Blessed Life – Deuteronomy 11:26-28
See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you listen to the commandments of the Lord your God, which I am commanding you today; and the curse, if you do not listen to the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside from the way which I am commanding you today, by following other gods which you have not known.
Consider the blessing or the curse. Seems an easy choice, yet the wide road leading away from the Lord and the blessed life He longs to give His people is jammed with those who blindly choose the curse.
The choice is set before you today; whom will you follow? Choose well as did Joshua; choose the Lord.[1] Choose to follow the path illuminated by God’s holy Word, as He teaches you how you should live.[2] Listen for His guidance, and He will tell you, “This is the way [to a blessed life], walk in it.”[3] Humble yourself before Him, faithfully keeping His covenant, and He will make loving-kindness and truth your path as He leads you in justice.[4]
Do you desire a blessed life? Choose it! Commit to holding the Lord above all others and to serving Him with an undivided heart. Pray that He will give you a holy passion to bring Him honor and glory with every step you take and every word you speak. Listen to Him, and obey His instructions. Walk according to His statutes, for the Lord is not pleased with halfhearted obedience, which is actually rebellion against Him. Do not hold onto slivers of self-will. Rather, trust unconditionally in the One who created the way, and when the way seems unclear, watch for the light, which He will shine upon it at precisely the appointed time.
Receive the blessing obedience to God brings. Do not forego it by falling into sin, as did Saul who, growing restless waiting for the Lord’s timing, disregarded His instructions. Saul forfeited all, including his kingdom and life, for his disobedience.[5] Be wise and cling to the truth, refusing to rebel against God by disobeying Him or by taking the crown from King Jesus and placing it on your own head, thereby shunning the blessings set before you. Instead of rushing ahead in an attempt to snatch blessings for yourself, wait for the Lord’s guidance and direction since the Word teaches us that no one can succeed apart from Him,[6] and toiling outside of His plan is like striving after the wind.[7]
Decide today that you will be a
person after the Lord’s own heart.[8] Choose Him, pursue Him,
and serve Him. Love and revere Him, and
remember that He is an awesome God, who deserves our total devotion and
absolute obedience. Therefore, observe
His commandments, choosing the blessing, not the curse, allowing Him to direct your
steps along His righteous way.
[1] Joshua 24:15
[2] Psalm 119:105, 102
[3] Isaiah 30:21
[4] Psalm 25:9-10
[5] 1 Chronicles 10:13-14, 1 Samuel 13:8-14
[6] Numbers 14:41-45
[7] Ecclesiastes 2:17
[8] Acts 13:22
