SWORD OF THE SPIRIT 1254
“Blessed Basket”
Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field.
Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground and the fruit of your cattle, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock.
Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl.
Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out. – Deuteronomy 28:3-6
Our Heavenly Father loves us, and He loves to bless us. In His great love He gave His only Son, Jesus to bear the punishment for our sin and make a way for us to have eternal life through Him. If that were not enough, Our Father continues to bless us in this world, providing all that we need for an abundant life.
And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:19
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. – John 10:10
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places – Ephesians 1:3
These blessings of God were given to the people and nation of Israel and extended to all the peoples and nations of the world that would be ‘grafted into the vine’ through faith in Jesus. These blessings are as true and available today as they were in Old Testament times if we choose to obey God.
And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, … all these blessings shall come upon you … if you obey the voice of the Lord your God. – Deuteronomy 28:1-2
Like a door that swings open and closed on its hinges, God’s blessings hinge on obedience to Him. We cannot have it both ways with one foot in worldly disobedience and another on the narrow path of Christ.
Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. – Matthew 7:13-14
As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance; Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. – Peter 1:14; 1 John 2:15
We choose obedience to God because we love Him – not because we want His blessings.
If you love me, you will keep my commandments. – John 14:15
Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us. – 1 John 3:24
We choose obedience to God because our heart is set on seeking first His kingdom and righteousness.
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. – Matthew 6:33
We choose obedience to God even when His directions go counter to our plans.
The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. – Proverbs 16:9
And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. – Isaiah 30:21
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. – Jeremiah 29:11
Our Father, our Creator, has given us free will to choose.
See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside from the way that I am commanding you today, to go after other gods that you have not known. – Deuteronomy 11:26-28
May you choose wisely, choose the obedient, abundant life through Jesus, the Savior of the world.
The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. – Numbers 6:24-26
Sword of the Spirit 