Walking by a Blessing

Everyone, thanks for joining us for today's word of the Regiment from Our Daily Bread. Today's reading titled walking by a blessing was written by James Banks in 1799.

12-year-old Conrad Reed found a large glittering rock in the stream that ran through his family small farm in North Carolina.

He carried it home to show his father, a poor immigrant farmer. His father didn't understand the rocks potential value and used it as a doorstop. The family walked by it for years. Eventually Conrad's rock. Actually, a 17 pound gold nugget caught the eye of a local jeweler. Soon the Reed family became wealthy and their property became the site of the first major gold strike in the United States. Sometimes we walk past a blessing, intent on our own plans in ways after Israel was exiled to Babylon for disobeying God. He proclaimed freedom for them. Once again, but he also reminded them of what they'd missed. I am the Lord your God. He told them who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go if only you had paid attention to my commands. Your piece would have been like a river, your well-being like the waves of the sea God then encourage them to follow him away from the old ways into a new life leave Babylon announce this with shouts of joy leaving Babylon.

Perhaps now is much as then means leaving sinful ways and coming home to a God who wants to do us good.

If only will obey and follow him.

Today's Our Daily Bread devotional Scripture reading is from Isaiah chapter 48 verses 12 through 20.

Listen to me Jacob Israel, whom I have called I am he. I am the first and I am the last my own hand laid the foundations of the earth. In my right hand spread out the heavens when I summoned them. They all stand up together, come together all of you and listen which of the idols has foretold these things the Lord's chosen ally will carry out his purpose against Babylon's arm will be against the Babylonians. I even I have spoken. Yes I have called him. I will bring him and he will succeed in his mission come near me and listen to this. From the first announcement I have not spoken in secret at the time it happens I am there and now the sovereign Lord has sent me endowed with his spirit. This is what the Lord says your Redeemer, the holy one of Israel. I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go if only you had paid attention to my commands. Your piece would have been like a river, your well-being like the waves of the sea, your descendents would have been like the sand your children like its numberless grains, their name would never be blotted out nor destroyed from before me leave Babylon flee from the Babylonians announce this with shouts of joy and proclaim it send it out to the ends of the earth say the Lord has redeemed his servant Jacob.

Now let's pray. Loving God, there is no one like you help us leave behind our personal battle lines and walk in the abundant life you provide. Thank you, Lord Jesus, it's in your name that we pray. Amen. Thanks for listening.

My name is Wes Ward and today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread ministries