Deuteronomy 28:1-7

“If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully keep all his commands that I am giving you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the world. 2 You will experience all these blessings if you obey the Lord your God: 3 Your towns and your fields will be blessed. 4 Your children and your crops will be blessed. The offspring of your herds and flocks will be blessed. 5 Your fruit baskets and breadboards will be blessed. 6 Wherever you go and whatever you do, you will be blessed. 7 “The Lord will conquer your enemies when they attack you. They will attack you from one direction, but they will scatter from you in seven!”

As the children of Israel stood on the edge of the Promised Land, after doubt and disobedience had led to 40 years of wandering, which left a trail of corpses scattered across the wilderness, God promised them blessing. God could have dismissed His doubt filled disobedient children, but instead He promised to bless them if they would but walk in obedience. Obedience opens the door to blessing, but it is not just being obedient it’s about total obedience. Verse one says, “If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully keep all his commands” True obedience is total obedience, meaning that God’s Will must be done God’s way. That is why it is so important to wait on the Lord. Obedience involves orientating our lives toward God. Which means that we will need to make the necessary adjustments, changes, and sacrifices in order to fully obey. Sometimes we will be tempted to wonder if walking out God’s Will is worth it, but we need to remember that when we give to God a full measure of obedience, we will receive a full measure of blessing. The first blessing that we see is a:

• Geographical Blessing

Verse 3 says “Your towns and your fields will be blessed” This is a powerful promise which reminds us that God’s blessings know no boundaries. God’s blessings don’t just impact the towns where we live but also in the fields where we work. God’s blessing aren’t limited to any particular demographic, whether you are in the city or out in the country God can bless you. No matter where you are or where you have come from the Almighty’s ability to bless is still the same. It’s not based on who you are but who He is, so no matter who you are or where you come from God can bless you. Regardless of whether you are a mechanic or a medic, a C.E.O. of a well-known company or a regular Joe blow it doesn’t limit God’s ability to bless. So whether you come from a well to do family or an overdue one remember it doesn’t matter who you are, it only matters who He is. What limits our lives and puts boundaries on God’s blessing is disobedience. Disobedience destroys, it buries God’s blessing. What about you are you limiting the Lord’s blessings? When it comes to God’s blessings are you building boundaries and putting up boarders? Are you destroying blessing with your disobedience? Not only do we see God’s boundless blessings geographically but we also see:

• Generational Blessing

Verse four says, “Your children and your crops will be blessed.” It’s the same message that we see in Exodus 20:6, when God gave Moses the Ten Commandments: “I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.” Again we see that God’s blessing knows no bounds, not only geographically but generationally. As parents there is something within us that desperately desires to bless our kids. It’s why we find in Mark 10:13 parents bringing their children to Jesus to be blessed, “One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them” What’s interesting to see is the response of His disciples, “the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him.” Unfortunately this is how many of us also view God, that we are a bother not a blessing, that God has more important things to do than love His kids. But nothing could be further from the truth that’s why Jesus reacted with rebuke toward His disciples. There is nothing wrong with wanting to bless your kids it’s our definition of bettering and blessing that’s the problem. Blessing always leaves us better, so why do our attempts to bless seem to be hurting and harming our kids instead of helping them? Why do our blessings end up bruising? Because in our attempt to prosper our kids we are trading people for possessions. We are giving them riches instead of relationship. We have bought into the belief that blessings revolve around riches, that all we have to do to bless our kids is buy them more stuff. What we have actually done is trade time for treasure, but my kids don’t want my money they want me. Think about it what would you rather have God or gold? Why would you settle for stuff when you can have the Savior? Instead of benefitting and blessing them we are babying them. Instead of bettering the next generation we are creating brats. Why do we have a society of spoiled brats because instead of blessing we are enabling. If we want to bless our kids then we need to recognize that they need God not gold. Do you want God’s blessing for you and your future family, then don’t be a disobedient disciple, repent and return to living life for the King. Keep walking in what God has revealed to you thus far, and as He reveals more of His Will chose to walk with His even further. In John 12:35 Jesus said, “Walk in the light while you can, so the darkness will not overtake you.” Are you living in the light so that darkness does not overtake and overcome you? Every moment we hesitate to follow God’s call is a moment we risk wandering around in darkness. Every moment we hesitate to heed the call is a moment we risk wasting our lives instead of investing them. We need to commit ourselves to living our lives for the Lord, and walking in whatever light God has given that day for us to walk in. The headlights of my car don’t shine all the way from my car to my eventual destination. They only shine a certain distance, which, when I have traveled that distance, I find that they shine out further. Rarely does God light up our whole lives in one moment, shinning so that we can see from start to finish. But the further we step out in faith the further the light shines. As the old Hymn says “Trust and obey for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

When we walk with the Lord

In the light of His Word,

What a glory He sheds on our way;

While we do His good will,

He abides with us still,

And with all who will trust and obey.

Where we struggle to trust is often where we struggle to obey, so where in your life are you struggling to trust God? God wants to bless us but if He blesses bad behavior we will become brats, and God loves us too much to let that happen.  God blesses us to be a blessing not to be a brat. So let me ask you are you being a blessing or being a brat?

Proverbs 10:6-10

“6 Blessings crown the head of the righteous, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked. 7 The name of the righteous is used in blessings, but the name of the wicked will rot. 8 The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin. 9 Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out. 10 Whoever winks maliciously causes grief, and a chattering fool comes to ruin.”

In Proverbs 10 we see the contrast of two drastically different characters, the wicked and the righteous. These two groups represent the two great classes of mankind. The great divide between those who delight in God and those who despise or dismiss Him. Belief effect behavior, and from their opposite characters come opposite ways of living, which lead to opposite destinies. Who and what we live for doesn’t just determine our destiny it dictates the blessing along the way. The righteous are rewarded with blessing because they receive God’s Word and respond in obedience. As a result they walk in security knowing that they will be remembered well. In contrast the wicked reject God’s Word and work to bring about hurt and harm. Since they sought the downfall of others their work will be cast down, instead of being remembered they will rot. It’s here that we see the contrast between:

• The Blessed vs the Bane

Verse 6 reveals that while the righteous are blessed the wicked get worked up and angered about it. It’s here that we see two different attitudes, one of adoration and one of anger. The agnostic is characterized by an angry attitude, while the Christian is characterized by joy and justice. This doesn’t mean that the righteous don’t face trials and tribulations. John 16:33 makes it clear that Christ’s followers will face adversity and affliction “33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” And 2 Timothy 3:12 reminds us that: “everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” Even though the righteous go through rough times their end is not one of ruin. Instead of being defined by sin we are defined by our Savior, it’s the Almighty not adversity that has the final say in our lives.  The Christian is not defined by their crisis but by Christ who abundantly compensates. God pours out His blessings not only physically, but spiritually and eternally, Isaiah 32:17 says: “And this righteousness will bring peace. Yes, it will bring quietness and confidence forever.” God smiles on His saints, we are protected by His peace which passes all understanding. In sharp contrast to the saints stands the wicked. Where the righteous person gives and receives blessings, the wicked are characterized by violence. Jesus summed this up in Luke 6:45 when He said: “The evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart” As a result the righteous memory will be remembered while the wicked’s is repulsive. What legacy do you want to leave, one that is remembered and rejoiced or one that will rot? As you recall the righteous people of the past it can be a tremendous source of spiritual blessing, but in contrast most people want to forget the wicked because their character was corrupt, like that of a rotting corpse. No one wants to be forgotten, we want our name to survive our death. We want the life that we live to have mattered and the legacy that we leave to be significant not one that stinks. We want to be remembered with joy and rejoicing not regret. There are many who even though they are dead continue to speak. In the mid-1800s, Texas rancher Samuel Augustus Maverick left his cattle unbranded. As a result when neighboring cowboys came upon a calf without a brand, they called it a “maverick.” The word became part of the English language and came to refer to a person who takes an independent stand and refuses to conform. There are many other names that have become words which we use to describe a person’s character and behavior. Like Judas which means “traitor” or a Jezebel, a perverter. A Jonah, one who runs from God, or an Einstein meaning a genius, a Solomon, one who is wise. Even though most of our names will not become part of our language they will leave a legacy for future generations, signifying who we were and how we lived. Often when you think of someone that you have known and admired, the words you usually associate with their name are character traits you would like to emulate. Words like, honesty, generosity, and love often lead the list. We see these character traits in Christ, who allows us as His children to bear His name. Jesus wants to work in us and through us to make our name one that points to Him. When others think of you, do they think of Jesus? Blessings or bane come as a result of:

• Receiving the Word vs reject it

Verse 8 reminds us that there will be those who receive and respond to the Word of God and those who reject it, “The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin.” What about you are you teachable? Do you desire not only to learn God’s Word but to live it and walk in His ways? A wise person doesn’t just accept Scripture as divine authority they apply it to their lives. Receptivity is a characteristic of the new heart, scripture says in  1 Peter 2:2 that the new born babe desires the sincere milk of the Word. While in Matthew 13 the parable of the sower tells us that the well broken good soil received the good seed, while the other types of soil keep it on the surface or so shallow that it never really took root. Receptivity is the chief cause of the great difference that results. Just as the thirsty ground drinks in the rain, so the wise long for the Word of God. In Matthew 5:6 Jesus in the sermon on the mount said, “Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled.” James 1:21 says “So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls” How receptive are you to God’s Word? In contract to the wise is the fool who never quit talking long enough to learn truth. They would rather hear themselves babble than learn from the Bible. In the Hebrew the word fool refers to one who willfully refuses to make moral choices. They neither chose good nor reject evil, and while they are primarily depicted as morally stupid they should also be considered mentally stupid because they refuse to receive moral instruction and to learn from their mistakes. As Proverbs 12:15 states: “Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others.” Verse 9 provides us with a promise, that those who walk before God in the land of the living will find a secure and shielded path, “Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.” Those who accept and apply God’s Word don’t just develop integrity they walk in it which leads to security. Honesty is the policy that protects, but those who chose the crooked path stumble. Eventually they are revealed for what they are, and a lack of integrity has ruined many a mighty man. What about you are you walking carefully or compromising? Verse 10 tells us that the wicked may wink but it’s a bogus sham. Their artificially wise sounding conversation will come back to cast them into contempt. It’s often the emptiest vessels that rattle the loudest, and the one who despises God’s wisdom will fall victim of his own folly. These proverbs present the inevitable cause-and-effect relationship between human behavior and its outcome. Whether you like it or not God has rigged the universe for righteousness which means responding to His way prompts reward, while going against it will always lead to failure and forfeit. We have an opportunity and an obligation to make the right choice. So what choices are you making, will they result in a blessed life or a bane one? Are you receiving and responding to God’s Word or rejecting it?