Overtaken By God's Blessings

If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.
(1 Peter 4:14-16, NASB)

It’s pretty simple. Obey God, and be blessed. Disobey God, and be cursed. I was reading Deuteronomy this morning, and I was struck by verses 1 and 2 in chapter 28. God tells the people of Israel, if they “diligently obeyed” Him and were“careful to do all His commandments,” He promised overly-abundant blessings, which will “come upon … and overtake” them.

Can you imagine being “overtaken” by God’s blessings? How awesome is that?!

Now not everything that was written in the books of the law pertains to us. Many of the commandments were for a specific time and place. But I do know this: Obeying God is for all times and all places.

If I love God, if I want to follow Him, I’ll obey His commandments. That’s what I learn over and over in the Old Testament. Then I learn something more in the New Testament: Many won’t like my following God’s commandments. Many will revile me or persecute me because of my faith.

I can expect this, but I can also know God will bless me as I obey Him. I don’t have to be—I must not be—ashamed if I “suffer as a Christian.” Instead, I can—and must—glorify my Lord God and know He’ll bless me as I do.