R³ Devotional - Day 79

In Deuteronomy 27:18 we find: “And the Lord has declared this day that you are his people, his treasured possession as he promised, and that you are to keep all his commands”. Reading this makes me feel chills, it’s amazing to see how God considered his people and treasured them, and the reason why He always reminded them to obey. Moses has been reminding the new generation of Israelites that will enter to the promised land all of God’s commandments, covenants and who the Lord is. Today’s chapters are part of the ultimatum Moses is giving, related in detail to obedience and the renewal of the covenant.

Chapter 28
Moses explains thoroughly to the Israelites the multiple blessings or curses that will come if they fully obey/disobey the Lord.  We learn that the consequences of disobedience are far more extensive and distressing.

Chapter 29
As the covenant is renewed in Moab, there’s a remembrance of what God has done with his people since the exile from Egypt. Moses explains to the people, how God has been their provider and taken care of them, as he encourages them to keep the covenant. Like all contracts work, he explained what would happen if they failed to keep their word.

Real: Life Principles

• Obedience to God brings blessings always. Those blessings don’t only impact us but cause a ripple effect on family and friends. 
• When we obey the Lord, we witness to others our faith and relationship with Him. 
• Disobedience and God don’t get along. Throughout His word, we learn of all the terrible consequences his people have suffered every time they fail to keep His commandments. Thanks to the Lord today we are living under his grace, but that doesn’t mean we have to live in iniquity. If we are disobedient, He will certainly discipline us, and we will have to live with the consequences of our actions. 
• Disobedience makes us weaker in different ways.
  
  

Relevant: Life Applications 

• Obeying God is hard yet is the proof we love Him and trust him. For example, when you read the Ten Commandments, you realize that every single commandment is hard to keep if we want to do it by ourselves. Once we have accepted Jesus as our savior, we can surely trust Him and ask every day to guide us and give us a heart ready to listen and obey him.
• In today’s world, we can hear or see messages that being obedient is boring and makes you a nobody. God tells us the opposite. When we walk in the Lord and are obedient to Him, our actions and character are different. We show our family, friends and community we are part of God’s people. That can certainly make you stand out and through that, you can witness to others and share about Jesus and his redeeming work in your life. 
• If we declare we have been saved, Jesus has certainly forgiven ALL our sins. BUT this is not a free pass to disobey God, and that we will get away with it. Daily we must check our hearts, confess any sin and repent if we have been failing on something. Perhaps the exact curses that God promised to the Israelites won’t happen to us, nonetheless if needed He will discipline us, until we learn the lesson.
  
  

Ready: Life Actions

• Dwell in God’s word every day, let your heart and mind be full of His teachings, so you can honor Him. 
• Check your heart every day, if there are any unconfessed sins, ask for forgiveness and ask the Lord to help you daily not to fail again. 
• Sometimes leaving behind sins or addictions that make us disobey God can feel hard and that we are walking in an isolated path, trying to fight it.  If needed, find a friend or leader who is strong in the word, that can be your accountability partner during this process. 

Lord, every day let me hear your voice and give me the strength to always follow you and do what you tell me to do. In Jesus precious name we pray, Amen. 
Have a blessed day!!