"Brought to the Border of Blessing"
Deuteronomy 32:28-52
Luke 12:35-59
Psalm 78:56-64
Proverbs 12:24
Have you ever been in the place where you really wanted to complain? Have you ever wanted to say, "ugh this is just not worth it..." What's hard to realize is that in that moment, we could be standing on the edge of incredible blessing and promise.
"But he led forth his own people like a flock, guiding them safely through the wilderness. He kept them safe, so they were not afraid. But the Sea closed in upon their enemies and overwhelmed them. He brought them to the border of his land of blessing, to this land of hills he made for them." (Ps. 78:52-54)
God did great things for the people of Israel. He set them free. He gave them provision in the wilderness. He brought them to the border of the land of blessing.
"Yet though he did all this for them, they still rebelled against the God above all gods, and refused to follow his commands. They turned back... and disobeyed... Like a crooked arrow, they missed the target of God's will." (vs. 56-57)
What a sad statement. "They missed the target of God's will." Do you think that is true of believers today? I can look back at times in my own life when I've been disobedient. I've turned to sin instead of hitting the target of God's will for me. I didn't even realize in those times that I was at the Border of God's Blessing.
Listen to the powerful words of Deuteronomy 32:47. "These laws are not mere words - they are your life!"
To live the DREAM, we must have an understanding of what it means to live by Godly principles. We need to be genuinely Empowered Through Biblical Training. That takes discipline.
I think often we brush off the fact that we struggle in the area of "discipline". "Yeah, I'm pretty undisciplined... My bible reading is 'hit & miss'... Yeah, I know God wants me to do this, but I'm not ready to go there." Because of that lack of discipline, we fail in the area of Obedience which is our primary form of worship. Then we need to understand that if we're not living the Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship, we have a PROBLEM!
There is always more at stake than we realize when we are tempted. So many times we think it's an issue of self-control, or just a "minor" offense, or a "struggle". God's commands are not mere words, they are LIFE. That means to disobey them means DEATH.
Too often I believe we are turned back at the Border of Blessing because we wont follow through in complete obedience. I picture the "Border of Blessing Checkpoint". "Passport please..." Our passports have only one page. It must be stamped "Obedient". If it isn't.... "I'm sorry, you're going to have to take a detour." And like a broken arrow, we miss the target of God's will.
I want life. I want blessing. I must be obedient. When temptation comes, when trials come, I must make sure that I don't sacrifice what God has for me. I don't want to miss the "obedient" stamp in my passport. I must discipline myself to be in the Word. I must discipline myself to obey. This discipline must happen in daily life. If we wait until the climax of the testing, we can't say "Ok, NOW I want to be disciplined!! No, it must happen on a daily basis. Then, what has been done will be revealed in the testing.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
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