning to us with a message and a reason for our survival. Our Creator wishes to make Himself known to us, and then through us to the world. Note that this message from Moses is similar to ancient treaties between a king and his people; this is God the King, making a covenant with His people, Israel.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n
All of God\u2019s promises,\u00a0which were a covenant with His people,\u00a0ended with a blessing. So, if God\u2019s people obeyed him, they would be set high above all the nations of the earth. Blessings shall come upon them and overtake them, they couldn\u2019t escape it. They would be blessed in the city\u00a0and in\u00a0the field; the fruit of their\u00a0womb, the fruit of their\u00a0ground, the fruit of their\u00a0livestock\u00a0would be blessed; their\u00a0basket and their\u00a0kneading bowl\u00a0would be blessed; and they would be blessed when they\u00a0come in, and when they\u00a0they\u00a0out\u00a0(vss. 1-6). Oh what blessings await us when we obey God and diligently do His will!<\/p>\n\n\n
In the midst of human nature where we want to do our own thing, we must always be prepared to deal with the inevitable disaster. Yet, we have a God who desires only what is best for us and promises sweet blessings when we do His will. God also promises a beautiful relationship that produces growth and ultimate actualization for us. We remember that Jesus said: \u2018Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.\u2019 Matthew 12:50.\u00a0Let\u2019s do God\u2019s will and enjoy the benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n
Jermaine Gibson<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Monday Reflection \u2013 November 29, 2021 God\u2019s Conditionality If you will only obey the\u00a0Lord your God: Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.\u00a0Deuteronomy 28:1,6 Life is generally\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"template":"","watchword_topic":[13],"class_list":["post-691","watchword","type-watchword","status-publish","hentry","watchword_topic-christian-living"],"yoast_head":"\n