READ Deuteronomy 28
The people receive the blessings of Mount Gerizim.
 
INSIGHT
A sword and a plowshare are laid on the valley floor between Ebal and Gerizim. Blessings are piled upon pile-until you wonder if the blessings can be contained. The Lord outdoes Himself, searching His omniscience to find ways of blessing Israel. Obviously, He takes great pleasure in doing good to them. But in the shadow of the plowshare lies a sword. The 14 verses of blessings are followed by 54 verses of the most heart-rending curses imaginable. How evil, how unspeakably terrible is sin. Thank God that He has delivered us from it. Thank God that, through Christ, we may taste of His blessings forever.
 
PRAYER
Offer your praise to the Lord for His goodness in delivering us from the consequences of sin:
You who love the Lord, hate evil!  
He protects the lives of his faithful ones;  
he rescues them from the power of the wicked.  
Light dawns, for the righteous,
gladness for the upright in heart.  
Be glad in the Lord, you righteous ones,
and give thanks to his holy name
(Psalm 97:10-12).
 
Now pray this confession to the Lord to keep your life in fellowship with Him:
No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Therefore, strengthen your tired hands and weakened knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated but healed instead (Hebrews 12:11-13).
 
As you agree with God's will, voice your affirmation of His Word:
You are the bread of life. He who comes to You shall never hunger, and he who believes in You shall never thirst (Based on John 6:35).
 
As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:

• An eternal perspective on life
• Your own personal goals and spiritual growth
• The concerns of your heart

 
Now offer this prayer of worship to the Lord:
Now may You, the God of patience and comfort grant us to be likeminded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that we may with one mind and one mouth glorify You, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (Based on Romans 15:5-6).