February 6

Blessing in the City

And all these blessings will come upon you and overtake you, if you will obey the voice of the LORD your God: You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country. — Deut 28:2-3 BSB

The city is full of stress, and anyone who has to go there day after day finds it to be a place of great wear and tear. It is filled with noise, commotion, and bustle, and brings many temptations, losses, and worries. But going there with the Lord's blessing takes the edge off its challenges; staying there with that blessing makes the duties bearable and gives us strength equal to the demands.

A blessing in the city may not make us great, but it will keep us good; it may not make us rich, but it will preserve our honesty. Whether we are porters, clerks, managers, merchants, or magistrates, the city offers us opportunities for usefulness. It’s good to fish where there are plenty of fish, and it’s encouraging to work for our Lord in the midst of busy crowds. We might prefer the quiet of country life, but if we are called to the city, we can embrace it because it offers plenty of room for our energies.

Today, let’s expect good things because of this promise, and let our focus be on having an open ear to the voice of the Lord and a ready hand to carry out His will. Obedience brings the blessing. “In keeping His commandments there is great reward.”