“For I did not speak to your fathers, or command them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings and sacrifices. “But this is what I commanded them, saying, `Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you will be My people; and you will walk in all the way which I command you, that it may be well with you.’ “Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in their own counsels and in the stubbornness of their evil heart, and went backward and not forward.
Jeremiah 7:22-24Jeremiah 7:22-24
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
22 At the time I brought your ancestors out of Egypt, I didn't command them to offer sacrifices to me. 23 Instead, I told them, “If you listen to me and do what I tell you, I will be your God, you will be my people, and all will go well for you.” 24 But your ancestors refused to listen. They were stubborn, and whenever I wanted them to go one way, they always went the other.
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A lot of focus in recent years has been given to numerous mega-church preachers like Rod Parsley, who have made a living by talking much about God’s blessings and anointing and little about our obedience or His judgment. Consider this Parsley quote from 1999: “Every year we receive testimony after testimony of glorious healings, deliverances and salvations as a result of these super-saturated scraps of cloth we receive from around the world. Don’t miss this opportunity to receive the tangible transfer of God’s anointing into your life.”
It’s no wonder that he and others get media attention, while masses of people flock to their services in hopes of receiving the supposed enumerable blessings they say God is ready to pour out. In truth, God has already blessed us innumerably, but unfortunately, some have misguided focus to God’s love and power, while seemingly ignoring His other attributions and commands. What of spiritual depravity, sin, repentance, forgiveness and obedience?
As the verse above in Jeremiah tells us, blessings on our lives are byproducts of obedience. While spiritual blessings are inherent through the Holy Spirit when a person receives salvation, physical blessings are less important. As one commentary said: “It is enough that He assures us that we need not worry about what we will eat or wear. It is enough that He assures us that we need not worry about what we will eat or wear (Matthew 6:25-32Matthew 6:25-32
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
Worry
25 I tell you not to worry about your life. Don't worry about having something to eat, drink, or wear. Isn't life more than food or clothing?
26 Look at the birds in the sky! They don't plant or harvest. They don't even store grain in barns. Yet your Father in heaven takes care of them. Aren't you worth more than birds?
27 Can worry make you live longer? f live longer: Or “grow taller.”
28 Why worry about clothes? Look how the wild flowers grow. They don't work hard to make their clothes.
29 But I tell you that Solomon with all his wealth g Solomon with all his wealth: The Jewish people thought that Solomon was the richest person who had ever lived. wasn't as well clothed as one of them.
30 God gives such beauty to everything that grows in the fields, even though it is here today and thrown into a fire tomorrow. He will surely do even more for you! Why do you have such little faith?
31 Don't worry and ask yourselves, “Will we have anything to eat? Will we have anything to drink? Will we have any clothes to wear?”
32 Only people who don't know God are always worrying about such things. Your Father in heaven knows that you need all of these.
WP-Bible plugin, Philippians 4:19Philippians 4:19
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
19 I pray that God will take care of all your needs with the wonderful blessings that come from Christ Jesus!
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As humans, we are naturally oriented toward material things, but as Christians, our perspective must change. Paul admonishes, “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died [in baptism], and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:2-3Colossians 3:2-3
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
2 Think about what is up there, not about what is here on earth. 3 You died, which means that your life is hidden with Christ, who sits beside God.
WP-Bible plugin). To us, life—and our perception of abundant life—is a whole new ballgame!Richard T. Ritenbaugh, 2005
Nehemiah well understood the concept of blessings and obedience and continually reminded the people of God’s track record toward blessings and obedience regarding the Israelites. After finding out the wall of Jerusalem had been burned, he cried out to God:
O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments: Let thine ear now be attentive… (I) confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father’s house have sinned… Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations: But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there.
Nehemiah 1:5-6, 8-9Nehemiah 1:5-6, 8-9
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
5 Lord God of heaven, you are great and fearsome. And you faithfully keep your promises to everyone who loves you and obeys your commands. 6 I am your servant, so please have mercy on me and answer the prayer that I make day and night for these people of Israel who serve you. I, my family, and the rest of your people have sinned 8 . Please remember the promise you made to Moses. You told him that if we were unfaithful, you would scatter us among foreign nations. 9 But you also said that no matter how far away we were, we could turn to you and start obeying your laws. Then you would bring us back to the place where you have chosen to be worshiped.
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Thus, far from the teachings some are offering in our day and time, the blessings we receive in our physical life are secondary to our call to emulate God’s character, obey His commands, and walk in radically different paths than the world around us. Today, think on Matthew 6:25-32Matthew 6:25-32
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
Worry
25 I tell you not to worry about your life. Don't worry about having something to eat, drink, or wear. Isn't life more than food or clothing?
26 Look at the birds in the sky! They don't plant or harvest. They don't even store grain in barns. Yet your Father in heaven takes care of them. Aren't you worth more than birds?
27 Can worry make you live longer? f live longer: Or “grow taller.”
28 Why worry about clothes? Look how the wild flowers grow. They don't work hard to make their clothes.
29 But I tell you that Solomon with all his wealth g Solomon with all his wealth: The Jewish people thought that Solomon was the richest person who had ever lived. wasn't as well clothed as one of them.
30 God gives such beauty to everything that grows in the fields, even though it is here today and thrown into a fire tomorrow. He will surely do even more for you! Why do you have such little faith?
31 Don't worry and ask yourselves, “Will we have anything to eat? Will we have anything to drink? Will we have any clothes to wear?”
32 Only people who don't know God are always worrying about such things. Your Father in heaven knows that you need all of these.
WP-Bible plugin and remember that God graciously supplies us with all we need and has already blessed us in more ways than we can count, both physically, by his protection over our lives, and spiritually, by His gift of Christ.
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