Joy of Faithfulness

Thursday 13 November 2014

In early 2014 the attention of the world turned to Sochi, Russia, where Olympic athletes pursued their lifelong quests. Our family loves the Summer and Winter Games - the global pageantry, the athletes' grit and fight, the goodwill expressed among countries.

Our favourite moments are the individual athlete stories. From the Olympic Trials through the 2 weeks of the Games, we hear tales of athletes who spent years training, who overcame hardship, who became (over years of persistent devotion to their sport) women and men prepared to represent their homeland and compete on the world stage. Hearing the Olympians' stories, I'm struck by the way so many of them are compelled by the joys of competition, love for their sport and hope for the glory of a medal.

In Scripture, God called His people to a lifelong obedience - a dogged faithfulness of commitment to God´s ways. Moses challenged Israel to "carefully keep all his commands" (Deuteronomy 28:1). God provided these instructions as guides for life. They weren´t fickle whims, but a holistic pattern of living and being.

Yet there was much joy and promise accompanying these commands. For in keeping them, Moses reminded Israel, "you will experience all these blessings "(v.2). Their cities would be blessed (v.3). Their families and farms would be blessed (v.4). They would know abundance (v.5). And to make sure God was clear about the extent of the promised joy to come, Moses concluded with a flourish : "Wherever you go and whatever you do, you will be blessed" (v.6).

A life enduring, persistent faithfulness to God requires much and is often difficult. But the path leads to eventual and eternal Joy. - Winn Collier

Read
Deuteronomy 28:1-6
If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God.

You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country.
The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock - the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks.
Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed.
You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out.

* Read the rest of Deuteronomy 28*

Question to Ponder
Where in your life do you struggle most with faithfulness to God and the life He´s provided for you?
How might joy come as a fruit of saying "yes" to God?

** Article taken from ODJ (Our Daily Journey with God) Sept - Nov 2014 Issue.