Coffee, Christ, and the Cure for the Curse
As I wake up with coffee and Christ, I find myself reflecting on this morning’s readings, Deuteronomy 28 and Galatians 3. As I read Deuteronomy 28, I was a bit perplexed. The chapter lays out blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. The blessings were awesome, like verse 6.
‘Wherever you go and whatever you do, you will be blessed. ‘
Deuteronomy 28:6
But failing to obey fully and to keep God’s commands carefully was horrifying.
‘”The Lord will afflict you with the boils of Egypt and with tumors, scurvy, and the itch, from which you cannot be cured. The Lord will strike you with madness, blindness, and panic. “The siege and terrible distress of the enemy’s attack will be so severe that you will eat the flesh of your own sons and daughters, whom the Lord your God has given you. ‘
Deuteronomy 28:27-28,53
The severity of the curse for disobeying is brutal. But Scripture tells us that the finished work of Jesus has freed us from that curse.
‘But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” ‘
Galatians 3:13
Through our faith in Jesus, we are free from the curse. Christ has set us free from the curse and all the guilt and shame that comes with the curse. The cross makes us right with God and adopts us as his children. It’s not a free ticket to do whatever we please; we should live to please Christ.
‘For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. ‘
Galatians 3:26-27
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for Jesus Christ, your son, who brings us into a right relationship with you. Thank you for loving us, adopting us, and freeing us from the curse. Lord, I ask that you protect our relationship with you and with our neighbor from the enemy’s interference. I ask that if the enemy tries to interfere with our lives, you confuse and scatter the enemy in 7 directions. I ask that we live in the Spirit, to please you. Lead us, guide every part of our lives, Holy Spirit. I ask, in the name that is above all names, the authority over all things, his name is Jesus. Amen.