A New Way to Look at Things

We had a friend who has gone on to be with the LORD who used to say of certain thoughts, “These are the things that make you go ‘Hmm’.” I find it amusing because “Huh” or “Hmm” come up when I am talking with others; it must be universal. What I present to you today you may have already considered, but it definitely caused me to “Hmm…”

Deuteronomy Chapter 28 lists blessings and curses dependent on us: “If you will . . . then I will . . . ” says the LORD. The blessing part is wonderful, the cursing part, not so much. If memory serves, I have submitted posts about the “If you will . . . then I will . . . ” relationship that we have with the LORD. So I will preface today’s subject matter by saying that I still adhere to my belief that we do have certain “responsibilities” in our walk with God; what we think, say, and do effects our relationship, but I’m wondering if, like me, perhaps it’s time to look at things in a new way.

As I stated earlier, the first 14 verses in Deuteronomy are blessing, blessing, blessing — if we will. Verses 15-68 deal with cursing, cursing, cursing — if we do not. The first part of the chapter, much more pleasant, just saying. Now, I like visiting and claiming the blessings but that can be tricky if I’m trying to assert them when I feel like I’ve had a “I did not” such and such sort of day. Do you know what I’m saying? I failed. Then I got hold of a teaching that brought up this portion of scripture and focused in on the first two verses. The thought was basically this:

“Quit reading ‘If you will’ and read ‘Jesus did’. As in, Jesus obeyed the voice of the LORD and observed all of His commandments. Therefore, I am set on high and am blessed because of what Jesus did.”

That not only made me sit back and say, “Hmm”, it liberated me. The Old Testament is a blessing; one of my favorite books of the Bible is Isaiah. I have received personal words from these dear, old passages, but I’ve got to look at things in their proper perspective. The Old Testament was B.C. We are on this side of the cross. This was a HUGE revelation to me. Just look at this comparison:

1 Corinthians 2:9 quotes from Isaiah 64:4 “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”

Verse 10 in 1 Corinthians goes on to say, “But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.”

So the things that men didn’t hear or see, God has revealed to us by His Spirit. I wonder how many things Holy Spirit would help me understand if I but committed to understand. As such, I asked the LORD to help me to look at the Old Testament through New Testament eyes, that is, new covenant eyes. It can be done; these scriptures prove it:

1 John 2:20 ^“But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.”

1 Corinthians 2:16 “For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.”

Colossians 3:10 “And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:”

John 13:16 “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”

1 John 2:27 “But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.”

Aren’t these scriptures a far cry from not hearing, seeing, and perceiving? My mind was exploding. Is yours?

I return to my opening scripture from Deuternonomy about curses and apply this New Testament verse:

Galatians 3:13 “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:” Christ took all of the curses listed in Deuteronomy. The blessings of God in my life aren’t contingent upon my righteousness but on the righteousness of Christ in me. I’m not carrying myself, Jesus is carrying me. Come on now, is anyone out there finding this as liberating as I am?

I invite you to join me in this journey by viewing the Old Testament through New Testament eyes. By doing so, I think we are in for a marvelous trip! You know what’s really awesome? Take note of how good God was to mankind before the cross, how much more so now that Jesus’ Blood has made us legitimate joint-heirs with Him (Romans 8:17)? Isn’t that awesome? Mind boggling? Wonderful and weighty all at the same time? Oh, I feel I have SO much to learn and such little time to learn it!

Thank you for joining me. I have a special request for today’s post, an assignment of sorts. Reflect upon an Old Testament scripture or passage that has blessed you. Now look at it through New Testament eyes (if you’ve never done so before). Does it look different? Does it bless you even more? If so, please share. I’d love to be enlightened with you!

Have a blessed day!