S) "6 “Know, then, it is not because of your righteousness that the Lord your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stubborn people."
Deuteronomy 9:6 (NASB)
O) Three times, Moses repeated that it was not because the Israelites were righteous. First he reminded them that the LORD was doing it because He is faithful to keep His promises. Then he reminded them that God was dispossessing the Land because the previous inhabitants were evil. Moses actually repeated both points, really driving home the fact that this blessing was not because of their righteousness.
A) It is easy, over three thousand years after the fact, to look at the Israelites and shake my head. It is easy to get sucked into the lie that if I was in their position, I would have been so much different. The truth is, I am the same in too many ways. It is easy to get caught up in a performance-based mentality in my relationship with God. The truth is, He chooses to bless me based on His will alone, not based on my good works or righteousness. I must continue to put my focus only on my relationship with Him. When I can recognize that spending time with Him (in the Word, in prayer, in worship) is a blessing in and of itself, then I will worry less about whether or not God will be giving me (what amounts to) peripheral blessings. The true blessing is in knowing Him, and my reconciliation to Him is certainly not based on my own righteousness, but on Christ alone.
P) Father, You are a good God, a wonderful Lord, and a loving Father. You are altogether holy and singularly worthy. I am too often interested in my righteousness, I think. Forgive me of my pride and the foolishness of worrying about messing things up or earning approval, somehow. I know that You already gave me everything I need to be righteous, through faith in Jesus Christ and the work He already accomplished. Help me to rest in that, and instead to focus on my relationship with You directly. I know from experience, and through the truth of Your words, that when I focus on seeking You and Your kingdom, everything else will fall into place, according to Your promises and will for me. So, let Your will be done, Lord. Accomplish in me, instead of for me, and keep me close. Be glorified in my life. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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