Daily Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 10, Psalm 94, Isaiah 38, Revelation 8

It‘s For Your Own Good!!

If you have been reading the Bible for any length of time you know that the promises of God come with a condition attached. God is not like a Santa Claus in the sky who grants your every wish with no strings attached. He asks something of us so he can pour his blessings out on us. His requirements are not difficult to keep, but they do go against our sinful nature. To solve that problem God has promised us His Holy Spirit who comes alongside of us to be our helper and to enable us to walk in the ways of God. As Paul said, “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” Phil 4:13.

When we walk in His ways He pours out his blessings in abundance. When we give as he asks we are given the promise that we will receive in return; pressed down, shaken together and running over, poured into our lap!! (Luke 6:38.) When we give our tithing unto the Lord he promises to open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so many blessings that we will not have room for them. (Mal. 3:10).

In Deut. 10:12 Moses asks a question of the Israelites (and us), “What does the Lord your God ask of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees.” But he adds a statement that tops it all off. I am giving these decrees to you today for your own good. 1 John 5:3 says that His commands are not burdensome. Did you catch what Moses said? They are for our own good.

A good parent has some rules that their children must abide by. You can’t play in the street. You can’t play with sharp objects. You must eat a balanced diet. You can’t have candy and ice cream for breakfast. You have to go to bed on time so you get enough sleep. You have to go school so you can learn. You must learn to obey whether you understand it or not. Rules, rules, rules!!! Children often rebel against the rules of their parents, not realizing they are for their own good.

God is our Heavenly Father and he has some rules too, and just like the rules of our earthly parents, they are for our own good. If we follow the laws and commands of the Lord we will save ourselves from heartache and disaster; from STDs, children without fathers, jail time, addiction, a broken life, etc., etc. Psalm 94:12-13 says “Blessed is the man (and woman) you discipline, O Lord, the man (and woman) you teach from your law; you grant him relief from days of trouble.”

The Lord is asking us to walk in his ways, to serve him with our whole heart and soul, and to observe his commands and decrees.

IT’S FOR OUR OWN GOOD!!!

Tomorrows Bible Reading - Deuteronomy 11, Psalm 95-96, Isaiah 39, Revelation 9

God is good all the time,

Naomi Brinkman