I will make my dwelling among you, and my soul shall not abhor you. And I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people.

Leviticus 26-27

I will make my dwelling among you, and my soul shall not abhor you. And I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people. Leviticus 26:11-12

 

This evening, I continued my study of Leviticus using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary for this book - continuing chapter twenty-three (the final chapter) - Either-Or - covering Leviticus 26-27, looking specifically at the second theme for the chapter - God Blesses Our Faithfulness.  Here, the commentary for today focuses on v3-13 which describes how God blesses our obedience to Him in response to His commands, all of His commands, including the commands He gave in v1-2 (see also post yesterday) where we are to worship Him and not other gods and how we are observe Sabbath.  Leviticus 26:3-13 describes blessings that, according the commentary, can be categorized as prosperity, protection, and His presence - of course all wonderful and amazing blessings. Yet, lest believers fall into the trap of believing that God promises us (in return for faithfulness) health, wealth, and other earthly blessings, the commentary (and John MacArthur and John Piper) warns us to not read into Leviticus 26 to find the keys to health, wealth, etc. While God does promise blessings for obedience in v3-13, the commentary instead makes the following points, emphasizing that "we should apply such promises in a way that is consistent with God's entire revelation in the Bible": 

1. "God made these promises not to individuals, but the Israel as a whole"
2. "God does bless our faithfulness, just not in the way the prosperity preachers claim.  In some places in the world, faithfulness to Jesus results in persecution, not prosperity.  When some Muslim people leave Islam to follow Jesus, their families disown them and sometimes physically assault or kill them.  Does God take care of them? He takes care of them for eternity! He blesses our faithfulness forever in heaven." See also John 16:33
   
3. "God blesses our faithfulness in many ways, best of all with Himself." See also John 1:14  
   

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Jesus, You are amazing and I know You bless me in ways that the world does not understand and in ways that I will fully appreciate when I meet You face to face in Heaven - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You bless me.  My sin - of many kinds - continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us.

Ephesians 1

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. v7-8

Both OverviewBible.com and MacArthur Bible Study Commentary (for purchase) indicate Ephesians as a letter written to remind the young church of Ephesus of their identity in Christ and to prescribe how to manifest this identity in their lives - practical advice.  We all need to be reminded of how lavishly God has blessed us - and undeservedly so. 

We are holy and blameless in His sight (v4).
We are adopted by Him and been freely given grace (v5-6).
We have redemption and forgiveness of sins in His blood (v7).
He shares wisdom with us (v8-9).

Of course there are so many more ways God blesses us but Paul's words are more than sufficient to give us the humility we need to appreciate who God is and what He has done for us.  It should encourage us to continue to come back to Him.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who has lavishly bestowed an unimaginable amount of blessings on me - thank You Jesus - I am overwhelmed by Your love.  Even more so because I know I am undeserving.  I sin daily - not being who You desire for me, I fall down in my sin.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind, and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.” The second son he named Ephraim and said, “It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.”

Genesis 41

It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.” The second son he named Ephraim and said, “It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.” v51-52

We must note here how Joseph was not bitter.  While he recognized that he did not deserve his imprisonment (Genesis 40:15), he made the best of his circumstances and used his gifts to bring glory to God. 

We must also recognize that Joseph gave credit to his blessings to God - while Joseph was a gifted young man, he did not claim that his gifts were of his own doing or that his blessings were of his own hand (Genesis 41:16, 51-52).  God provides.

Distribution of spiritual gifts (Daniel 1, 1 Corinthians 12)
God provides (Hebrews 1, Psalm 16:2, Psalm 23) 

We should also note how God helped Joseph overcome the arrogance of his early years - see also commentary here.

My Prayer: Lord, what an amazing God You are!  You have helped rise up great men and women throughout history and given them many second chances and grace and used them to be a blessing to many.  I know that I am a recipient of Your grace and I am hopeful that I am using this grace.  Thank You Jesus for the grace You have poured out on me.  Please forgive me for my ongoing arrogance which I know is still something that persists in my life.  Help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa from her cancer and from the side effects of cancer.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For the Lord has chosen Zion, he has desired it for his dwelling, saying, "This is my resting place for ever and ever; here I will sit enthroned, for I have desired it. I will bless her with abundant provisions; her poor I will satisfy with food. I will clothe her priests with salvation, and her faithful people will ever sing for joy.

Psalm 132

For the Lord has chosen Zion, he has desired it for his dwelling, saying,  "This is my resting place for ever and ever; here I will sit enthroned, for I have desired it.  I will bless her with abundant provisions; her poor I will satisfy with food. I will clothe her priests with salvation, and her faithful people will ever sing for joy. v13-16

God makes numerous promises to His children and He always keeps His promises (Luke 1:37) so it is encouraging when He tells us how we will bless us.  I love talking and listening to God...don't You?

Of course we should expect Jesus' return and be ready - see here (Parable of Virgins) and here (Matthew 24). 

My Prayer: Lord You are a great God, full of love and blessing for us...and You promise life to the full - and You always come through!  Thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such love and blessing.  I am weak and I get angry to quickly...I worry, etc.  Please forgive me Jesus.  Help me overcome and turn from my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to him.

Psalm 128

Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to him. v1

I am already blessed! And what a promise!

You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table. Yes, this will be the blessing for the man who fears the Lord. v2-4

I desire to be blessed in such a man but I know I am a work in progress - my focus must not be on the blessing but on glorifying God and serving Him.  I must endure and persist.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.  fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Hebrews 12:1-2

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God, You created all things, are in all things, and hold all things together.  You love me and are so full of patience, compassion, and mercy for me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love and blessing.  I am harsh with my words and actions and impatient.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin, and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god. They will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God their Savior.

Psalm 24

The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god. They will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God their Savior. v4-5

In the verse 3 David asks: "Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place?"

We all want to be near to God for He is our refuge, strength, who comforts us in our afflictions and suffering, guides us, etc. Yet we sin, and when we do we experience separation from God.  We seek His forgiveness and when we do, He is full of grace and provides it...what an awesome God.  Further, when we turn from our sin and turn towards God (repentance) and we strive for renewing of the mind (Romans 12:2), God will transform our heart and life to be more like Him...with "clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false God".  The blessing of course follows....it is a promise as true as Jesus is great.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God, author of heaven and earth and all of its inhabitants...You created me, and You know everything about me, including my sin...yet You came and died for me anyway...thank You Jesus!  I stand in awe!  I am not worth such love and blessing...I continue to be selfish in my life...often.  Please forgive me Jesus.  Help me turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Psalm 23

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. v5

Indeed, I am blessed beyond what I deserve.  Family, friends, provision, health, etc. Most importantly, I have a God that loves me more than anyone on earth ever can...and my God died for me so that I would not be slave to my sin but instead would have eternal life.  God has been so full of grace, compassion, patience, mercy, etc. for me...again...even though I am not deserving of such blessings.  The Lord provides. 

Understand, then, that it is not because of your righteousness that the LORD your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stiff-necked people. Deuteronomy 9:6

See also here.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it [abundantly (ESV)] to the full. John 10:10

 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, without a doubt You are God that blesses His children abundantly...even when we think we are not being blessed we are...the blessings overflow as David writes.  Thank You Jesus!  Yet I am not worth such blessings...I am too easily distracted by the world and I too often "conform to the patterns of this world".  Forgive me Jesus and help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength. Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer and the side effects from chemo and radiation.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers,but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.

Wisdom from the Psalms
Psalm 1

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers,but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.  That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.  Not so the wicked!  They are like chaff that the wind blows away.  Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.  For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

God makes many promises and all of them are true and accurate:

For no word from God will ever fail.  Luke 1:37

In Psalms 1, God promises that we will be blessed when we avoid walking with the wicked, when we delight in the law of the Lord.  We will prosper God says.  God does not say how we will prosper but we will...his ways are not our ways but when we view things as God does we will feel blessed.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. Isaiah 55:8

My Prayer:  Lord Jesus, You are a great God able to do all things, the source of all knowledge and wisdom and You love me, even though I am broken and in need of rescue.  Thank You Jesus that You love me!  I am not worth Your love as I fail to devote my full attention to You.  Forgive me Jesus!  Help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo and radiation.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin, and serve You!  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message today and every day.