Blessing and Cursing

The Blessing

By William M. Self, Sr.

 

 Those of us who live by faith and worship God

Can learn how to bring greater blessing into our lives by God’s law

“His blessing will be on your food and water.

I will take away sickness from among you”

Exodus 21

 

Blessing and Cursing

One of the touchiest subjects among Christians is the law.

The scriptures are clear through Jesus Christ

and the New Covenant in His blood.

We are free from the law of sin

and death by the law of the Spirit.

But we must ask ourselves…

Does the law have value?

In Galatians, we see the law is not

opposed to the promises of God.

It also serves as a shadow of things to come.

We are justified by faith and…

“We are no longer under the supervision of the law.”

So does the law have value?

In Deuteronomy 11, blessing and curse came from the law.

The one who obeys the law will be blessed

and the one who disobeys will be cursed.

  

The law dealt with every area of life…

·       How to take care of your body

·       What to eat          

·       How to treat others

·       How to worship God

Doing these things would make a person successful

 in life, but would not give them eternal life.

I think this battle over the law and grace

has kept many of us from success.

Look at the negative side of the law… the curses.

What would happen to a person who

 did the things the law says not to do?

No doubt that person would

not be successful in life.

On the other hand, can we live longer and

 healthier by living according to the law?

I would never want to take away

from the message of saving faith.

We are justified by faith not the law.

But if we want to live healthier and longer…

If we want to be successful in life…

Maybe the law has something to teach us.

And with that understanding we

will not only find its blessings…

But get a glimpse of heaven from the shadow of the law.

 

Scripture Reading

Exodus 21:1, 25, 26 NIV

 "These are the laws you are to set before them: ...  25 Worship the

Lord your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water.

 I will take away sickness from among you, 26 and none will

 miscarry or be barren in your land. I will give you a full life span.

Deuteronomy 11:26-32 NIV

26 See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse —  27 the blessing if you obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today; 28 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. 29 When the Lord your God has brought you into the land you are entering to possess, you are to proclaim on Mount Gerizim the blessings, and on Mount Ebal the curses. 30 As you know, these mountains are across the Jordan, west of the road, toward the setting sun, near the great trees of Moreh, in the territory of those Canaanites living in the Arabah in the vicinity of Gilgal. 31 You are about to cross the Jordan to enter and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you. When you have taken it over and are living there, 32 be sure that you obey all the decrees and laws I am setting before you today.

Galatians 3:21-25 NIV

21 Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not!

For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would

certainly have come by the law. 22 But the Scripture declares that the whole

world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through

faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.

23 Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law,

locked up until faith should be revealed. 24 So the law was put in charge

to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. 25 Now that faith

 has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.