READING: Deuteronomy 6:1-9:29
It’s amazing to me how good God is to His people. He loves us. He provides for us. He protects us. He leads us. He lives within us. He forgives us. He heals us. He teaches us. He gives us rest. He invites us into His presence. He has promised us eternity with Him. I could keep writing for some time, of course, and never exhaust the goodness of God to us. It’s all amazing, actually.
At the same time, though, today’s reading reminds me that God gives us none of these blessings because we are so good and thus deserve His riches. Instead, our situation is no different than the Hebrews to whom Moses spoke in his day:
- “The Lord did not set his heart on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other nations, for you were the smallest of all nations! Rather, it was simply that the Lord loves you, and he was keeping the oath he had sworn to your ancestors.” (Deut 7:7-8)
- “But that is the time to be careful! Beware that in your plenty you do not forget the Lord your God and disobey his commands, regulations, and decrees that I am giving you today. For when you have become full and prosperous and have built fine homes to live in, and when your flocks and herds have become very large and your silver and gold have multiplied along with everything else, be careful! Do not become proud at that time and forget the Lord your God, who rescued you from slavery in the land of Egypt.” (Deut 8:11-14)
- “He did all this [guiding them through the wilderness] so you would never say to yourself, ‘I have achieved this wealth with my own strength and energy.’” (Deut 8:17)
- “After the Lord your God has done this for you, don’t say in your hearts, ‘The Lord has given us this land because we are such good people!’ . . . . You must recognize that the Lord your God is not giving you this good land because you are good, for you are not—you are a stubborn people.” (Deut 9:4-6)
We deserve absolutely NONE of God’s blessings. And, that fact makes His willingness to bless us even that much more amazing!
PERSONAL REFLECTION: Do you realize that you have earned none of God’s blessings?
TODAY’S PRAYER: “Father, I am unworthy. Completely so. Thank You for Your grace.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Deuteronomy 10:1-12:32