Deuteronomy 8:1 – “Every commandment which I command you today you must be careful to observe, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land of which the LORD swore to your fathers.”  NKJV

 

There is a wealth to be gleaned in this chapter with the key elements being Obedience and Faith.  There are a wealth of promises of blessing from the LORD and in virtually every case, as in this promise, there are conditions or qualifiers inserted by the LORD.  It is not that we earn it but we can disqualify ourselves through disobedience.  It is by grace that we have salvation or any of the blessings of God and through disobedience we separate ourselves from His blessings.

Notice the progression of directives:

• Every Commandment carefully observed (obeyed).

The result is life, multiplication and possession of the promise.  

• Obedience to God’s commandments.

We understand that to disobey or fail to keep God’s commandments was an evidence of forgetting God.  There is a warning of self-sufficiency and in a time of plenty to neglect our walk with the LORD.  There is the danger of attributing your success to your own efforts and abilities.

• Remember Who Gives You The Power and/or Ability to Succeed.

It is God!  He gives the power to produce or achieve wealth or success and His purpose in so blessing you is that He may establish His covenant and that will be a testimony of His love and grace.  The warning is, fail to keep his commandments and forget Him and He will stand against you and remove His hand of mercy.  The imagery of that is anything but pleasant.

             Therefore, always remember that you are what you are by the grace of God.  I am not saying if you are living vile you can blame Him but if you are walking in blessing it is because of His gifts, abilities and grace.  If you are alive it is because His sustaining hand is upon your life enabling you to draw another breath.  If you have any gifts or abilities although you may have honed them through hard work, education and experience always remember where the gift came from.

God’s desires to bless us richly.  Remember the Lord Jesus’ words in Luke 12:32 – “Do not fear, little flock, for it is y our Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”  God is more desirous to bless you and heap His abundance on you than you are to receive it.  However, His purpose is always the Kingdom not your ease.  He will always have the whole of man in mind and heart.

            God bless you as you go through this day!