Day 39

If You Walk with God

Read: Leviticus 26-27

This passage reflects a principle stated throughout Scripture, that God will respond to us depending on how we have responded to him. The word if is prominent. If we obey God, he will bless us. If we do not listen to him, he will chastise us.

There is a danger that we take such passages and allow them to lead us to a work-righteousness religion. The New Testament reminds us that our best efforts fall so far short that we must trust in God’s mercy and grace alone, a grace revealed clearly to us through our Lord Jesus Christ. Yet it is true that obedience will bring blessings, although not always of a material nature, and that disobedience will lead to God’s disciplinary action against us.

This disciplinary action is spelled out in detail here. To disobey is to walk contrary to God. This will lead to trouble. The purpose of this trouble is to lead to repentance. If this does not happen, yet greater trouble will come. The final trouble would be exile, something which actually took place in the history of Israel. If this would finally lead to confession of sin, God would receive them again in mercy. These biblical principles are still at work today in God’s dealings with us.

The last chapter talks about voluntary dedication of oneself and one’s possessions to God, a practice reported among God’s people in the early chapters of the book of Acts.

PRAYER
Father, give us grace to be obedient that we may experience your blessings. In Jesus’ name. Amen.