Are you inside God’s circle of blessings or have you put yourself on the outside? When we put ourselves outside of God’s circle of blessings, we risk shortening our lives and opening ourselves to God’s discipline.

And what about your children? Are you teaching them how to stay inside that circle of blessings? Today’s post has a simple illustration to help them (and you) understand why it’s so important.

And from our Old Testament reading:

God gave Saul the privilege of being Israel’s first king. He blessed him in many ways including giving him victory in battle, loyal men like the future king David, and a wise son in Jonathan. But Saul is a great example of one man’s failure to stay inside God’s circle of blessings.

Today’s Readings:

1 Chronicles 9 & 10
Psalm 77.10-15
Proverbs 19.15-16
Acts 6.1-15

The Circle of Blessings

Proverbs 19.15-16:

Are You Inside or Outside?

Verse 16 says:

He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, but he who is careless of his ways will die.

The Puritan Pastor Matthew Henry said those who make it a lifestyle to keep God’s commandments, “secure their present peace and future bliss, and provide every way well for themselves.”

It made me think of a very simple illustration we use when counseling children. We call it the “Circle of Blessings” based on Ephesians 6.1-3:

¹ Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ² “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: ³ “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.

When children obey and honor their parents, things tend to go well with them and God promises to lengthen their lives. But the opposite is also true. When they put themselves outside of God’s circle of blessings, things, generally, don’t go well with them and they risk shortening their lives.

You can quickly draw this out on a piece of paper or a whiteboard as you talk about Ephesians 6.1-3. This is a simple illustration that helps children understand the passage, but the same principle is at work in our lives. When we keep our Heavenly Father’s commandments and honor Him, things tend to go well with us.

That doesn’t mean we will always live a problem-free life. But we can have God’s peace and joy in the midst of it and rely on His strength and wisdom to see us through any situation (1 Cor. 10.13; Jas. 1.2-5). We can also trust that He will use problems for good in our lives (Rom. 8.28-29).

But when we reject the commandments and wisdom of God, we put ourselves outside of God’s circle of blessings. We, too, risk shortening our lives and opening ourselves to His discipline.

Today’s Other Readings:

1 Chronicles 9 & 10:

Saul & God’s Circle of Blessings

If you think of the Bible as being written chronologically, today’s reading and much of what follows may seem confusing. But the Bible is not put together chronologically, as far as the various books go. And at times, as in Chronicles, it repeats things that were previously recorded from a slightly different perspective.

It may help to remember that Chronicles was probably written by Ezra. He was a priest who came back to Jerusalem after they had been in Babylonian captivity for 70 years. So he was writing from the perspective of the return and how life was so dramatically different from how it was during the reigns of David and Solomon. This portion covers the genealogy of the people who were returning and emphasizes the reign of David.

The last two verses of chapter 10 are worth meditating on:

13 So Saul died for his unfaithfulness which he had committed against the LORD, because he did not keep the word of the LORD, and also because he consulted a medium for guidance. 14 But he did not inquire of the LORD; therefore He killed him, and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse.

Even though Saul committed suicide (1 Chron. 10.4), God had allowed the situation in which he found himself (about to be captured and probably tortured) as a consequence of his sin. Notice the sins delineated all involved his lack of trust in the sovereignty of God. He refused to believe that doing things God’s way was best and sought to know the future apart from waiting on God to reveal it at the proper time.

This is a powerful example of what I talked about in the opening section. God had blessed Saul, making him Israel’s first king, giving him victory in battle, loyal men like the future king David, and a wise son in Jonathan.

But Saul failed to stay inside God’s “circle of blessings.” He repeatedly disobeyed God. As a result, he lost God’s blessings and his life. His actions also brought about the deaths of his sons.

Psalm 77.10-15:

“I Will Remember”

The psalmist started out “This is my anguish …,” but turned his thoughts to God and began to remind himself of God’s faithfulness in the past, “I will remember,” “I will also meditate,” and “I will talk of Your deeds.” Then he recounted the great things God had done.

Have you ever tried writing your own psalm? It would be a great way to spend some of your devotional time, especially if you’re struggling with discouragement of any kind.

Acts 6.1-15:

The Importance of Service

In Chapter 6, some believers felt their widows were not receiving equal care and attention. Instead of handling the matter themselves, the apostles chose seven spiritually mature men to do it.

This passage points to the importance of the various ministry gifts. When others serve God and use their gifts, it frees those who are called to the five-fold ministry, such as pastors and teachers, to do what God has called them to do—that is prayer and the study of God’s Word.

Too many people today want to come to church, hear an encouraging message, have their children entertained and taught, have their babies looked after, and get help or counsel when they need it, but with little involvement on their part.

Consequently, most of the work is done by a few and many pastors are overworked and without adequate time to prepare for their most important work.

Facing Religious Persecution

But there are other great truths in this portion of Scripture. In verses 8-15, Stephen faced the anger and persecution of an angry religious mob with a peace and calm that demonstrated his complete trust and reliance on God.

And all who sat in the council, looking steadfastly at him, saw his face as the face of an angel (v. 15).

Jesus said in Matthew 10.18-20:

18 You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; 20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.

What a great promise!

What about You? Questions to Ponder or Journal:

Have you ever faced religious persecution? How did you respond? How would you like to respond in the future?

Read several of the Psalms, then try writing your own. After you have shared your honest emotions with God, turn your attention to other times when God has shown Himself faithful. Use a concordance or go to Bible Gateway and look for passages that speak to your situation. Share your experiences and insights in the comments section at the end of the blog.

Finally, where are you regarding the “Circle of Blessings”? Are you inside that circle or have you put yourself outside?

Coming Up:

In the coming days, we’ll talk about the importance of godly friends, how to be wisely transparent about your sin with your children, the importance of being able to explain the basics of the Christian faith, and how to find true peace and contentment.

I hope you’ll sign up so you don’t miss any of them. You might also like to check out our YouTube channel.

And if this post spoke to you, I would love it if you would share it on your favorite social media platform.

Blessings as you grow in Christ,
Donna ♥

Note about this post:

I began blogging through the Bible in 2012 and have done so every year since then. These posts are the product of many edits and additions throughout those years. Some days I make major changes, other days fewer. 

A while ago, I read Jen Wilkin’s book None Like Him about the attributes of God. One is His incomprehensibility. In it, she says, “God is incomprehensible. This does not mean that he is unknowable, but that he is unable to be fully known.”

I have found that to be true each year as I’ve gone back through the Bible. Sometimes I find myself feeling as if a passage just appeared there for the first time. I’m reminded that no matter how many times we read through the Bible, we have only scratched the surface. I hope you feel the same.

Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways,
And how small a whisper we hear of Him!
But the thunder of His power who can understand?” (Job 26.14)

I sometimes LINKUP with these blogs.