Contemplative Bible Reading

Deuteronomy 6:10-12 (New International Version)

¹⁰ When the LORD your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you—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—then when you eat and are satisfied, ¹² be careful that you do not forget the LORD, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

God’s people are about to enter the land he swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Notice what will be in the land:

• cities
• houses
• goods
• wells
• vineyards
• olive groves

Also notice that these things will be standing there when the people arrive. They did not make, build, plant, grow, or provide any of them. These are blessing that “the Lord your God gives you.”

These people walked into a land already built and tilled and prosperous. They were so lucky. In many ways I wish God would give me lots of nice things that I didn’t have to make, build, or earn.

Oooops.

It is easy to forget about the spiritual things that God has given me that I have not earned. These great gifts from the Lord to His people in the Old Testament is like the great gifts from the Lord to us today.

God, thank you for the physical things you have given me. Thank you for the ability to earn money to provide things for my family and me. More important, thank you for the spiritual blessings that I have not earned, that I could never earn.