If you obey the Lord your God: Blessed shall you be in the city and blessed shall you be in the field. Deuteronomy 28:2-3  

Jesus said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it!” Luke 11:28  

Blessings sound like a good thing. The dictionary defines blessing as God’s favor and protection. When someone sneezes, we might say “God bless you.” Why? Apparently because people thought we were susceptible to evil spirits entering when we were sneezing. Another possibility comes from fears of severe illness. Sneezing was a symptom of bubonic plague, so when someone sneezed Pope Gregory I (Gregory the Great) suggested saying “God bless you” after a person sneezed in hopes that this prayer would protect them from an otherwise certain death.   

In Deuteronomy 28, Moses tells the people they will be blessed if they obey God and cursed if they do not. That seems simple – obey and be blessed, don’t and you are cursed.  What blessings can they expect?. Good crops, protection from enemies, great children and more. . Everything will be wonderful! Those who disobey don’t get any of this good stuff. Jesus says this too in our verse from Luke. As He responds to a woman in the crowd who says: “blessed be your mother.” Jesus emphasizes that those who hear the Word of God and obey it are blessed. That is have God’s favor and protection. One commentator calls this a “higher consideration,” beyond the obvious. We see some people who look really blessed – lots of income, fancy house, nice cars. They may be blessed in material things, but we all have heard of apparently blessed people who are miserable, and less well-off people who are joyful and content.   

How can imperfect, disobedient people have any hope to be among the blessed? Luckily we have a loving caring God who has prepared for this. God made us and knows us. He sent Jesus as our savior, and the Holy Spirit to be here with us. Thanks to the grace of God, it can be simple. Read, listen and really hear His word, and then obey as best we can.   

God of all goodness, you speak your word and bless us beyond measure. We are grateful, even though we often don’t express that. So often we are blind to our blessing and deaf to your words. Bless your word which we receive by faith, and bless the faith by which we walk. Give us hearts to hear you and the will to obey. Amen.  

Chris Gabel 

Ministries
Teaching Mission Party