Prayer: Father, the choice is mine, listen and obey Your Word which brings blessings, or disobedience which brings curses. You state Your law and commandments clearly. Which will I choose. Help me to choose wisely. Amen.
Reading: Deuteronomy 28 key: vs. 1-2 & 15
“Now if you listen obediently to the voice of Adonai your God, taking care to do all His mitzvot that I am commanding you today, Adonai your God will set you on high—above all the nations of the earth. 2 Then all these blessings will come upon you and overtake you, if you listen to the voice of Adonai your God:
15 “But if you will not listen to the voice of Adonai your God, to take care to do all His mitzvot and statutes that I am commanding you today, all these curses will come on you and overtake you:
Attention: I recall one day as an older adolescent, pestering my twin sisters. They are seven years younger than me. We were in the living room; my dad was in the adjacent dining room working on paperwork of some kind. I do not recall exactly what I was doing, but whatever it was, it was annoying one or both of my sisters and they of course would call out to dad about their plight. He told me to knock it off, yet I continued to ignore him and pester them. Dad again issued a warning to stop my picking on them. Finally, he had enough and came rushing into the living room and disciplined me.
In my home, there was discipline and consequences for not listening and obeying my father’s instruction. Thus, it is easy for me to understand that a heavenly Father also disciplines His children, His own. The author of Hebrews even tells us as much, “It is for discipline that you endure. God is treating you as sons—for what son does a father not discipline (12:7-11).”
I have never looked at my disobedience with God as bringing a curse, but this is what our Deuteronomy text tells us. We can receive blessings (and He spells them out), or curses, which He defines too. We can bring blessings and stop the curses by simply listening and obeying His instruction. Are some of us still experiencing the long-term effects of consequences of our sin? I believe so. As an example, I experienced divorce from my children’s mother years ago, but the consequences or effects of my actions then, still have ongoing ramifications. I continue to pray for the restoration of broken relationships.
We can short circuit the discipline if we will choose to obey. Obedience is an intentional action on our part towards a loving heavenly Father.
Action: I choose to listen and obey now that I know His instructions and law.
Yield: I choose to surrender to the Lordship of Adonai.
Engage: I choose to engage with the Spirit in engaging in an obedient lifestyle to Adonai.
Relationship: I choose to draw near to Adonai as He promises to draw near to me when I do.
Prayer: Father, relationship with You is the best! I choose to be near You, to listen and obey. Amen.
Memory Verse: Hebrews 12:11
11 Now all discipline seems painful at the moment—not joyful. But later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Music Video: Don Moen—Trust & Obey https://youtu.be/Fiw9lKa8SbY
Remember, “Abide in Yeshua, today!