Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Taste and see the Lord is good
Deuteronomy 28:1-14
Dr. Shibu Joseph
Epiphany MTC, New York
2 all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the Lord your God:
 
When we were young, all of us wanted to grow up, get an education that will lead to a good job, have a nice house, loving spouse and children.  Now when we look back, we can recognize that our Lord has been kind to us and blessed us abundantly so that we may come to this land and improve our lives and those of our children. We have indeed tasted that God is good.
                  I sincerely believe that all our blessings are due to the unfailing faith our parents and grandparents had in the Lord. Their tearful prayers early morning, afternoon and night still resonates in my memories. In Deuteronomy 6:10, God promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, 11. houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant. The same promises are also repeated in Joshua 24:13. We are now enjoying the blessings of this land for which we did not toil like the native population, all because of His grace. We have tasted the God, and have indeed found that the God is good.
                  However, in the midst of the abundance we should always be cautious and must not forget to obey His commandments. As we see of the Israelites during the exodus from Egypt, they were always complaining even though God provided them with all their daily needs. Sometimes the disobedience comes from our wants rather than our needs. In Eden, Adam and Eve wanted to be like God.
                  Throughout the Bible, God warns us not to go after the sinful ways of the local population. God warned not to go after the various Gods being worshipped in many of the cities the Israelites passed by. As we live in this blessed land we also have an obligation to obey His commandments, teach our children the Christian way of life centered on God, and above all not to follow the various sinful tastes and cultures of this land. Let us always remember what David wrote in Psalms 34:8 Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.   

PRAYER


Father, help us to remember the difficult paths we have travelled. Instill within us the Grace to be thankful to You for showing us the way when we would have gone astray; for holding our hands when we were about to fall. Bless our generations and help them also to follow You. Amen

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you; 1 Peter 3:15

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