living according to God's word

Examine your self

I warned thee

self check up

Walk in the spirit and you want fulfill the lust of the flesh LGal 5:16; 5:25

LIVING IN GOD’S BLESSING

In that day the mountains will drip with sweet wine.

“Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”

Assassins, 368

AFTER ALL IS SAID and done, what does it look like when God’s restoration is complete? How does the blessing of God’s redemption manifest itself when he’s finished reinstating his people?

When we move away from God and disobey his commands, he brings us under his hand of discipline. His purpose is to keep us from harm and to bring us back into communion with him. His discipline is a sign that we are his people, and his love compels him to punish us. His punishment brings us back to our knees, and he quickly forgives our transgressions. He restores our blessings, even greater than before. And then we sit once again in the seat of his mercy. So what does that look like?

The prophet Joel described it like this: “ ‘In that day the mountains will drip with sweet wine, and the hills will flow with milk. Water will fill the dry streambeds of Judah, and a fountain will burst forth from the Lord’s Temple, watering the arid valley of acacias.… Judah will remain forever, and Jerusalem will endure through all future generations. I will pardon my people’s crimes … and I, the Lord, will make my home in Jerusalem with my people” ().

Simply put, it looks like heaven on earth: God’s people living in the light of God’s blessing, moving in his will, bathing in his mercy, feeling his presence, singing his praises, experiencing his glorious love. When we live the way God wants us to live, he brings blessings too great to describe. He shelters and defends us. He provides for our every need. He hears our prayers and answers them. He resides among us.

It’s hard for so many of us to imagine that because we live so much of our life in rebellion. We’re so busy being disobedient that we never give God the chance to give us the blessings he has in store. God doesn’t want us to spend our life under his hand of discipline—he has much greater plans. If only we could learn to rest in his love and give ourselves over to his perfect will. That’s when we would know firsthand that God’s provision and goodness are far beyond anything we could expect or imagine.

REFLECTION

In what ways have you lived in rebellion to God? How has this kept you from receiving his blessings in your life? Why not pray that he will deliver you and restore his blessings?

LaHaye, T., Jenkins, J. B., & Martin, F. M. (2004). Embracing Eternity: living each day with a heart toward heaven (p. 64). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale. in the spirit ;