I preached a sermon this past Sunday with the title, “Choosing To Be Cursed!”It was one of the most difficult sermons I have prepared for in a long time.I was looking at the passages in Deuteronomy about blessings and curses.Here are two of them:
See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse— the blessing if you obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today; the curse if you disobey the commands of the Lord your God and turn from the way that I command you today by following other gods, which you have not known. (Deuteronomy 11:26-28)
This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life… (Deuteronomy 30:19-20)
What is the path to intimacy with God and enduring blessing? It is the path of obedience to the will and Word of God.Conversely, when we disobey God’s commands and truth, we walk a path of pain, sorrow, and cursing.
God is crystal clear about the path to blessing and the path to a cursed life.As you walk with Jesus today, will you ask these three questions:
1. Where am I living in resistance or defiance to what I know the Bible teaches?
2. How am I missing out on the blessing of God?
3. What needs to change, today, so that I can walk more fully in the blessing and joy of God?
One of the main ways we draw near to God is walking in line with His Word and repenting when we are on the wrong path. Choose blessing!Choose life!Choose obedience!