Thoughts in Worship

Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Wednesday, April 20, 2016

This Week’s Devotional Focus is, “God’s Blessings.”

“And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee.” (Deuteronomy 28:11).

God will make His people fruitful if we keep His commandments.

The ancient Israelites experienced this blessing in its fulness many times when they were faithful to God. There were notable times during the reigns of kings Asa and Solomon that should be the blueprint of putting God to the test. We do know that Solomon also demonstrated the converse at times, much like our theme chapter indicates will happen if we turn our backs on God.

Job, Joseph, Abraham, Hannah, and others were perfect examples of how God kept His promise to infuse remarkable fruitfulness into the lives of His saints. The three men experienced material and influential growth. Hannah, although her womb was once closed experienced the blessing of giving birth to who would become one of the greatest prophets in history, Samuel. They all lived to please their God and the rewards were evident. The list of others who stand as ambassadors of this principle in Scripture is nearly endless. God has always loved to shine through the lives of His people according to His will and blueprint for them as individuals.

While times have certainly changed over the thousands of years since then, God has remained the same. There are bright lights in the corrupt political systems of the world who stand head and shoulders above the rest like Moses, Joseph, and Daniel did. There are stalwarts in business and economics who have banished the love of money, yet God bestows great wealth. There are innovators in the sciences and philosophy who would rather defer praise to their Creator than be worshipped by people. There are shining stars in the arts, music, and literature who direct the minds of the masses to the King of the universe in all we share with the world. God is still blessing His people with fruitfulness. There are parents and surrogates who have trained our young people to become remarkable leaders in the most perverse generation the world has ever known. God is still blessing His people with fruitfulness.

While Jesus still lived on earth, He taught His disciples how difficult it was for a rich person to be saved, because so many who have riches forget their God. Peter was so confused, because the common mindset was that riches were an indication of God’s favor. If rich people might have difficulty being saved, what about poor people? How could they be saved? It was a false premise, but Jesus, being the patient Man He was, enlightened His people. He said that with human beings, being saved is impossible (whether rich or poor), but with God all things are possible. Salvation is a supernatural gift given only to those who fully trust in God! What He said next was incredible and we need to take note: “And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.” (Mark 10:29–31).

When we surrender all to God, even in our days and times, He has promised that we will always have what we need. This is a promise! When we surrender all, He calls upon the vast resources in His storehouse and floods our lives with the benefits. Every believer in the world immediately becomes a resource to every other believer. This is the Bible way. If you need food, another believer is to supply it. If they need housing, yet another believer should...