Abundance

God’s people had rejected Him. As a consequence, they reaped what they had sown. But this was not God’s desire. He spoke about His “everlasting love”…how He had drawn them “with lovingkindness”…how He would “build you and you will be rebuilt,”…and how there would be celebration and fruitfulness.

God even promised to “fill the soul of the priests with abundance”: They “will gorge themselves on my lavish gifts” (New Jerusalem Bible). But this would only happen after they repented and returned to Him with their whole hearts.

Here and throughout the Bible, we see God’s designs and purposes. He desires to bless us! We see these plans first in the Garden of Eden, where God created an environment filled with abundance. But, as always, there was a condition: Adam and Eve had to obey God and not eat from “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (Genesis 2:17). When they disobeyed, they experienced the fruit of their disobedience.

This pattern is repeated throughout the Bible, and it still is true today. God tells us clearly of His desire to bless us abundantly, but there are conditions…and consequences for our actions. The choice is up to us, for we will Reap what we Sow.

Today, remember that God stands ready to bless you, fill your soul “with abundance,” and satisfy you with His goodness.

If you’ve sinned, confess those sins and turn from them. Humble yourself before God. Seek Him. Serve Him. Submit yourself completely to Him. Obey His Word. Make sure that you’re using the resources He’s given you to Sow Seeds into His Kingdom.

As you live a life of faithfulness, humility, and obedience, expect and believe that God will pour out His abundance-His “lavish gifts”-on you!