Day 8: Let God’s blessing overtake you!

Disobedience against God always brings a curse. One example of this sobering principle is seen in Genesis 3, but it is more fully worked out in the Law of Moses. In Deuteronomy 28 we see two opposites. First of all, the blessing that will come upon you if you walk in humility and obedience toward God. Secondly, the curses that will come upon you if you walk in stubbornness and pride and disobedience toward God.

In the first two verses of the chapter Moses says this:

“Now it shall be, if you will diligently obey the LORD your God, being careful to do all His commandments which I command you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you will obey the Lord your God.”

Notice that when you walk in obedience, you don't have to pursue the blessings of God. The blessings of God simply overtake you. Blessing naturally results from obedience to God. God has ordered the universe according to that law. Then in verse 15, Moses presents the opposite side of the picture, the results of disobedience:

“But it shall come about, if you will not obey the LORD your God, to observe to do all His commandments and His statutes which I charge you today, that all these curses shall come upon you and overtake you.”

Then, Moses continues with a very long and detailed list of curses. When you study both the blessings and the curses, you will see that they cover three main areas: the spiritual, physical and material. This is what God has in mind for you. That is why the full outworking of redemption through Jesus Christ also covers these three main areas: spiritual, physical and material. Now pause and reflect on this. Accept it. Thank God for it. Don’t take it for granted.

A beautiful picture of redemption and its results is contained in 3 John verse 2. John writes to his friend, Gaius:

“Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.”

Notice the complete prayer of John, that his friend may prosper materially and financially, be in good health, even as his soul prospers. Those are the three areas: spiritual, physical and material.

In the next couple of days, we’ll be looking more fully into the outworking of redemption in those three areas: spiritual, physical, material. For now, this is my prayer for you:

“Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.”