“Look, today I am giving you the choice between a blessing and a curse! 27 You will be blessed if you obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today. 28 But you will be cursed if you reject the commands of the Lord your God and turn away from him and worship gods you have not known before.” Deuteronomy 11:26-28
“If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully keep all his commands that I am giving you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the world. 2 You will experience all these blessings if you obey the Lord your God: 3 Your towns and your fields will be blessed. 4 Your children and your crops will be blessed. The offspring of your herds and flocks will be blessed. 5 Your fruit baskets and breadboards will be blessed. 6 Wherever you go and whatever you do, you will be blessed.” Deuteronomy 28:1-5 NLT
Lord God,
In Moses day there was a definite black and white theology. Obey God be blessed. Ignore or rebel and be cursed. They did see sickness and suffering as punishment and flourishing flocks or families as a blessing. Oh that it was so simple.
Then, You sent Your definitive Word, Jesus. He suffered and died not for His sin but ours. He said that it would be tough for those who followed Him. Jesus said His followers must take up their cross (Matthew16:24) and die to self (John 12:24). The first disciples and Paul certainly suffered for their faith and had sickness. Epaphroditus was sick and almost died (Philippians 2:25-27). We read these blessings and curses and know that we are blessed when we trust You, God. Knowing You committed Yourself to us and bringing about our future. You, God will never leave us and will take us home to heaven. We are blessed in having Your light of life and knowing Your faithfulness and fellowship as we journey home. The comfort of Your refuge and strength and present help in times of trouble.( Psalm 46).
In one way it is black and white, in that You are with us, Light of the world or not. Faith is all about a relationship with You through the cross. With You we have a faith, hope and love (1 Corinthians 13:13) and You are our way the truth and the life (John 14:6). Without You there is only self, superstition, false light, darkness and religion (trusting in something other that You, God).
Help us to worship You, live in You and as we rejoice in Your love, pray and proclaim and show Your love to one another. Not judge those in darkness but share Your light.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Friday 21st March 2025
Great is thy faithfulness, O God, my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with thee.
Thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not;
As thou hast been, thou forever wilt be.
Great is thy faithfulness,
Great is thy faithfulness,
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed thy hand hast provided;
Great is thy faithfulness,
Lord unto me.
Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love.
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine and ten thousand beside.
Lyrics: Thomas O Chisholm